Maeda Toshiie

Maeda Toshiie (前田 利家 Maeda Toshiie; January 15, 1539 - April 27, 1599) was one of the leading generals of Oda Nobunaga following the Sengoku period of the 16th century extending to the Azuchi-Momoyama period. His father was Maeda Toshimasa. He was the fourth of seven brothers. His childhood name was "Inuchiyo" (犬千代). His preferred weapon was a yari and he was known as "Yari no Mataza" (槍の又左), Matazaemon (又左衛門) being his common name. The highest rank from the court that he received is the Great Counselor Dainagon (大納言). Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events May 30 - In Florida, Hernando de Soto lands at Tampa Bay with 600 soldiers with the goal to find gold. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... Year 1599 was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... “Sengoku” redirects here. ... The Azuchi-Momoyama period (Japanese: 安土桃山時代, Azuchi-Momoyama-jidai) is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1568 to 1600. ... Maeda Toshimasa (前田利昌; ? - August 4, 1560) Also known as Toshiharu (利春). Son of Maeda Toshitaka. ... several yari, including one hafted with a simple crossbar straight yari head with saya Jumonji yari head use of yari in mock combat Yari (槍) is the Japanese term for spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear. ... Dainagon ), often translated as Great Councillor, was a government post of the Japanese ritsuryo governmental system, which was in place for much of the classical and feudal periods. ...

Early years

Statue of a young Maeda Toshiie in Arako, Nagoya

Toshiie was born in Owari province, the fourth son of Maeda Toshimasa, who held Arako Castle. Toshiie served Oda Nobunaga from childhood and his loyalty was rewarded by being allowed to be the head of the Maeda clan, very unusual for a fourth son with no apparent failures among his elder brothers. Just like Nobunaga, Toshiie was also a delinquent, usually dressed in the outlandish style of a kabukimono. It is believed he also became a friend to Kinoshita Tokichiro (later Toyotomi Hideyoshi) in their youth. Just as Hideyoshi was known as Saru, 猴 or "monkey," it is believed that Toshiie was called Inu, 犬 or "dog" by Nobunaga. Due to a long-standing belief that dogs and monkeys are never friendly to each other, Toshiie is often depicted as stern and honest, in contrast to Hideyoshi's talkative and easy-going nature. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3648 × 2736 pixel, file size: 9. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3648 × 2736 pixel, file size: 9. ... Nagoya ) is the fourth largest city in Japan. ... Maeda Toshimasa (前田利昌; ? - August 4, 1560) Also known as Toshiharu (利春). Son of Maeda Toshitaka. ... The Kabukiza in Ginza is one of Tokyos leading kabuki theaters. ... Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Shinjitai (modern Japanese) writing: ; KyÅ«jitai (historical) writing: 豐臣秀吉; born Hiyoshi-maru ; coming of age (Genpuku) as Kinoshita Tōkichirō and later made Hashiba and martial nobility in the style of Hashiba Chikuzen no Kami Hideyoshi ;February 2, 1536 or March 26, 1537 – September 18, 1598), was a Sengoku...

Military life

Grave of Maeda clan at Mount Koya

Toshiie began his career as a member of the akahoro-shū (赤母衣衆), the unit under Oda Nobunaga's personal command. He later became an infantry captain (ashigaru taishō 足軽大将) in the Oda army. During his military career, Toshiie made the acquaintance of many important figures, such as Hashiba Hideyoshi, Sassa Narimasa, Akechi Mitsuhide, Takayama Ukon, and others. He also made some enemies and rivals such as Mitsuhide, who went on to assassinate Nobunaga; Toshiie also was a lifelong rival of Tokugawa Ieyasu. After defeating Asakura, Maeda fought under Shibata Katsuie in the Hokuriku area. He was eventually granted a han spanning Noto and Kaga Provinces. Despite its small size, Kaga was a highly productive province having a net worth of 1 million koku (百万石); thus, it was nicknamed Kaga Hyaku-man-goku (加賀百万石). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (823x1250, 362 KB) Grave of Kaga province Maeda clan at Mt. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (823x1250, 362 KB) Grave of Kaga province Maeda clan at Mt. ... Konpon Daito, the central point of Mt. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Shinjitai (modern Japanese) writing: ; KyÅ«jitai (historical) writing: 豐臣秀吉; born Hiyoshi-maru ; coming of age (Genpuku) as Kinoshita Tōkichirō and later made Hashiba and martial nobility in the style of Hashiba Chikuzen no Kami Hideyoshi ;February 2, 1536 or March 26, 1537 – September 18, 1598), was a Sengoku... Sassa Narimasa ) (1539? -1588) was a Japanese Samurai warrior. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Dom Justo Takayama (1552 - 1615) was a daimyo born in the Yamato Province in Japan during the Tokugawa shogunate. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu The Tokugawa clan crest This is a Japanese name; the family name is Tokugawa Tokugawa Ieyasu (previously spelled Iyeyasu) January 31, 1543 – June 1, 1616) was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until... Shibata Katsuie (柴田 勝家) or Gonroku (-権六)(1530 – 1583) was a Japanese military commander during the Sengoku Period who served Oda Nobunaga. ... Hokuriku region (北陸地方, literally North Land) is the region along the Sea of Japan within the Chubu region, the central region of Honshu, the main island of Japan. ... The Han ) were the fiefs of feudal clans of Japan that were created by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and existed until their abolition in 1871, three years after the Meiji Restoration. ... The article incorporates text from OpenHistory. ... The article incorporates text from OpenHistory. ... A koku ) is a unit of volume in Japan, equal to ten cubic shaku. ...

Toshiie benefited from a core group of very capable senior vassals. Some, like Murai Nagayori and Okumura Nagatomi, were retainers of long standing with the Maeda. Murai Nagayori ) (1543-December 6, 1605) was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku through Edo period. ...

After Nobunaga's assassination at Honnō-ji (本能寺) by Akechi Mitsuhide and Mistuhide's subsequent defeat by Hideyoshi, he battled Hideyoshi under Shibata's command in the Battle of Shizugatake. After Shibata's defeat, Toshiie worked for Hideyoshi and became one of his leading generals. Later somewhere during this time he was forced to fight another of his friends, Sassa Narimasa. Narimasa was greatly outnumbered and felled by Toshiie, following the major Maeda victory at the Battle of Suemori Castle. Before dying in 1598, Hideyoshi named Toshiie to the council of Five Elders to support Toyotomi Hideyori until he was old enough to take control on his own. However, Toshiie himself was ailing, and could manage to support Hideyori for only a year before he died as well. Honnō-ji Honnō-ji Honnō-ji (本能寺) is a temple of the Nichiren branch of Buddhism located in Kyoto, Japan. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Combatants forces of Toyotomi Hideyoshi forces loyal to Oda Nobunaga Commanders Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Kato Kiyomasa, Fukushima Masanori Shibata Katsuie, Sakuma Morimasa Strength 20,000 men Unknown In May, 1583, a former general of Nobunagas named Shibata Katsuie coordinated a number of simultaneous attacks on these fortresses, believing that Hideyoshi... Events January 7 - Boris Godunov seizes the throne of Russia following the death of his brother-in-law, Tsar Feodor I. April 13 - Edict of Nantes - Henry IV of France grants French Huguenots equal rights with Catholics. ... The council of five regents, also known as the five Tairō (五大老 go-tairō), was formed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to rule Japan in the place of his son, Hideyori, until such time as he came of age. ... Grave of Toyotomi Clan at Mount Koya Toyotomi Hideyori (豊臣 秀頼 Toyotomi Hideyori), 1593-1615, was the son and designated successor of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the general who first united all of Japan. ...

Toshiie was succeeded by his son Toshinaga. Maeda Toshinaga (前田 利長, 1562 - 1614) was the eldest son of Maeda Toshiie and married one of Tokugawa Ieyasus daughters. ...

Family

Toshiie's wife, Maeda Matsu, was famous in her own right. Strong-willed from childhood, she was well-versed in the martial arts and was instrumental in Toshiie's rise to success. After her husband died, Matsu, then known by her Buddhist nun name of Hoshun-in, assured the safety of the Maeda clan after the year 1600 by voluntarily going as a hostage to Edo, capital of the new shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, to whom she loathed throughout her life as she watched him, her husband and Hideyoshi compete for power. Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu The Tokugawa clan crest This is a Japanese name; the family name is Tokugawa Tokugawa Ieyasu (previously spelled Iyeyasu) January 31, 1543 – June 1, 1616) was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until...

Toshiie and Matsu had a number of children. Their sons, Toshinaga, Toshimasa, Toshitsune, Toshitaka, and Toshitoyo all became daimyo in their own right. Their daughters married into prestigious families; the eldest, Kō, married Maeda Nagatane, a distant relative of Toshiie who became a senior Kaga retainer; Ma'a, was a concubine of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Gō was adopted by Hideyoshi and became the wife of Ukita Hideie, and Chise, who was first wedded to Hosokawa Tadaoki's son Tadataka, later married Murai Nagayori's son Nagatsugu. Maeda Toshinaga (前田 利長, 1562 - 1614) was the eldest son of Maeda Toshiie and married one of Tokugawa Ieyasus daughters. ... Maeda Toshitsune (前田 利常, 1593 - 1658) is a brother to Maeda Toshinaga. ... Daimyo Matsudaira Katamori visits the residence of a retainer. ... Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Shinjitai (modern Japanese) writing: ; KyÅ«jitai (historical) writing: 豐臣秀吉; born Hiyoshi-maru ; coming of age (Genpuku) as Kinoshita Tōkichirō and later made Hashiba and martial nobility in the style of Hashiba Chikuzen no Kami Hideyoshi ;February 2, 1536 or March 26, 1537 – September 18, 1598), was a Sengoku... Ukita Hideie (宇喜多秀家, 1573-1655) was the daimyo of Bizen and Mimasaka provinces (modern Okayama Prefecture), and one of the council of five regents appointed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. ... Murai Nagayori ) (1543-December 6, 1605) was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku through Edo period. ...

Portrayal in popular culture

The 2002 NHK Taiga drama "Toshiie to Matsu" (利家とまつ~加賀百万石の物語) was based on the story of their lives together. Maeda Toshiie was played by Karasawa Toshiaki, and Matsu by Matsushima Nanako. Karasawa later made a special appearance as the same character in the 2006 NHK Taiga drama "Kōmyō ga Tsuji" (功名が辻) (eps 39 and 40). Taiga drama (大河ドラマ) is the name NHK gives to the annual, year-long historical fiction television series it broadcasts in Japan. ... Karasawa Toshiaki 唐沢寿明 is a Japanese theatre and film actor. ... Nanako Matsushima Nanako Matsushima ) (born October 13, 1973 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese actress and model. ...

Maeda Toshiie also appears in several video games, such as Sengoku Basara, Kessen III and Samurai Warriors, as well as manga such as Hana no Keiji (by Tetsuo Hara) in which he is portrayed as a comic relief. He will also appear in the new KOEI game as a playable character,Sengoku Musou 2:Moshouden(Samurai Warriors 2.Xtreme Legends),set to be released on 23 August 2007 in Japan Sengoku Basara is a video game for PlayStation 2 first published July 21, 2005 by Capcom. ... Kessen III is a PlayStation 2 video-game produced by Koei. ... This article may not meet Wikipedias content policies because it lacks an encyclopedic perspective. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ...

External Links

• Buke-kaden page on the Maeda clan (in Japanese)
• Maeda Geneology (in Japanese)
• Geneology of Kanazawa-han daimyo, including Toshiie (in Japanese)
• Biography (in Japanese)