Matsunaga Hisahide

Quick Facts: Who was Matsunaga Hisahide?

Subject:

Matsunaga Hisahide

Known for:

Feudal lord and samurai during the Sengoku period, known for ambition and treachery.

Born:

1508

Died:

1577-11-19

Century / Era:

1508s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Matsunaga Danjō Hisahide (松永 弾正 久秀 1508 – November 19, 1577) was a Japanese samurai and daimyō and head of the Yamato Matsunaga clan in Japan during the Sengoku period of the 16th century. He has historical reputation as one of Japan's Three Great Villains (日本三大梟雄), a nickname which he shared with Ukita Naoie and Saitō Dōsan, due to their ambitious and treasonous personality, along with the habit to resort into underhanded tactics and assassinations to eliminate the oppositions. He was a retainer of Miyoshi Nagayoshi from the 1540s. He directed the conquest of the province of Yamato in the 1560s and by 1564 had built a sufficient power base to be effectively independent. It is believed that he was conspiring against Nagayoshi during this period; from 1561 to 1563 three of Nagayoshi's brothers and his son, Yoshiaki, died.

Career & Major Achievements

This left Miyoshi Yoshitsugu the adopted heir when Nagayoshi died in 1564, too young to rule. Three men shared his guardianship – Miyoshi Nagayuki, Miyoshi Masayasu, and Iwanari Tomomichi. In 1565, he then invaded the shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiteru's palace, who then committed suicide. Yoshiteru's brother, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, fled and the shōgun was replaced by his younger cousin, Yoshihide. In 1566, fighting started between Hisahide and Miyoshi.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Initially, the forces of Hisahide were unsuccessful and his apparent destruction of the Buddhist Tōdai-ji in Nara was considered an act of infamy. In 1568, Oda Nobunaga, with the figurehead Yoshiaki, attacked Hisahide. Nobunaga captured Kyoto in November and Hisahide was forced to submit. Yoshiaki was made shōgun, a post he held only until 1573 when he attempted to remove himself from Nobunaga's power. Hisahide kept control of the Yamato and served Nobunaga in his extended campaigns against the Miyoshi and others, for a while.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1508: Birth of Matsunaga Hisahide — Feudal lord and samurai during the Sengoku period, known for ambition and treachery.
2. 1561: 1561 Milestone — It is believed that he was conspiring against Nagayoshi during this period; from 1561 to 1563 three of Nagayoshi's brothers and his son, Yoshiaki, died.
3. 1564: 1564 Milestone — He directed the conquest of the province of Yamato in the 1560s and by 1564 had built a sufficient power base to be effectively independent.
4. 1565: 1565 Milestone — In 1565, he then invaded the shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiteru's palace, who then committed suicide.
5. 1566: 1566 Milestone — In 1566, fighting started between Hisahide and Miyoshi.
6. 1568: 1568 Milestone — In 1568, Oda Nobunaga, with the figurehead Yoshiaki, attacked Hisahide.
7. 1573: 1573 Milestone — Yoshiaki was made shōgun, a post he held only until 1573 when he attempted to remove himself from Nobunaga's power.
8. 1577 (1577-11-19): Passing & Historical Legacy — Matsunaga Hisahide passed away on 1577-11-19, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Matsunaga Hisahide

True or False: “Matsunaga Hisahide was executed by Oda Nobunaga's forces after a prolonged siege at Shigisan Castle.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): He committed suicide during the siege of Shigisan Castle in 1577, and his head was subsequently destroyed to prevent it from becoming a trophy.

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