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.

Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu (1632-1651)

Shogun Iemitsu still had his late father's advisors and veteran daimyo advising him and being "regents" for him. In 1633, after his brother's death, he dismissed his father's advisors and eliminated a number of daimyo who were a thorn in his side. The new advisors to the shogun were all friends Iemitsu had made since childhood, and instead of giving daimyo major autonomy, Iemitsu created a strong, central, administration. This made him unpopular with the daimyo, but he visited villages alone to meet with the common people, informality which would be unheard of years later in the times of later shoguns.

Related Topics:
Daimyo - 1633

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Nonetheless, Iemitsu was still brutal. In 1633, he officially isolated Japan from the rest of the world, also banning Christianity. Christians were executed, but many fled to the Spanish Philippines or went underground, and ordered the entire Japanese population to register at a shrine or temple. In 1635, Shogun Iemitsu set up the (Sankin Kotai) or Hostage System, where the families of daimyo would live as hostages in Edo for half the year to assure loyalty.

Related Topics:
1633 - Philippines - 1635 - Sankin Kotai

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In 1637, a rebellion arose in Shimabara, known as the Shimabara Rebellion, organized mainly because of Iemitsu's anti-Christian policies. Thousands were killed in the revolt and countless more executed after. In 1639, Iemitsu officially closed off Japan from the rest of the world.

Related Topics:
1637 - Shimabara - Shimabara Rebellion - 1639

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In 1643, Empress Meisho abdicated the throne. She was succeeded by her younger half-brother (Go-Mizunoo's son, but his mother was not Tokugawa Kazuko) Emperor Go-Komyo, who heavily disliked the shogunate due to its violent and barbaric ways, at many times making degrading comments to Shogun Iemitsu and his eldest and favorite son and heir, Tokugawa Ietsuna.

Related Topics:
1643 - Go-Komyo - Tokugawa Ietsuna

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In 1651, Shogun Iemitsu died at the age of 47, being the first Tokugawa shogun whose reign ended with death, and not abdication. He was succeeded by his eldest son and heir, Tokugawa Ietsuna.

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