Akechi Mitsuhide was born on March 11, 1528, lived and grew up in Japan in the Mino province. He was known in history as the "Thirteen Day Shogun" (Jap. Jusan Kubo). The years of Akechi Mitsuhide's life were spent in constant wanderings throughout Japan.
In the Sengoku era - the time of the warring provinces, he achieved a high position in the service of the daimyo Oda Nobunaga, being his faithful companion and sharing views on the political situation in the country. It was in his interests to unite all the warring provinces into a single state. In addition, he was considered a master of tea ceremonies and was known as a famous poet in wide circles of noble society.
Service at Oda Nobunaga
Akechi was originally a vassal of the Saito clan. But after Oda Nobunaga conquered the province of Mino in 1566, Akechi Mitsuhide entered his service. At that time, he carried out the most important assignments of Oda Nobunaga in negotiations as an intermediary with Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the last shogun of the Ashikaga clan, from 1569 to 1573. Rumor has it that Mitsuhide was a close friend or relative of No Hime, Oda's legal wife. Nobunaga.
In 1571, Akechi takes possession of Sakamoto Castle, located in the province of Omi, after the successful destruction of the Buddhist monastery Enryaku-ji on Mount Hiei, towering over the city of Kyoto. During the battle, more than 3,000 people were killed, and the temple itself was completely destroyed due to fires.
Betrayal
In 1579, Akechi Mitsuhide attacked Yakami Castle, successfully capturing the possessions of Hatano Hideharu, whom he promised to save his life by giving his mother as a hostage. After that, accepting the offer, Hideharu went to Azuchi Castle to apologize to Nobunaga. However, he, having broken the promise given to Mitsuhide, executed Hideharu. The Hatano clan, learning of what had happened, killed Akechi's mother.
In 1582, Oda Nobunaga opened a military campaign against Mori Terumoto, who was the feudal lord of the western lands of the island of Honshu. Under his rule were ten provinces and accounted for almost a sixth of all of Japan. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was appointed commander of the troops at the front in the province of Bitchu. After reconnaissance, he sent a letter to Nobunaga asking for reinforcements for a decisive battle near the city of Takamatsu.
Having received a message from a trusted vassal, Nobunaga ordered Mitsuhide to come forward with his army in reinforcements, and in the meantime he left his castle Azuchi in Kyoto to join the offensive in the future. Taking about a hundred bodyguards with him, he stopped at the Honno-ji Temple in Kyoto. Mitsuhide, contrary to the order of his commander, gathered 10,000 soldiers and close people, and followed Nobunaga to the capital, plotting a rebellion againstoverlord.
June 21, 1582, Akechi Mitsuhide surrounded the Honnō-ji temple and attacked Nobunaga and his men. The outcome of the battle was predictable due to unequal forces. Nobunaga, who did not expect betrayal by a trusted vassal, was forced to commit seppuku in order to avoid captivity, as required by the samurai code of honor.
Death of the Traitor Samurai
Asking for an audience with Emperor Akechi Mitsuhide proclaimed himself shogun. After that, he sent a letter to Mori Terumoto with the aim of concluding an alliance against the vassals of the murdered Nobunaga. However, the letter was intercepted by Hideyoshi's forces and his plan was exposed.
Hundreds of kilometers away at the front, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu turned their troops in the opposite direction and hurriedly headed for Kyoto. Hideyoshi was the first to manage, having covered more than a hundred kilometers with his army in three days.
July 2, reaching Kyoto, Toyotomi Hideyoshi attacked the troops of Akechi Mitsuhide. During the battle, Mitsuhide's army was defeated. According to some reports, it is known that Akechi died in battle. Another version says that he still managed to escape, and soon after the battle he was killed by local bandits.
Possible causes of betrayal
If we talk about betrayal, there are several versions. One of the possible reasons was the cruelty and disrespectful attitude of Oda towards his subordinates. Oda repeatedly publicly mocked Akechi himself, which subsequently caused hatred. Toto the same Nobunaga took away the province of Omi from him and handed it over to his son, promising in return two other provinces that still had to be conquered - Iwami and Izumo.
Another motive could be revenge for Mitsuhide's mother killed by the Hatano clan.
According to another version, it was a planned conspiracy. Since Oda Nobunaga was interested in Christianity, he sought to overthrow the Emperor, as well as dissolve the shogunate. These views were at odds with conservatives and admirers of their own culture. Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki and loyal people of Nobunaga - Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyoshi are also attributed to the number of traitors.
Speaking about who the samurai are, the reader imagines the image of a courageous, brave, strong man who has dedicated his life to serving his master and is able to part with it, defending the honor and dignity of both his own and the person he serves. Nevertheless, it is difficult to assert the reliability of the above facts. What were the personalities of that time really like and what motivated them? This is still a matter of debate.
