Honda Tadakatsu
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Honda Tadakatsu | |
|---|---|
| 本多 忠勝 | |
 | |
| Lord of Ōtaki | |
| In office 1590–1601 | |
| Succeeded by | Honda Tadatomo |
| Lord of Kuwana | |
| In office 1601–1609 | |
| Succeeded by | Honda Tadamasa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 17, 1548 Mikawa Province, Japan |
| Died | December 3, 1610 (aged 62) Edo, Japan |
| Relations | Sanada Nobuyuki (son-in-law) |
| Children | Komatsuhime Honda Tadatomo Honda Tadamasa |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Matsudaira clan Tokugawa clan Eastern Army Tokugawa shogunate |
| Unit |  Honda clan |
| Battles/wars | Siege of Ōtaka Castle Battle of Anegawa Battle of Hitokotosaka Battle of Mikatagahara Battle of Nagashino Siege of Takatenjin Battle of Komaki and Nagakute Siege of Sakura Siege of Odawara Battle of Kuisegawa Battle of Sekigahara |
Honda Tadakatsu (本多 忠勝, March 17, 1548 – December 3, 1610), also called Honda Heihachirō (本多 平八郎) was a Japanese samurai, general, and daimyo of the late Sengoku through early Edo periods, who served Tokugawa Ieyasu. Honda Tadakatsu was one of the Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings (Shitennō) along with Ii Naomasa, Sakakibara Yasumasa, and Sakai Tadatsugu.[1]
Biography[edit]
Tadakatsu was born in 1548,[2] in Kuramae, Nukata, Mikawa Province (present-day Nishi-Kuramae, Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture),[3] the eldest son of Honda Tadataka. The Honda clan was one of the oldest Anjō fudai families, a family of fudai daimyo who had been serving Tokugawa Ieyasu since he was in Anjō.[2]
in 1560, Tadakatsu serve Ieyasu in combat during the siege of Ōtaka Castle which occured before the Battle of Okehazama.[4]
Later, Ieyasu promoted him from daimyō/lord of the Ōtaki Domain (100000 koku) to the Kuwana Domain (150000 koku) as a reward for his service.[5] In addition, his son Honda Tadatomo became daimyo of Ōtaki.[6]
in 1570, Tadakatsu gained distinction at the Battle of Anegawa against Azai and Asakura clans along with Tokugawa's ally, Oda Nobunaga.[7] In this battle, Tadakatsu were placed in the left flank along with Ōkubo Tadayo.[8]
In 1572, during the Takeda clan campaign in Mikawa, Tadakatsu participated As the forces of Tokugawa, where started clashing with Takeda forces in the battle of Hitokotosaka against Yamagata Masakage and Baba Nobuharu.[9] It is said that in this battle Tadakatsu gained recognition from the enemy forces for his antler helmet and his Tonbo-giri spear for his exploit in staving off the charges of Baba Nobuharu units.[4][10][11][12] In the end of this battle, Tadakatsu were reportedly performing admirably along with Naitō Nobunari, as he manage to breaking through from the encirclement attempts by Takeda forces and manage to lead the Tokugawa forces to escape safely.[13] Later, Tadakatsu also served at Tokugawa's greatest defeat, the Battle of Mikatagahara , where he commanded the left wing of his master's army, facing off against troops under one of the Takeda clan's more notable generals, Naitō Masatoyo.[14] In the prelude of Tadakatsu manage to ward off the first wave, however, the Tokugawa forces getting overun by the next waves of Takeda forces.[15] In the end, the Tokugawa forces manage to withdraw safely from the battle due to dexterous performance of Tadakatsu in organizing the cover of their retreat.[9]
Although that battle in Mikatagahara ended in defeat, Honda Tadakatsu was one of those Tokugawa generals present to exact vengeance upon the Takeda at the Battle of Nagashino in 1575. Honda commanded a rank of musketeers as the combined Oda-Tokugawa forces annihilated Takeda Katsuyori's army, partly thanks to the skillful use of ranked muskets, as they fired in cycling volleys. One would fire while another was reloading and another was cleaning the barrel of the musket. This enabled the muskets to fire without stopping, effectively destroying the Takeda army.[16]
Later in 1582, after the Honnō-ji Incident, Tadakatsu escort Tokugawa Ieyasu on his march to return to Mikawa. On their trip, Tadakatsu repelling the raid of bandits that disturbing their journey.[17]
In 1581, Tadakatsu manage to personally kill Takeda general named Okabe Motonobu at the second Siege of Takatenjin.[18]
In 1584, Tadakatsu finest moment came in the Komaki Campaign. Left at Komaki while Ieyasu departed to engage Toyotomi troops at Nagakute, Tadakatsu observed a huge host under Hideyoshi himself move out in pursuit. With a handful of men, Tadakatsu rode out and challenged the Toyotomi army from the opposite bank of the Shōnai River. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was said to have been impressed by Tadakatsu and commanded his army to not attack the small units of Tadakatsu.[19]
In 1586, according to "Sakakibara clan historical records", Ieyasu sent Tadakatsu, Sakakibara Yasumasa and Ii Naomasa as representatives to Kyoto, where three of them being regarded as "Tokugawa Sanketsu"(Three great nobles of Tokugawa).[20] Then in following month, the three of them joined by Sakai Tadatsugu to accompany Ieyasu in his personal trip to Kyoto, where the four of them "became famous".[20] Tadakatsu were rewarded with several ranks promotion here.[21]
In 1590, Tadakatsu and Sakai Ietsugu captured Sakura Castle and fought against the Chiba clan, allies of the Hōjō in Shimōsa Province, during the Odawara campaign.
In 1600, Tadakatsu had a major role in the Battle of Kuisegawa, where he successfully rescued the Tokugawa officers Nakamura Kazuhide and Arima Toyouji, who were ambushed by the Western Army officers Shima Sakon and Akashi Teruzumi.
Later, Honda Tadakatsu was present at the Battle of Sekigahara,[22] After the victory of Ieyasu forces in Sekigahara, Tadakatsu and Ii Naomasa engaged in peace agreement with Mōri Terumoto.[23]
In 1609, Tadakatsu retired, and his other son Tadamasa took over the position of the head of Honda clan.[24] Tadakatsu's daughter, Komatsuhime was Sanada Nobuyuki's lawful wife and mother of Sanada Nobumasa, daimyō of Matsushiro Domain. His grandson, Tadatoki, married the granddaughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Senhime. Despite his years of loyal service, Tadakatsu became increasingly estranged from the Tokugawa shogunate (Bakufu government) as it evolved from a military to a civilian political institution. This was a fate shared by many other warriors of the time, who were not able to make the conversion from the chaotic lifetime of warfare of the Sengoku period to the more stable peace of the Tokugawa shogunate.[citation needed]
Personal info[edit]
Tadakatsu reputation has gained praise from Oda Nobunaga, who was notoriously disinclined to praise his followers called him a "samurai among samurai". Moreover, Toyotomi Hideyoshi noted that the best samurai were "Honda Tadakatsu in the east and Tachibana Muneshige in the west". Even Takeda Shingen praised Honda, saying that "he is a luxury of Tokugawa Ieyasu". It was widely acknowledged that he was a reputed samurai and a loyal retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu.[25]
Tadakatsu is nicknamed as "The Warrior who surpassed Death itself" because he never once suffered a significant wound, despite being the veteran of over 57 battles by the end of his life.[26][9][24]
There is anecdote in a record from a descendant of Sakakibara clan, that stated despite Tadakatsu exceeding Sakakibara Yasumasa in term of valor and combat, Yasumasa is better than Tadakatsu in the field leadership skill.[27][28]
His horse was known as Mikuniguro.
Tonbokiri spear[edit]
His spear was named Tonbokiri(Dragonfly Cutter), was made by Fujiwara Masazane. it became known as one of the "Three Great Spears of Japan". It has 79 centimeters in length.[29]
Legend held that the tip of the spear was so sharp, that a dragonfly that landed on it was cut in two.[citation needed]
Nakatsukasa sword[edit]
Aside from this incredible spear, Tadakatsu also used the katana - Nakatsukasaa made by Masamune (中務正宗), a 67 cm blade, another national treasure of Japan.
Popular culture[edit]
In theater and other contemporary works, Tadakatsu is often characterized as polar opposite of Ieyasu's other great general, Ii Naomasa. While both were fierce warriors of the Tokugawa, Tadakatsu's ability to elude injury is often contrasted with the common depiction of Naomasa enduring many battle wounds, but fighting through them.[citation needed]
Honda Tadakatsu appears in numerous Japanese jidaigeki (historical dramas for television) set in the 16th century. He is a minor character in Akira Kurosawa's movie Kagemusha.
Honda Tadakatsu, or fictive characters based loosely on the historical figure, appears in several video games and associated anime, including the Sengoku Basara games and anime, Samurai Warriors, Warriors Orochi, Nioh 2, Pokémon Conquest, and Kessen.
Honda appears as a playable character in the Mobile/PC Game Rise of Kingdoms.
Notes[edit]
- ^ "「榊原康政」の解説". kotobank. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ a b Ōtaki-cho, (Chiba-ken) (1991). Ōtaki-cho shi (大多喜町史). Ōtaki-cho. p. 479.
- ^ Kōri, Yoshitake (2009). Kuwana-han (Dai 1-han ed.). Gendai Shokan. p. 13. ISBN 978-4-7684-7117-3. OCLC 469634113.
- ^ a b 尾崎 晃 (2009). 本多忠勝(一五四八～一六一〇)--徳川幕府創出の功労者 (in Japanese). 千葉史学 / 千葉歴史学会 編. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "桑名藩". Archived from the original on 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
- ^ "大多喜藩". Archived from the original on 2012-01-28. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
- ^ Turnbull, Stephen (1987). Battles of the Samurai. Arms and Armour Press. p. 62. ISBN 0853688265.
- ^ Mitsutoshi Takayanagi; Tadachika Kuwata (1965). 織田信長 (in Japanese). 人物往来社. p. 109. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Stephen Turnbull. Samurai Vs Ashigaru Japan 1543–75. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 10, 46, 61. ISBN 9781472832429. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ 村上郷土史. 村上本町教育会.
- ^ 村上郷土史. 村上本町教育会. 1931. p. 90.
- ^ 岡谷繁実 (1944). 名将言行録. 岩波文庫. Vol. 6巻. 岩波書店. ISBN 9784003317365.
- ^ 村上郷土史 【新潟県】 (in Jp). 村上本町教育委員会編纂. 1932. p. 90. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ^ Turnbull, Stephen (2000). The Samurai Sourcebook. London: Cassell & C0. pp. 222–223. ISBN 1854095234.
- ^ Conrad Totman (1983). Tokugawa Ieyasu, Shogun A Biography (Paperback). Heian. p. 38. ISBN 9780893462109. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ Turnbull, Stephen (1977). The Samurai. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. pp. 156–160. ISBN 9780026205405.
- ^ Arthur Lindsay Sadler (2014, p. 115)
- ^ "デジタル版 日本人名大辞典+Plus「岡部長教」の解説". kotobank. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ Mikawa Go Fudoki Seisetsu Daizen Volume 42 & 43 (in Japanese). Aichi Prefectural Library. 1853. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ a b Tetsuo Nakamura; Kazuo Murayama (1991). 徳川四天王: 精強家康軍団奮闘譜 歴史群像シリーズ22号. 学研プラス. pp. 111, 125. ISBN 4051053679. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ Arthur Lindsay Sadler (2014, p. 147)
- ^ Dupuy, Trevor N.; Johnson, Bondard (1992). The Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography. HarperCollins. p. 345. ISBN 9780062700155.
- ^ Mouri Terumoto's invitation letter dated September 22nd to Ii Naomasa Honda TadakatsuHistoriographical Institute of the University of Tokyo (1970). 大日本古文書 家わけ第八（毛利家文書之三） [Great Japanese Old Documents Iewake No. 8 (Mouri Family Documents No. 3)] (in Jp). University of Tokyo. p. 300. ISBN 978-4-13-091083-5. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ^ a b 郡義武. シリーズ藩物語 桑名藩 (in Japanese). シリーズ藩物語. pp. 15, 18. ISBN 978-4-7684-7117-3. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ Papinot, Edmond (1906). Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie du Japon (in French). p. 199.
- ^ "朝日日本歴史人物事典「本多忠勝」の解説". kotobank. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ 中川昌久. 武備神木抄. 内閣文庫和書和書(多聞櫓文書を除く）. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
Acceptable: CC0 (CC0 1.0 Worldwide Public domain provided)
- ^ Kaoruko Uno. "榊原康政～徳川四天王、部隊の指揮に優れ能筆家で、井伊直政・本多忠勝とは特に仲が良かったとされています。". akechi1582 (in Jp). 歴史探索. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ^ Kanzan Satō (1983). The Japanese Sword (Hardcover). Kodansha International. p. 64. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
Bibliography[edit]
- "Tadakatsu Honda". Kuwana-city Tourist guide. Kuwana-City. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- Arthur Lindsay Sadler (2014). The Maker of Modern Japan The Life of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781136924705. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
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