Matsudaira Nobuyasu

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Matsudaira Nobuyasu

Role / Field:

Eldest son of Matsudaira Ieyasu; a noble figure whose life ended in mandated suicide.

Born:

1559-04-13

Died:

1579-10-05

Century / Era:

1559s Historical Era

Database Source:

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

Origins & Early Life

Matsudaira Nobuyasu (松平 信康; 13 April 1559 – 5 October 1579) was the eldest son of Matsudaira Ieyasu. His tsūshō ("common name") was Jirōzaburō (次郎三郎). He was also called "Okazaki Saburō" (岡崎 三郎), because he had become the lord of Okazaki Castle (岡崎城) in 1570. Because he was a son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, he is often referred to, retroactively, as Tokugawa Nobuyasu (徳川 信康). Nobuyasu was Ieyasu's first son.

Career & Major Achievements

His mother was Lady Tsukiyama, daughter of Imagawa Yoshimoto. His full blood sister was Kamehime. His childhood name was Takechiyo (竹千代). As a child, Nobuyasu was sent to the Imagawa capital of Sunpu, located in Suruga Province (modern-day Shizuoka Prefecture) as a hostage. Later, he was named keeper of Okazaki Castle in Mikawa Province (modern-day Aichi Prefecture), the birthplace of his father, and took part in the Battle of Nagashino in 1575.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

It is generally believed that Nobuyasu's mother and his wife, the Lady Tokuhime, daughter of Oda Nobunaga, did not get along. It's possible that Lady Tsukiyama was jealous of the attention her son paid to his young wife. In 1579, whether out of a desire for revenge or to remove her mother-in-law's meddling in their marriage, Tokuhime wrote a letter to her father Oda Nobunaga, accusing her mother-in-law of a treasonous plot with the Takeda clan. When Nobunaga brought the allegations to the attention of Ieyasu, he had his wife confined and then executed, to allay any suspicions of his ally. Nobuyasu was confined to Ohama and then Futamata Castle, where he received his father's order to commit suicide (seppuku), in a letter which stated that Ieyasu understood that Nobuyasu may not have been guilty of any treasonous act, or even knew anything about it, but he understood that Nobuyasu would feel obligated to avenge his late mother.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1559 (1559-04-13): Birth of Matsudaira Nobuyasu — Eldest son of Matsudaira Ieyasu; a noble figure whose life ended in mandated suicide.
2. 1570: 1570 Milestone — He was also called "Okazaki Saburō" (岡崎 三郎), because he had become the lord of Okazaki Castle (岡崎城) in 1570.
3. 1575: 1575 Milestone — Later, he was named keeper of Okazaki Castle in Mikawa Province (modern-day Aichi Prefecture), the birthplace of his father, and took part in the Battle of Nagashino in 1575.
4. 1579 (1579-10-05): Passing & Historical Legacy — Matsudaira Nobuyasu passed away on 1579-10-05, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Matsudaira Nobuyasu

True or False: “Matsudaira Nobuyasu was executed by his father, Tokugawa Ieyasu, for treasonous activities.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): He was ordered to commit seppuku not necessarily because of guilt, but to maintain the integrity and security of the clan.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Christian II of Denmark — Contemporary (Died in 1559) (1559): Monarch of the Kalmar Union, Christian II struggled to maintain Scandinavian unity against internal revolt.
• George Chapman — Contemporary (Born in 1559) (1559): English dramatist, poet, and translator, renowned for Homeric translations.
• Henry II of France — Contemporary (Died in 1559) (1559): King of France (1547–1559), navigating the Italian Wars and religious strife.
• Hatano Hideharu — Contemporary (Died in 1579) (1579): Head of the Hatano clan who resisted Oda Nobunaga before his execution.
• Johannes Messenius — Contemporary (Born in 1579) (1579): Swedish historian, dramatist, and professor whose life spanned religious and political upheaval.
• John Fletcher (playwright) — Contemporary (Born in 1579) (1579): Influential English playwright, known for collaborations with Beaumont and Massinger.
• Abdul Salam Arif — Shared historical date (04-13 · Died) (1966): Iraqi military officer and politician who served as the second president of Iraq.
• Ahlam Mosteghanemi — Shared historical date (04-13 · Born) (1959): Pioneering Algerian poet and novelist, celebrated for her evocative Arabic literature.
• Al-Dhahabi — Shared historical date (10-05 · Born) (1274): Pioneering Syrian Sunni historian, biographer, and hadith scholar.
• Aleksey Khomyakov — Shared historical date (10-05 · Died) (1860): Founding theoretician of the Slavophile movement in Russian philosophy.
• 1559 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1559
• April 13 (04-13) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 13
• 1579 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1579
• October 5 (10-05) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 5

Frequently Asked Questions about Matsudaira Nobuyasu