Akechi Mitsuhide

Shrine to Akechi Mitsuhide, Kyoto

In this Japanese name, the family name is Akechi.

Akechi Mitsuhide (明智光秀^?, 1528? – July 2, 1582 Japanese calendar 6th month 13th day), nicknamed Jūbei or called Koretō Hyūga no Kami (惟任日向守^?) from his clan name and title, was a samurai who lived during the Sengoku period of Feudal Japan.

Mitsuhide was a general under daimyo Oda Nobunaga, although he later suddenly betrayed Nobunaga and cause him to die.

1 Early life and rise
- 1.1 Betrayals
2 Family lines
3 Family
4 Akechi Mitsuhide in fiction
5 References

Early life and rise

Birthplace is not specified but is inferred in Kyoto or in Mino province—now Gifu prefecture—as a descendant of the shugo Toki clan, Mitsuhide began serving Nobunaga after the latter's conquest of Mino province in 1566 and received Sakamoto (in Omi, 100,000 koku) in 1571. Before serving Nobunaga, Mitsuhide had also served Ashikaga Yoshiaki and Asakura Yoshikage. Although Nobunaga rarely put too much trust in his retainers, he particularly trusted Shibata Katsuie, Hashiba Hideyoshi, and Akechi Mitsuhide. Akechi Mitushide was the first subordinate who received a castle from Nobunaga. After Mitsuhide received Sakamoto he moved to pacify the Tamba region by defeating several clans such as Hatanao and the Isshiki of Tango. Mitsuhide also received Kamiyama castle and the Tanba region.

Betrayals

In 1579 he captured Yakami Castle from Hatano Hideharu by promising Hideharu peace terms. This accomplished Mitsuhide's goal, although Nobunaga betrayed the peace agreement and had Hideharu executed. According to several stories, this displeased the Hatano family, and a short while later several of Hideharu's retainers murdered Akechi Mitsuhide's mother (or aunt). The situation was fueled through several public insults Nobunaga had directed at Mitsuhide that even drew the attention of some Western observers. However, the reason Mitsuhide killed Nobunaga at the Incident at Honnōji on June 21, 1582 (Japanese: 6th month 2nd day) is not specified.

He has been credited with killing Oda Nobunaga; while Mitsuhide did not execute Nobunaga personally, he did force him to commit seppuku for his betrayal and subsequent murder of Mitsuhide's mother. When they found out about the assassination, both Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu rushed to be the first to avenge Nobunaga and take his place. Hideyoshi got to Mitsuhide first, and Mitsuhide's allies such as Hosokawa Fujitaka, who was related to Mitsuhide through a marriage, betrayed him. Mitsuhide survived for 13 days until he was defeated by Hideyoshi at the Battle of Yamazaki. Mitsuhide is rumored to have been killed by a peasant warrior with a bamboo spear by the name of Nakamura; however, there were also rumors that he was not killed, but rather started a new life as a priest called Tenkai.

Family lines

The Akechi family was able to trace their heritage to the Toki clan and from there to the Minamoto clan. It is noted that Minamoto Yoritomo brought the destruction of the Taira clan the same way Mitsuhide brought an end to Nobunaga, who traces his ancestry to the Taira clan.

The sword of Mitsuhide is of the Tensho style; in fact, the Tensho Koshirae was first designed to be a replica of Akechi Mitsuhide's own sword.

Family

Akechi Mitsuyoshi (明智光慶): Eldest son
Akechi Hidemitsu (明智秀満): Adopted son (and son-in-law); ancestor of Sakamoto Ryoma
Hosokawa Gracia (明智玉子): Daughter, wife of Hosokawa Tadaoki; ancestor of Empress Shōken
Akechi Mitsuharu (明智光春): : Cousin