Oda Nobukatsu, a Daimyo and esteemed warrior, was born as the second son of Oda Nobunaga in Ko’ori Castle, situated in Niwa-Gun, presently known as Konan City of Aichi Prefecture, in the year 1558.
In 1570, following a brief conflict between the Oda and the Kitabatake clan of Ise Province (Mie Prefecture), Nobukatsu was adopted as the heir of the Kitabatake clan to restore peace. He married the daughter of Kitabatake Tomonori, but soon after the wedding, he orchestrated a series of ruthless actions. This included the murder of his father-in-law, the elimination of several key Kitabatake supporters, the imprisonment of the former Lord of Ise, and the complete usurpation of control for himself. Subsequently, Nobukatsu launched an unsuccessful invasion of neighboring Iga Province (also in Mie Prefecture). In response to his failure, Nobukatsu faced the wrath of his father, Nobunaga, and to preserve his authority, he was compelled to annihilate the entire region, including Iga and the remaining Kitabatake clan, along with their prestigious residences and Kiriyama Castle.
The 1582 coup known as the Honno-ji Incident resulted in the deaths of Nobukatsu's father and elder brother, Nobutada, sparking a dispute over succession between the two surviving brothers. Despite being born 20 days prior to Nobukatsu, Nobutaka, whose mother was a concubine, was considered younger due to Nobukatsu's noble-born mother. The brothers contended for their father’s legacy until the Kiyosu Kaigi, a meeting held at Kiyosu Castle, where Toyotomi Hideyoshi and other chief retainers of Nobunaga decided to nominate Nobutada’s infant son, Samboshi (later Oda Hidenobu), as the rightful heir.
Subsequently, Nobukatsu reclaimed his Oda lineage, relinquishing the Kitabatake name, and was appointed Lord of Mino (Gifu), Owari (Aichi), and Ise (Mie) provinces. Fearing his brother Nobutaka's growing influence, Nobukatsu allied with Toyotomi Hideyoshi to eliminate him, leading to Nobutaka's forced seppuku in mid-late June 1583. However, Nobukatsu later clashed with Hideyoshi over authority, prompting him to seek support from Tokugawa Ieyasu to overthrow Hideyoshi, culminating in the Battle of Komaki Nagakute in 1584. Despite initial hostilities, Nobukatsu eventually accepted Hideyoshi's peace offering, aligning himself with Hideyoshi and relinquishing his allegiance to Ieyasu.
Nobukatsu remained loyal to Hideyoshi, serving at the Siege of Odawara in 1590. However, he refused to surrender his domains when Hideyoshi redistributed his retainers' holdings, resulting in his forced retirement as a monk. Despite this, he was later pardoned and granted lands. Following Hideyoshi's death, Nobukatsu was entrusted with the guardianship of Hideyoshi’s infant son and heir, Hideyori, at Osaka Castle. However, in 1614, he betrayed the Toyotomi clan, surrendering to Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Winter Siege of Osaka. As a reward for his betrayal, he was granted the Uda-Matsuyama Domain in Yamato Province (Nara Prefecture), where he resided until his demise in 1630.
See also
-
Saito Tatsuoki
Saito Tatsuoki (6 September 1548 - 1573) was a daimyo of Mino Province during Japan's Sengoku period and the third-generation lord of the Saito clan. He was the son of Saito Yoshitatsu and grandson of Saito Dosan. His mother was a daughter of Azai Hisamasa, making him a nephew of Azai Nagamasa and a relative of Oda Nobunaga's first wife, Nohime, who was also a daughter of Saito Dosan.
-
Kyogoku Tadataka
Kyogoku Tadataka (1593–1637) was a Japanese nobleman and the head of the Kyogoku clan during the early 17th century, a pivotal time marked by the Tokugawa consolidation of power. His childhood name was Kumamaro, and he hailed from a lineage claiming descent from Emperor Uda (868–897). Tadataka was the son of Kyogoku Takatsugu and one of his concubines, with his paternal grandfather being Kyogoku Takayoshi.
-
Matsudaira Naomasa
The late Muromachi period, also known as the Sengoku period, was an era of continuous conflict and upheaval, often likened to periods of chaos in Chinese history. This turbulent era was brought to an end by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who, with the support of loyal retainers, established the Edo Shogunate and became the ruler of Japan. Among Ieyasu’s descendants, Naomasa Matsudaira, his grandson, played a significant role during the Osaka Siege. He earned praise from his adversary, Nobushige Sanada (Yukimura Sanada), for his valor as a young warrior and maintained strong relations with successive Tokugawa shoguns.
-
Ishikawa Kazumasa
Ishikawa Kazumasa (1534–1609) was a prominent Japanese retainer who began serving Tokugawa Ieyasu during his youth. Their relationship began in 1551 when both were hostages under the Imagawa clan. Kazumasa remained a loyal companion to Ieyasu, participating in key events such as the Siege of Terabe in 1558 and the Siege of Marune in 1560. After Ieyasu broke away from the Imagawa following the latter event, Kazumasa became a trusted retainer and administrator in his service.
-
Shimazu Toyohisa
Shimazu Toyohisa (July 1570 – October 21, 1600), also known as Shimazu Tadatoyo, was a samurai of the Shimazu clan and the son of Shimazu Iehisa. He was the nephew of Shimazu Yoshihiro and held command over Sadowara Castle. Known for his valor, Toyohisa participated in numerous key battles of the late Sengoku period, earning recognition for his bravery and tactical acumen.
-
Ikeda Terumasa
Ikeda Terumasa (January 31, 1565 – March 16, 1613) was a Japanese daimyo of the early Edo period, recognized by his court title, "Musashi no Kami," and known as the "Shogun of Western Japan." Terumasa, a distinguished military leader, participated in numerous significant battles during the late Azuchi-Momoyama period. His service at the Battle of Sekigahara earned him control over the Himeji domain. Originally named Araokojimaru, he was the son of Ikeda Tsuneoki and the brother of Ikeda Sen. He later became the heir to Ikeda Nobuteru and held Ikejiri Castle in Mino Province.
-
Mori Tadamasa
Mori Tadamasa (1570 - July 31, 1634) was a notable military commander during Japan’s Warring States period and an early Edo-period daimyo. Initially, he governed Kawanakajima Domain in Shinano Province (modern-day Nagano Prefecture) and later became the first lord of Tsuyama Domain in Mimasaka Province (now northern Okayama Prefecture). He founded the Mori family line of the Ako Domain. Tadamasa’s family origins trace back to the Genji (Minamoto) clan, specifically the Kawachi-Genji branch from Kawachi Province (in present-day southeastern Osaka Prefecture), a lineage tied to Emperor Seiwa through his ancestor Yorisada Mori, a great-grandson of the famed Minamoto no Yoshiie.
-
Sanada Masayuki
Sanada Masayuki (1547 – July 13, 1611) was a daimyo and prominent lord of Japan's Sengoku period. Head of the Sanada clan from Shinano Province, he served the powerful Takeda clan of Kai Province alongside his father and brothers during Takeda Shingen’s leadership. Following the Takeda clan's decline, Masayuki took charge of the Sanada, and despite limited resources, he established his clan as an independent power under the Toyotomi regime by navigating alliances with dominant clans such as the Tokugawa, Hojo, and Uesugi. Renowned as one of his era's greatest strategists, Masayuki achieved notable victories against the Tokugawa forces in the Battle of Kami River and the Siege of Ueda.
