Oda Nobutaka
Encyclopedia
was a samurai and member of Oda clan
. He was adopted as the head of Kanbe clan that ruled the middle region of Ise Province
and was also called Kanbe Nobutaka (神戸信孝).
Nobutaka was born as the third son of Oda Nobunaga
and he was called San Shichi (三七) from possibly being born on March 7 on old Japanese calendar system. His mother is a concubine Sakashi (坂氏). A theory has it that Nobutaka was actually born twenty days earlier than Nobunaga's second son Oda Nobukatsu
but it was reported later than Nobukatsu's birth to Nobunaga and thus was acknowledged as the third son. According to this theory, it is also believed that the low status of his mother's parents had played a factor as well.
On 1568, after Nobunaga controlled Ise Province
, Nobutaka was installed by the victorious Nobunaga to take over the head of Kanbe clan based around Kanbe Castle near the present day, Suzuka, Mie
. His elder brother, Nobukatsu on the next year became an adopted member of Kitabatake clan ruling much larger area of southern Ise Province
. Nobutaka was reported by missionaries to have a better character than the older Nobukatsu but was ranked lower and held less area than he did.
On 1582, Nobutaka was commanded to lead an army against Shikoku
and had such retainers as Niwa Nagahide
and Tsuda Nobusumi, who was the son of Nobunaga's younger brother Nobuyuki, under his command. But while readying his army at Sakai
to cross the sea, Nobunaga was killed at Honnō-ji
by Akechi Mitsuhide
. Nobutaka turned back and at Osaka, killed Nobusumi who was married to a daughter of Mitsuhide and had his father, Oda Nobuyuki
killed. While Nobutaka's suspicion did make some sense, no evidence had turned up that would connect Nobusumi to Mitsuhide. At Tomida of Settsu Province
, Nobutaka joined Hashiba Hideyoshi
who had turned back as well and fought at battle of Yamazaki
.
Yet despite having been present to avenge for his father, at the meeting to determine the next and future head of Oda clan
in Kiyosu Castle
, Nobutaka was left out of the discussion and Sanpōshi
became the head of clan. He gained Mino Province
where the eldest son, Oda Nobutada
had ruled before his death by Mitsuhide, but this was still far short of what he had hoped for. He later allied with Shibata Katsuie
and Takigawa Kazumasu
to start a war against Hideyoshi, but while Nobutaka was surrounded at Gifu Castle
by Nobukatsu, Katsuie lost at battle of Shizugatake
and Nobutaka surrendered.
Nobutaka was sent to Daimidoji at Noma, Chitano county, Owari Province
where Minamoto no Yoshitomo
had been assassinated at the end of Heian period
. Under the pressure from Hideyoshi and Nobukatsu, he committed suicide. Two dates, June 19 and June 21 are given for his death.
His waka
composed before dying was as follows.
It is a vengeful poetry that would be translated as, You had killed the one you had served, may kami
strike you down, Hashiba Hideyoshi.
Oda clan
The was a family of Japanese daimyo who were to become an important political force in the unification of Japan in the mid-16th century. Though they had the climax of their fame under Oda Nobunaga and fell from the spotlight soon after, several branches of the family would continue on as daimyo...
. He was adopted as the head of Kanbe clan that ruled the middle region of Ise Province
Ise Province
or was a province of Japan including most of modern Mie Prefecture. Ise bordered Iga, Kii, Mino, Ōmi, Owari, Shima, and Yamato Provinces.The ancient provincial capital was at Suzuka...
and was also called Kanbe Nobutaka (神戸信孝).
Nobutaka was born as the third son of Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
and he was called San Shichi (三七) from possibly being born on March 7 on old Japanese calendar system. His mother is a concubine Sakashi (坂氏). A theory has it that Nobutaka was actually born twenty days earlier than Nobunaga's second son Oda Nobukatsu
Oda Nobukatsu
was a Japanese samurai of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. He was the second son of Oda Nobunaga. He survived the decline of the Oda clan from political prominence, becoming a daimyo in the early Edo period.-Kitabatake clan:...
but it was reported later than Nobukatsu's birth to Nobunaga and thus was acknowledged as the third son. According to this theory, it is also believed that the low status of his mother's parents had played a factor as well.
On 1568, after Nobunaga controlled Ise Province
Ise Province
or was a province of Japan including most of modern Mie Prefecture. Ise bordered Iga, Kii, Mino, Ōmi, Owari, Shima, and Yamato Provinces.The ancient provincial capital was at Suzuka...
, Nobutaka was installed by the victorious Nobunaga to take over the head of Kanbe clan based around Kanbe Castle near the present day, Suzuka, Mie
Suzuka, Mie
is a city located in Mie, Japan.As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 198,716 and the density of 1,020 people per km². The total area is 194.67 km².Located about 83 km east from Nara, and 52 km southwest from Nagoya.-History:...
. His elder brother, Nobukatsu on the next year became an adopted member of Kitabatake clan ruling much larger area of southern Ise Province
Ise Province
or was a province of Japan including most of modern Mie Prefecture. Ise bordered Iga, Kii, Mino, Ōmi, Owari, Shima, and Yamato Provinces.The ancient provincial capital was at Suzuka...
. Nobutaka was reported by missionaries to have a better character than the older Nobukatsu but was ranked lower and held less area than he did.
On 1582, Nobutaka was commanded to lead an army against Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
and had such retainers as Niwa Nagahide
Niwa Nagahide
, also known as Gorōzaemon , was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku through Azuchi-Momoyama periods of the 16th century. He served as a retainer to the Oda clan, and was eventually a daimyo in his own right....
and Tsuda Nobusumi, who was the son of Nobunaga's younger brother Nobuyuki, under his command. But while readying his army at Sakai
Sakai, Osaka
is a city in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It has been one of the largest and most important seaports of Japan since the Medieval era.Following the February 2005 annexation of the town of Mihara, from Minamikawachi District, the city has grown further and is now the fourteenth most populous city in...
to cross the sea, Nobunaga was killed at Honnō-ji
Honno-ji
is a temple of the Nichiren branch of Buddhism located in Kyoto, Japan. Its honzon is mandara-honzon from Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.-History:...
by Akechi Mitsuhide
Akechi Mitsuhide
, nicknamed Jūbei or called 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 became infamous for his betrayal in 1582, which led to Nobunaga's death at Honno-ji...
. Nobutaka turned back and at Osaka, killed Nobusumi who was married to a daughter of Mitsuhide and had his father, Oda Nobuyuki
Oda Nobuyuki
was the son of Oda Nobuhide, and younger brother of Oda Nobunaga in the earlier years of the Sengoku period of the 16th century of Japan.Nobuyuki conspired against his brother Nobunaga with the Hayashi and Shibata families. Nobuyuki's Suemori Castle was reduced by Ikeda Nobuteru. Though Hayashi and...
killed. While Nobutaka's suspicion did make some sense, no evidence had turned up that would connect Nobusumi to Mitsuhide. At Tomida of Settsu Province
Settsu Province
was a province of Japan, which today comprises the eastern part of Hyōgo Prefecture and the northern part of Osaka Prefecture. It was also referred to as or .Osaka and Osaka Castle were the main center of the province.-History:...
, Nobutaka joined Hashiba Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
who had turned back as well and fought at battle of Yamazaki
Battle of Yamazaki
The was fought in 1582 in Yamazaki, Japan, located in current day Kyoto Prefecture. This battle is sometimes referred to as the Battle of Mt. Tennō ....
.
Yet despite having been present to avenge for his father, at the meeting to determine the next and future head of Oda clan
Oda clan
The was a family of Japanese daimyo who were to become an important political force in the unification of Japan in the mid-16th century. Though they had the climax of their fame under Oda Nobunaga and fell from the spotlight soon after, several branches of the family would continue on as daimyo...
in Kiyosu Castle
Kiyosu Castle
is a castle that acted as a base of operations for Oda Nobunaga during the latter half of the Sengoku period of feudal Japan. It is located in the city of Kiyosu, Aichi Prefecture, Japan....
, Nobutaka was left out of the discussion and Sanpōshi
Oda Hidenobu
was the son of Oda Nobutada and lived during the Azuchi-Momoyama period in the late-16th century. His other name was Sanpōshi .-Succession dispute:...
became the head of clan. He gained Mino Province
Mino Province
, one of the old provinces of Japan, encompassed part of modern-day Gifu Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Mino Province bordered Echizen, Hida, Ise, Mikawa, Ōmi, Owari, and Shinano Provinces....
where the eldest son, Oda Nobutada
Oda Nobutada
was the eldest son of Oda Nobunaga, and a samurai who fought in many battles during the Sengoku period. He commanded armies under his father in battles against Matsunaga Hisahide and against the Takeda clan....
had ruled before his death by Mitsuhide, but this was still far short of what he had hoped for. He later allied with Shibata Katsuie
Shibata Katsuie
or was a Japanese military commander during the Sengoku Period who served Oda Nobunaga.-Biography:Katsuie was born in the Shibata family, a branch of the Shiba clan . Note the differences between , , and the .Katsuie was the retainer of Oda Nobukatsu...
and Takigawa Kazumasu
Takigawa Kazumasu
, also known as Sakonshōgen , was a samurai retainer to Oda Nobunaga, and later Toyotomi Hideyoshi, during Japan's Sengoku period. His biological son, Toshimasu, was adopted by Maeda Toshihisa and later served Nobunaga alongside Kazumasu and Toshimasu's adopted uncle, Maeda Toshiie.Originally from...
to start a war against Hideyoshi, but while Nobutaka was surrounded at Gifu Castle
Gifu Castle
is a castle located in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Along with Mount Kinka and the Nagara River, it is one of the main symbols of the city.-History:Gifu Castle was first built by the Nikaidō clan between 1201 and 1204 during the Kamakura Period....
by Nobukatsu, Katsuie lost at battle of Shizugatake
Battle of Shizugatake
The was a battle in Sengoku period Japan between supporters of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Oda Nobutaka.In May, 1583, a former general of Nobunaga's named Shibata Katsuie coordinated a number of simultaneous attacks on Shizugatake, a series of forts held by Hideyoshi's generals among whom was Nakagawa...
and Nobutaka surrendered.
Nobutaka was sent to Daimidoji at Noma, Chitano county, Owari Province
Owari Province
was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of present day Aichi Prefecture, including much of modern Nagoya. Its abbreviation is Bishū .-History:The province was created in 646....
where Minamoto no Yoshitomo
Minamoto no Yoshitomo
was the head of the Minamoto clan and a general of the late Heian period of Japanese history. His son Minamoto no Yoritomo became shogun and founded the Kamakura Shogunate, the first shogunate in the history of Japan.-Hōgen Rebellion:...
had been assassinated at the end of Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
. Under the pressure from Hideyoshi and Nobukatsu, he committed suicide. Two dates, June 19 and June 21 are given for his death.
His waka
Waka (poetry)
Waka or Yamato uta is a genre of classical Japanese verse and one of the major genres of Japanese literature...
composed before dying was as follows.
- 昔より主を討つ身の野間なれば
- Mukashi yori Aruji wo Utsumi no Noma nareba
- 報いを待てや羽柴筑前
- Mukui wo Mateya Hashiba Chikuzen
It is a vengeful poetry that would be translated as, You had killed the one you had served, may kami
Kami
is the Japanese word for the spirits, natural forces, or essence in the Shinto faith. Although the word is sometimes translated as "god" or "deity", some Shinto scholars argue that such a translation can cause a misunderstanding of the term...
strike you down, Hashiba Hideyoshi.