Honda Tadakatsu

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In this Japanese name, the surname is Honda.
Honda Tadakatsu
本多 忠勝
Lord of Ōtaki
In office
1590–1601
Succeeded byHonda Tadatomo
Lord of Kuwana
In office
1601–1609
Succeeded byHonda Tadamasa
Personal details
BornMarch 17, 1548
Mikawa Province, Japan
DiedDecember 3, 1610 (aged 62)
Edo, Japan
RelationsSanada Nobuyuki (son-in-law)
ChildrenKomatsuhime
Honda Tadatomo
Honda Tadamasa
Military service
Allegiance Matsudaira clan
Tokugawa clan
Eastern Army
Tokugawa shogunate
Unit Honda clan
Battles/warsSiege of Ōtaka Castle
Siege of Yoshida Castle (1564)
Battle of Anegawa
Battle of Hitokotosaka
Battle of Mikatagahara
Battle of Nagashino
Siege of Takatenjin (1581)
Battle of Komaki and Nagakute
Siege of Sakura
Siege of Odawara
Battle of Gifu Castle
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]

Honda Tadakatsu's birthplace monument（Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture）

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]

In June 1564, Tadakatsu competes with Hachiya Sadatsugu[a] to be appointed as vanguard commander to attack Yoshida Castle. In the end, Tadakatsu is chosen to lead the troops and they manage to defeat the garrison and forcing the castle to surrender. However, Sadatsugu were killed during the battle by commander of enemy named Masanori Kawai.[7][8][9]

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.[10] In addition, his son Honda Tadatomo became daimyo of Ōtaki.[11]

Rise to fame[edit]

in 1570, Tadakatsu gained distinction at the Battle of Anegawa against Azai and Asakura clans along with Tokugawa's ally, Oda Nobunaga.[12] In this battle, Tadakatsu were placed in the left flank along with Ōkubo Tadayo.[13]

In 1572, during the Takeda clan campaign in Mikawa, Tadakatsu participated As the forces of Tokugawa. Ieyasu sent him, Naitō Nobunari,[14] and Ōkubo Tadasuke,[15] to lead vanguard, where they meet Takeda forces led by Yamagata Masakage and Baba Nobuharu at the battle of Hitokotosaka.[16] 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][17][18][19] In the end of this battle, Tadakatsu and Naitō Nobunari fought well, as both of them manage to breaking through from the encirclement attempts by Takeda forces and manage to lead the Tokugawa forces to escape safely.[14]

Later in the same year, 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.[20] 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.[21] In the last phase of the battle, Tadakatsu recordedly fought alongside Sakakibara Yasumasa engaging Takeda clan general named Oyamada Masayuki, while Ishikawa Kazumasa were busy covering the retreat of Ieyasu from the battle.[22] 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.[16]

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 the Takeda Katsuyori army, due 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.[23] In this battle, units under Tadakatsu were facing against Yamagata Masakage, who is killed on his track by a gunner of Tadakatsu.[24][25][26] Kansei Chōshū Shokafu chronicle has recorded that in the final phase of the battle, Tadakatsu fought ferociously until the Takeda forces routed, while a retainer of Honda clan named Kaji Masamichi manage to take the heads of Yamagata Masakage and Baba Nobuharu corpses as prize.[27]

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.[28]

In 1581, Tadakatsu manage to personally kill Takeda general named Okabe Motonobu at the second Siege of Takatenjin.[29]

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.[30]

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).[31] 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".[31] Tadakatsu were rewarded with several ranks promotion here.[32]

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.

Sekigahara campaign[edit]

Tadakatsu's position in the Battle of Sekigahara.

In 1600, Tadakatsu had a major role in the Tokugawa campaign against Ishida Mitsunari faction. In September, he participate in the Battle of Gifu Castle as he joined Fukushima Masanori, Tanaka Yoshimasa, Katō Yoshiaki, Hosokawa Tadaoki, Tōdō Takatora, and Ii Naomasa in crossing a river near Hagiwara and Ogoe town, and approached the Gifu Castle with total 35,000 soldiers.[33]

Tadakatsu also played diplomatic role as he entered negotiation with Sadayasu Kato, daimyo of Hōki Province, and swayed him to side with Tokugawa faction.[34]

In October, Tadakatsu participate in the Battle of Kuisegawa. At first, two Tokugawa generals Nakamura Kazuhide and Arima Toyouji fallen into trap of ambush from the flanks as they pursuing the fleeing Western Army officers Shima Sakon and Akashi Teruzumi. However, the timely intervention of Tadakatsu giving space for Kazuhide and Toyouji to escape from Sakon aggression, and Tadakatsu manage to halt the western army from pursuing his comrades.[35][36]

Later, Honda Tadakatsu was present at the Battle of Sekigahara,[37] Ōta Gyūichi chronicles of Daifu-Kō gunki has recorded that after several western army generals such as Ōtani Yoshitsugu and Shima Sakon along with his son were slain in the battle, Tadakatsu units surging forward against the western army unimpeded until reached Nakasuji, causing the western army to rout and flee down to the Tamafuji River.[38]

After the victory of Ieyasu forces in Sekigahara, Tadakatsu and Ii Naomasa engaged in peace agreement with Mōri Terumoto.[39]

Retirement & death[edit]

In 1609, Tadakatsu retired, and his other son Tadamasa took over the position of the head of Honda clan.[40] 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]

Armor of Honda Tadakatsu, an Important Cultural Property of Japan, private collection, Iyeyasu and Mikawa Bushi Museum, Okazaki, Aichi prefecture

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.[41]

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.[42][16][40]

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.[43][44]

His horse was known as Mikuniguro.

Tonbokiri spear[edit]

Main article: Tonbokiri

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.[45]

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),Nakatsukasa Masamune (中務正宗)#[46][47] a 67 cm blade, another national treasure of Japan.[48]

Preceded by
none
 Daimyō of Ōtaki
1590–1601 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
none
 Daimyō of Kuwana
1601–1609 		Succeeded by

Popular culture[edit]

Main article: People of the Sengoku period in popular culture § Honda Tadakatsu

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.[49]

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.[50]

Appendix[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^ Hachiya Hannojō Sadatsugu was a relative of Ōkubo clan and former follower of Ikkō-ikki sect led by Kōsa who rebelled against Samurai daimyo in Mikawa. Sadatsugu later pardoned by Tokugawa Ieyasu.[5][6]

References[edit]

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  2. ^ a b Ōtaki-cho, (Chiba-ken) (1991). Ōtaki-cho shi (大多喜町史). Ōtaki-cho. p. 479.
  3. ^ Kōri, Yoshitake (2009). Kuwana-han (Dai 1-han ed.). Gendai Shokan. p. 13. ISBN 978-4-7684-7117-3. OCLC 469634113.
  4. ^ 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". 千葉史学 / 千葉歴史学会 編 (in Japanese) (54): 96–100. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  5. ^ Carol Richmond Tsang (2020). War and Faith Ikkō Ikki in Late Muromachi Japan. Brill. p. 215. ISBN 9781684174577. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  6. ^ 堀田, 正敦 (1923). "蜂屋氏". 寛政重脩諸家譜 第2輯. 國民圖書. pp. 590–591.
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  34. ^ Goki Mizuno (2020). "関ヶ原の役と本多忠勝" [The role of Honda Tadakatsu in Sekigahara]. 研究論集 歴史と文化 (Research paper of History and cultures (in Japanese) (6): 154–175. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
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  39. ^ 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 Japanese). University of Tokyo. p. 300. ISBN 978-4-13-091083-5. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
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  50. ^ "Honda Tadakatsu". rok.guide. Rise of Kingdoms. 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2024.

Bibliography[edit]

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