Tokugawa Ietsuna

Tokugawa Ietsuna (徳川 家綱, September 7, 1641-June 4, 1680) was the fourth shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty of Japan who was in office from 1651 to 1680. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Iemitsu, thus making him the grandson of Tokugawa Hidetada and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

The Later Years of Shogun Ietsuna (1671-1680)

Following the succession dispute of the Date, very few disturbances occurred for the remainder of Ietsuna's reign, except some defiant daimyo.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1679, Shogun Ietsuna fell ill. His sucession began to be discussed, in which Sakai Tadakiyo took an active role. He suggested that a son of Emperor Go-Sai become the next shogun, following the precedent of the later Kamakura shoguns, who in reality were members of the blood royal. Tadakiyo probably saw himself as becoming powerful like the Hojo regents, and thus many members of the Tokugawa blood prefered the son of Shogun Iemitsu and Shogun Ietsuna's younger brother, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, to become shogun. Tadakiyo retired, embaressed, and shortly after, Tokugawa Ietsuna died in 1680. He was succeeded by his younger brother, Tsunayoshi.

Related Topics:
Sakai Tadakiyo - Go-Sai - Tokugawa Tsunayoshi - Tokugawa Ietsuna - 1680

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Though Ietsuna would make an able leader, for his reign, affairs were controlled by the regents his fathers appointed, even after Ietsuna was declared old enough to rule in his own right.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~