Description
Akechi Mitsuhide, "The Shogun of Thirteen Days", is remembered for his betrayal of Oda Nobunaga at Honnoji Temple, Kyoto, on June 21, 1582. At that time Nobunaga was close to achieving his ambition to rule over all of Japan, and his death changed the course of the Sengoku Era forever. Mitsuhide is known as Nobunaga's confidant, so why would he betray his master? Many opinions explain why Mitsuhide betrayed, this time I will tell you one of them.
Akechi Mitsuhide, born March 3, 1528 in Mino province with the nickname Jubei of the lower clan Akechi, a branch of the Toki clan. His military career began as a subordinate to the Toki clan, then served the Saito clan as a bodyguard for Saito Dozan (Oda Nobunaga's father-in-law). While serving the Saito clan, Mitsuhide was involved in the battle of Nagaragawa, against Saito Yoshitatsu's rebellion to overthrow his father, Saito Dozan. Despite winning the war, the Akechi clan was massacred by Yoshitatsu's troops, leaving only Mitsuhide and his mother.
Mitsuhide's career skyrocketed after being recruited by Oda Nobunaga as the commander of Ashigaru. Nobunaga was impressed by Mitsuhide's toughness to save Ashikaga Yoshiaki in the battle of Hongokuji Castle against the Miyoshi clan (1566). For his achievements Mitsuhide continued to rise in rank until he became Nobunaga's confidant and was given the title "Koreto Hyuga no Kami".
In 1575 Nobunaga ordered Mitsuhide to attack Yakami Castle, against the Hatano clan. Instead of carrying out a military attack, Mitsuhide offered the Hatano clan a peaceful surrender agreement by means of a hostage exchange. To honor their alliance in the past. The Hatano clan agrees, Mitsuhide sends his mother as collateral to the Hatano clan, and the Hatano clan sends Hatano Hideharu (clan leader) as collateral to the Oda Clan. Nobunaga was not happy with this agreement, he wanted the Hatano clan to surrender unconditionally, and decided to kill the hostage Hatano Hideharu. The Hatano clan is furious and kills Mitsuhide's mother. Although in the end Mitsuhide managed to conquer the Hatano clan, this victory could not cure Mitsuhide's grief over the death of his mother. The loss of the Clan, the death of his mother caused by Oda, is thought to be the reason for Mitsuhide's rebellion.
In June 1582, on his way to Bitchu province to help Hideyoshi, Mitsuhide and his 13,000 troops turned towards Honnoji Temple, Kyoto. Mitsuhide said “The real enemy is in Honnoji temple!”. Honnoji Temple was besieged, and burned, 100 of Nobunaga's followers were massacred, and Nobunaga was ordered to commit Seppuku. After his master's death, Mitsuhide assumed the post of Shogunate for the next 13 days, before being killed in an attack led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.