Tokugawa Iemitsu

Tokugawa Iemitsu (previously spelled Iyemitsu); ?? ?? (August 12, 1604 ? June 8, 1651) was the third shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty who reigned from 1623 to 1651. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Hidetada, and thus the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Early Life (1604-1617)

Tokugawa Iemitsu was born, it is speculated, in 1604 (his exact birthdate is unknown). He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Hidetada, and grandson of the last great unifier of Japan, and first Tokugawa Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was the first member of the Tokugawa family born after Tokugawa Ieyasu became shogun.

Related Topics:
1604 - Tokugawa Hidetada - Tokugawa Ieyasu

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Not much is known of Iemitsu's early life, even his childhood name is unknown. He had two sisters, Senhime , Kazuko, and a brother who would become a rival, Tadanaga. Iemitsu was his father's favorite.

Related Topics:
Senhime - Kazuko - Tadanaga

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In 1605, in an act of portense, Shogun Ieyasu abdicated, and his chosen heir, Hidetada, assumed the title of Shogun (Ieyasu was granted the title of Ogosho, or Retired Shogun, but effectively retained control of political power). Though little more than a figure head, Hidetada's accession of all but secured Iemitsu's destiny to become shogun.

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The track of Iemitsu's potent xenophobia was perhaps laid in his youth by his grandfather and father. Hidetada, in 1614, under pressure from Ieyasu, announced the Christian Expulsion edict, in which the practice of Christianity was banned, and all Christians were expelled from Japan. Some historians feel reverberations of this edict, can be found in Iemitsu's policies against Christians later in his life.

Related Topics:
1614 - Christians

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In 1615, the main body of the Tokugawa and their allies assaulted Osaka Castle, where Toyotomi Hideyoshi's heir, Toyotomi Hideyori, was living quietly with his mother, his wife (Senhime, Iemitsu's older sister), and their son. Iemitsu's father and grandfather disagreed about the best way to fight the enemy. Ieyasu favored a cautious, slow assault, while Hidetada favored a direct assault. Hidetada got his way. The assault was successful. Iemitsu's sister, Sen-hime, was spared, but Hideyori, his mother, and infant son - grandson to Tokugawa Ieyasu, were executed. Iemitsu was eleven years old. In 1616, Ieyasu, died, and Iemitsu's father was invested with the full political power of the freshly secured shogunate.

Related Topics:
1615 - Osaka Castle - Toyotomi Hideyoshi - Toyotomi Hideyori - Senhime - 1616

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