Maeda Toshinaga

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Maeda Toshinaga

Role / Field:

Powerful Sengoku daimyo who established the Maeda clan's dominance in Kaga Province.

Born:

1562-02-15

Died:

1614-06-27

Century / Era:

1562s Historical Era

Database Source:

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

Origins & Early Life

Maeda Toshinaga (前田 利長; February 15, 1562 – June 27, 1614) was a Sengoku period Japanese samurai and the second early-Edo period daimyō of Kaga Domain in the Hokuriku region of Japan, and the 3rd hereditary chieftain of the Maeda clan. He was the eldest son of Maeda Toshiie. His childhood name was "Inuchiyo" (犬千代). Toshinaga was born in what is now part of the city of Nagoya in Owari Province, where his father was in the service of Oda Nobunaga In 1581, he married one of Oda Nobunaga's daughters, Ei-hime, who was only six years old at the time. Nobunaga was assassinated the following year at the Honnō-ji Incident.

Career & Major Achievements

In 1583, he assisted his father at the Battle of Shizugatake and after the death of Shibata Katsuie, he swore fealty to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and was awarded a 40,000 koku fief in Kaga Province. In 1585, he played a key role in Hideyoshi's campaign against Sassa Narimasa, and his holdings were greatly expanded to 320,000 koku across Kaga and Etchū Provinces. He led some 3,000 men in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's during the Kyūshū Campaign (1587) and the Siege of Odawara (1590). In 1598, he received the 267,000 koku Kanazawa holdings of his father, Maeda Toshiie. Toshiie died the following year 1599, and Hosokawa Tadaoki convinced Toshinaga to support Tokugawa Ieyasu over Ishida Mitsunari and Toyotomi Hideyori.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1600, at the time of the Battle of Sekigahara, his role was primarily to contain the forces of Uesugi Kagekatsu and Niwa Nagashige, they clash at Battle of Asainawate, and at the same time, to keep the forces of his younger brother, Maeda Toshimasa, ruler of Noto Province, from joining the western army. On the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate, Toshinaga was confirmed in his holdings, which had also been expanded by the addition of 225,000 koku formerly held by his brother Toshimasa, and 120,000 koku from Komatsu Castle and 63,000 koku from Daisho-ji Castle to a total of 1,025,000 koku, which covered the provinces of Kaga, Noto and Etchū. The kokudaka of Kaga Domain was exceeded only by the Shogunal house itself. Toshinaga built and resided in Kanazawa Castle. With the establishment of the sankin-kōtai system of alternative attendance in Edo, Toshinaga was the first daimyō to establish a residence in the new capital.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1562 (1562-02-15): Birth of Maeda Toshinaga — Powerful Sengoku daimyo who established the Maeda clan's dominance in Kaga Province.
2. 1581: 1581 Milestone — Toshinaga was born in what is now part of the city of Nagoya in Owari Province, where his father was in the service of Oda Nobunaga In 1581, he married one of Oda Nobunaga's daughters, Ei-hime, who was only six years old at the time.
3. 1583: 1583 Milestone — In 1583, he assisted his father at the Battle of Shizugatake and after the death of Shibata Katsuie, he swore fealty to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and was awarded a 40,000 koku fief in Kaga Province.
4. 1585: 1585 Milestone — In 1585, he played a key role in Hideyoshi's campaign against Sassa Narimasa, and his holdings were greatly expanded to 320,000 koku across Kaga and Etchū Provinces.
5. 1587: 1587 Milestone — He led some 3,000 men in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's during the Kyūshū Campaign (1587) and the Siege of Odawara (1590).
6. 1598: 1598 Milestone — In 1598, he received the 267,000 koku Kanazawa holdings of his father, Maeda Toshiie.
7. 1599: 1599 Milestone — Toshiie died the following year 1599, and Hosokawa Tadaoki convinced Toshinaga to support Tokugawa Ieyasu over Ishida Mitsunari and Toyotomi Hideyori.
8. 1600: 1600 Milestone — In 1600, at the time of the Battle of Sekigahara, his role was primarily to contain the forces of Uesugi Kagekatsu and Niwa Nagashige, they clash at Battle of Asainawate, and at the same time, to keep the forces of his younger brother, Maeda Toshimasa, ruler of Noto Province, from joining the western army.
9. 1614 (1614-06-27): Passing & Historical Legacy — Maeda Toshinaga passed away on 1614-06-27, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Maeda Toshinaga

True or False: “Maeda Toshinaga was the first daimyō to establish a residence in Edo after the establishment of the sankin-kōtai system.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Toshinaga was the first daimyō to establish a residence in the new capital (Edo), but he did not do so *after* the system's establishment; rather, he adapted to it.

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