Yuki Hideyasu (March 1, 1574 – June 2, 1607) was a Japanese samurai who lived during the Azuchi–Momoyama and early Edo periods, serving as the daimyō of Fukui Domain in Echizen Province. Born Tokugawa Ogimaru, he was the second son of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Lady Oman (also known as Lady Kogō), a handmaiden to Ieyasu’s wife, Lady Tsukiyama. Due to Ieyasu’s fears of his wife’s reaction to Oman’s pregnancy, Ogimaru and his twin brother were born in secrecy at the home of Honda Shigetsugu, one of Ieyasu’s retainers. Oman’s other son eventually became a priest, while Ogimaru was raised apart from Ieyasu, whom he only met at the age of three, in a meeting arranged by his older half-brother, Matsudaira Nobuyasu.
After Nobuyasu’s forced seppuku at Oda Nobunaga’s command, Ogimaru became next in line to inherit the Tokugawa clan. However, as part of peace negotiations following the Battle of Komaki-Nagakute in 1584, he was given in adoption (effectively as a hostage) to Hashiba Hideyoshi. While under Hideyoshi’s care, Ogimaru came of age and was renamed Hashiba Hideyasu, a name that honored both his adoptive and biological fathers. He also received the title of Mikawa-no-kami and the Court rank of Senior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade, which was later elevated.
Hideyasu’s military career began with distinction, as he led the assault on Buzen-Iwaishi Castle during the Kyushu Campaign of 1587 and contributed to the pacification of Hyuga Province. He also participated in the Siege of Odawara in 1590 and the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598), earning a reputation as a skilled and promising commander. However, in 1589, the birth of Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s natural son, Toyotomi Hideyori, altered Hideyasu’s trajectory. To avoid succession conflicts, Hideyasu was adopted by Yuki Harutomo of Shimōsa Province in 1590, marrying Harutomo’s niece and becoming the head of the Yuki clan, with a domain of 101,000 koku.
Despite his military achievements, Hideyasu’s loyalty to the Toyotomi clan raised concerns. During the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered Hideyasu to remain in Shimōsa, possibly due to doubts about his allegiance or to avoid overshadowing Ieyasu’s chosen successor, Tokugawa Hidetada. Following the Tokugawa victory, Hideyasu was rewarded with Echizen Province, a vast domain of 670,000 koku. In 1604, he was permitted to adopt the Matsudaira surname, and by 1605, his court rank was elevated to Senior Third Rank, along with the courtesy title Gon-Chunagon.
Hideyasu passed away in 1607 at the age of 34, possibly due to complications from syphilis. His death occurred shortly before the Siege of Osaka, where the Toyotomi clan was ultimately destroyed. In his will, Hideyasu urged his son and heir, Matsudaira Tadanao, to support Toyotomi Hideyori if the Tokugawa attacked. However, Tadanao ignored his father’s wishes, ensuring the survival of the Echizen-Matsudaira clan, which endured until the Meiji Restoration in 1868.
See also
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Sanada Yukitaka
Sanada Yukitaka (c. 1512 – June 8, 1574) was a renowned samurai warrior of the Sengoku period, best known as one of the "Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen." He was the father of Sanada Nobutsuna and Sanada Masayuki, as well as the grandfather of the legendary Sanada Yukimura, who later served the Toyotomi clan.
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Torii Mototada
Torii Mototada (1539 – September 8, 1600) was a Japanese samurai and daimyo who lived through the Sengoku and late Azuchi–Momoyama periods. A loyal retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu, he is best remembered for his heroic last stand at the Siege of Fushimi, an event that played a crucial role in shaping Japanese history.
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Toyotomi Hideyori
Toyotomi Hideyori (August 28, 1593 – June 4, 1615) was the son and designated successor of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the general who first unified Japan. His mother, Yodo-dono, was Oda Nobunaga's niece.
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Okubo Tadanori
Okubo Tadanori (January 13, 1842 – August 10, 1897) was the 9th daimyo of Odawara Domain in Sagami Province (modern-day Kanagawa Prefecture) during the late Edo period. Before the Meiji Restoration, he held the courtesy title of Kaga no Kami.
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Okubo Tadayo
Okubo Tadayo (1532 – October 28, 1594) was a samurai general who served Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Azuchi–Momoyama period and later became the daimyo of Odawara Domain in the early Edo period.
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Araki Murashige
Araki Murashige (1535 – June 20, 1586) was a samurai and retainer of Ikeda Katsumasa, the head of the powerful Settsu-Ikeda clan in Settsu Province. Initially serving under Katsumasa, he aligned himself with Oda Nobunaga after Nobunaga’s successful campaign to establish control over Kyoto.
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Tsutsui Sadatsugu
Tsutsui Sadatsugu (June 6, 1562 – April 2, 1615) was a prominent figure in the Sengoku and early Edo periods, known as the cousin and adopted heir of Tsutsui Junkei, the feudal lord of Yamato Province. Following Junkei's death in 1584, Toyotomi Hideyoshi relocated Sadatsugu to Iga Province, where he oversaw the construction of Iga Ueno Castle, marking the height of his prominence.
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Matsudaira Kiyoyasu
Matsudaira Kiyoyasu (September 28, 1511 – November 29, 1535) served as the 7th lord of the Matsudaira clan during Japan's tumultuous Sengoku period. Renowned as the paternal grandfather of Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of Japan's "great unifiers," Kiyoyasu expanded his clan’s influence, bringing all of northern Mikawa Province under his control after subduing the Saigo clan. His power was further symbolized by the construction of Okazaki Castle, a testament to the Matsudaira’s growing dominance.
