Ii Naotaka

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Ii Naotaka

Role / Field:

Japanese daimyō of the early Edo period, serving under the Tokugawa shogunate.

Born:

1590-03-16

Died:

1659-08-16

Century / Era:

1590s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Ii Naotaka (井伊 直孝; March 16, 1590 – August 16, 1659) was a Japanese daimyō of the early Edo period who served under the Tokugawa shogunate. He was the son of the famous Tokugawa general Ii Naomasa. His childhood name was Bennosuke (弁之介).

Career & Major Achievements

Naotaka served in the Siege of Osaka in his brother Naokatsu's stead, where he would gain tremendous favor for his exploits at Tennōji. After the battle, he would be granted his brother's lands at Sawayama in Ōmi Province. He would finish the construction of Hikone castle in 1622, a project which had been started by his brother in 1603.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Both Naotaka and his father Naomasa are playable characters from the Eastern Army in the original Kessen. Hikonyan, mascot of Hikone Castle, is based on a folktale about how Naotaka was saved from a lightning strike by a maneki-neko. In 1917, Naotaka was posthumously granted the courtesy title of junior third rank (ju san-mi, 従三位) by Emperor Taishō.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1590 (1590-03-16): Birth of Ii Naotaka — Japanese daimyō of the early Edo period, serving under the Tokugawa shogunate.
2. 1622: 1622 Milestone — He would finish the construction of Hikone castle in 1622, a project which had been started by his brother in 1603.
3. 1659 (1659-08-16): Passing & Historical Legacy — Ii Naotaka passed away on 1659-08-16, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
4. 1917: 1917 Milestone — In 1917, Naotaka was posthumously granted the courtesy title of junior third rank (ju san-mi, 従三位) by Emperor Taishō.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Ii Naotaka

True or False: “Ii Naotaka was granted his lands at Sawayama immediately after the Siege of Osaka due to exceptional military prowess.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While he gained favor for his exploits at Tennōji during the siege, the text indicates he was granted his brother's lands following the battle.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ambroise Paré — Contemporary (Died in 1590) (1590): Father of modern surgery, pioneer in wound treatment and battlefield medicine.
• Bernardino de Sahagún — Contemporary (Died in 1590) (1590): Pioneering ethnographer and Franciscan friar documenting Aztec culture in colonial Mexico.
• Gioseffo Zarlino — Contemporary (Died in 1590) (1590): Italian Renaissance music theorist, composer, and master of counterpoint.
• Abel Tasman — Contemporary (Died in 1659) (1659): Dutch explorer famed for charting Tasmania and New Zealand for the VOC.
• Henry Purcell — Contemporary (Born in 1659) (1659): Master English Baroque composer, celebrated for opera and songs.
• Ōishi Kuranosuke — Contemporary (Born in 1659) (1659): Leader of the Forty-seven Rōnin; famed samurai official and hero of Chūshingura.
• Alexander S. Wiener — Shared historical date (03-16 · Born) (1907): Pioneering American biologist known for discoveries in serology and immunogenetics.
• Anna Atkins — Shared historical date (03-16 · Born) (1799): Pioneering botanist and photographer, credited with the first illustrated book using photos.
• Albert Cohen (novelist) — Shared historical date (08-16 · Born) (1895): Greek-born Swiss novelist who wrote in French, known for his memoirs and international work.
• Albert II of Germany — Shared historical date (08-16 · Born) (1397): Habsburg ruler, King of the Romans, and key figure in the tumultuous early 15th century.
• 1590 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1590
• March 16 (03-16) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 16
• 1659 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1659
• August 16 (08-16) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 16

Frequently Asked Questions about Ii Naotaka