Akechi Mitsuhide
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Shrine to Akechi Mitsuhide, Kyoto |
Akechi Mitsuhide (明智 光秀
Akechi Mitsuhide,
1528? –
July 2,
1582 Japanese calendar 6th month 13th day), nicknamed
Jūbei, was a
samurai who lived during the
Sengoku period of
Feudal Japan.
Mitsuhide was a general under
daimyo Oda Nobunaga, although he later betrayed Nobunaga and caused him to commit
seppuku.
Born in
Mino province (now
Gifu prefecture) as a descendant of the
shugo Toki clan, Mitsuhide began serving Nobunaga after Nobunaga's conquest of Mino province in
1566 and received
Sakamoto (in
Omi, 100,000
koku) in
1571. Although Nobunaga rarely put too much trust in his retainers, he particularly trusted
Katsuie Shibata,
Hideyoshi Hashiba and Mitsuhide Akechi. After Mitsuhide received Sakamoto he moved to pacify the Tamba region by defeating several clans such as the Isshiki of Tango.
In
1579, he captured
Yakami Castle from
Hatano Hideharu by promising Hideharu peace terms. This accomplished Mitsuhide's goal, although Nobunaga betrayed the peace agreement and had Hideharu executed. Naturally this did not make the
Hatano family happy and a short while later several of Hideharu's retainers murdered Akechi Mitsuhide's mother. The situation was fueled through several public insults Nobunaga had directed at Mitsuhide, that even drew the attention of some Western observers. Mitsuhide blamed Nobunaga for his mother's death and the
attack at Honnoji on
June 21,
1582 (Japanese: 6th month 2nd day) Mitushide exacted his revenge.
He has been credited with killing Oda Nobunaga; while Mitsuhide did not execute Nobunaga personally, he did force him to commit seppuku for his betrayal and subsequent murder of Mitsuhide's mother. When they found out about the assassination, both
Hideyoshi and
Tokugawa Ieyasu rushed to be the first to avenge Nobunaga and take his place. Hideyoshi got to Mitsuhide first, and Mitsuhide's allies such as
Hosokawa Fujitaka, who was related to Mitsuhide through a marriage, betrayed him. Mitsuhide survived for 13 days, until he was defeated by Hideyoshi at the
Battle of Yamazaki. Mitsuhide is rumored to have been killed by a peasant warrior with a bamboo spear by the name of
Nakamura (some say such an ignominious death was but karmic reward for killing his lord). However, there were also rumors that he was not killed, but rather started a new life as a priest called Tenkai.
His third daughter was
Hosokawa Gracia.
The Akechi family was able to trace their heritage to the
Toki and from there to the
Minamoto.
Akechi Mitsuhide is featured in various fictional works, mostly as a hero, since Oda Nobunaga himself is often portrayed as a villain. He is featured in
Capcom's
Onimusha as Samanosuke's uncle/relative, as well as
Onimusha Tactics as a playable character. Mitsuhide is also one of the playable characters in
Koei's
Samurai Warriors. He wields a katana and is portrayed to have a very close relationship with
Ranmaru Mori. He is voiced by
Hikaru Midorikawa in the Japanese version, and
Michael Gough in the English version. He is also featured as a playable character in
Sengoku Basara, whereas instead of being a good guy, he is portrayed as a sadistic psychopath who wields dual scythes, and enjoys killing his opponents. He is voiced by
Sho Hayami in the said game. In
Devil Kings his name is changed into Reaper, but he becomes unplayable.
In
Hikaru no Go a character named Yuki Mitani plays as Mitsuhide in a school play.
*
Akechi Mitsuyoshi (
明智光慶 ) - Eldest son
*
Akechi Hidemitsu (
明智秀満 ) - Adopted son
*
Hosokawa Gracia (
明智玉子) ) - Daughter
