Tokugawa Hidetada

Tokugawa Hidetada (徳川 秀忠 (May 2, 1579-March 14, 1632) was the second shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623. He was the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa bakufu.

Early Military Achievements and Sekigahara (1593-1605)

In 1598, Hideyoshi died, and Hideyoshi's son Toyotomi Hideyori, became the new ruler of Japan, with six regents - one of which was Hidetada's father, Ieyasu. Nonetheless, Hideyori was ingored by the regents who began to feud among themselves. Tokugawa Ieyasu was one of the strongest of the regents, and began to rally around an Eastern faction, while people like Ishida Mitsunari rallied around a Western faction. The person and faction to rule Japan would be decided at a critical battle, the Battle of Sekigahara.

Related Topics:
Toyotomi Hideyori - Ishida Mitsunari - Battle of Sekigahara

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Hidetada had trained in his father's army and gradually began to direct some of his father's troops. In 1600, he and 16,000 of his father's men were in Shinano, containing the Uesugi clan, who were allied with the Westerners, waiting for an order from Ieyasu to arrive at Sekigahara so that father and son could fight against the Ishida. After Ieyasu gave the notice, Hidetada took too long to arrive, since he was having trouble defeating the Ueda Clan, so by the time he arrived, Ieyasu had defeated the Western bloc and became the ruler of Japan. Hidetada and Ieyasu's relationship was never the same again because of Hidetada's tardiness during that crucial battle.

Related Topics:
1600 - Shinano - Uesugi - Ueda Clan

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In 1603, Ieyasu was granted by Emperor Go-Yozei the title of shogun. Thus, Hidetada also became the heir to the shogunate. In 1605, Ieyasu abdicated as shogun, and Hidetada became Shogun himself.

Related Topics:
Go-Yozei - Shogun

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