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.

Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada (1605-1623)

In 1605, Hidetada became Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada. Even though he was officially Shogun, his father still was the real power behind the bakufu.

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After he became shogun, he married Oeyo, and they had two sons, Tokugawa Iemitsu, and Tokugawa Tadanaga. They also had two daughters, one Senhime, who married twice, once of them to Toyotomi Hideyori. The other daughter, Tokugawa Kazuko, married Emperor Go-Mizunoo.

Related Topics:
Oeyo - Tokugawa Iemitsu - Tokugawa Tadanaga - Senhime - Tokugawa Kazuko - Go-Mizunoo

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Much to the dismay of Ieyasu, in 1612, Shogun Hidetada engineered a marriage between one of his daughters, Senhime, and Toyotomi Hideyori. Hideyori, who was living as a common citizen in Osaka Castle with his mother, Senhime, and infant son and heir, was attacked by a Tokugawa force led by Tokugawa Hidetada. Father and son once again split about what to do about the Osaka Winter/Summer Campaigns of 1614-1615. Ieyasu favored a conservative, slow approach, while Hideatada prefered a direct, brutal attack. In the end, Hidetada had his way, and Osaka Castle was decimated, Hideyori and his mother were executed. Even Hideyori's infant son, who was part Tokugawa himself, was not spared. Only Senhime, Ieyasu's favorite granddaughter, was spared, and later re-married and had a new family. Ieyasu, disgusted with his son, died early in 1616.

Related Topics:
Senhime - Toyotomi Hideyori

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After Ieyasu's death, Hidetada took control completely of the bakufu. He tried to strengthen the Tokugawa hold on power, and improve relations with the Imperial court. He secured a marriage with his daughter Kazuko and the emperor Go-Mizunoo. The product of that marriage, a girl, eventually succeeded to the throne of Japan, becoming Empress Meisho. The city of Edo was also heavily developed.

Related Topics:
Go-Mizunoo - Meisho - Edo

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