In Defense of Akechi Mitsuhide
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- Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
- Akechi Mitsuhide, known widely as the greatest traitor in Japanese history, but also as perhaps Japan's greatest mystery. Let us explore this fascinating and influential figure, to discover the truth that may lie beneath the story of his legendary betrayal.
More "In Defense of" videos:
In Defense of Imagawa Yoshimoto: • In Defense of Imagawa ...
In Defense of Takeda Katsuyori: • In Defense of Takeda K...
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Sources:
Passages from "The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga" by Ota Gyuichi
"Hideyoshi" by Marry Elizabeth Berry
"On Haiku" by Hiroaki Sato
"Legends of the Samurai" by Hiroaki Sato
"History of the Samurai" by Jonathan Lopez-Vera
"Samurai Battles" by Michael Sharpe
Various articles from the Japanese Wiki Corpus, including www.japanesewi...
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Music:
"Gotama the Buddha" by Akira Ifukube
Artwork and Images:
The Samurai Portraits used are from the "Nobunaga's Ambition" Series and are the property of Koei Tecmo.
Classical art, which in most cases can be considered public domain.
Art from Osprey Publications.
Other modern artist renditions, if you see your work in this video please contact me so that I can give you proper credit!
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Twitter: / shogunatethe
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#Samurai #History #Japan
I already said it once: Mitsuhide was the 16th century Japan's version of an stressed out, bullied senior executive who goes postal, shows up at the POS boss's summer house in the weekend, and guns him and his own family down before torching the place. Then he shows up to the board meeting next Monday and is surprised that after making them a favour, nobody wants him as the new CEO.
Mitsuhide lived in a society
Reminds myself of Eiji Yoshikawa's narrative in novel "Taiko". Nobunaga really humiliate him in many ways possible, so Mitsuhide basically rebel out just to release his tantrum he held for past years
He's literally me fr fr
Yup. That's my take, especially because I have felt similarly underappreciated and worn down by my job and deeply resent my boss.
@@Dfathurr He had to get out of that situation no matter what.
Historically, many in the Akechi Clan had served as the Shogunate Guardmen (奉公衆) even before Mitsuhide started to serve Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the last Ashikaga Shogun, personally.
So, the Akechi clan's strong connection with Ashikaga shoguns predated Mitsuhide's employment at the Oda clan. It is quite possible Mitsuhide was given the order to assasinate Nobunaga by the former Shogun in exile. When Mitsuhide met Hideyoshi's forces at Yamazaki, many former Daimyos and retainers of the Ashikaga Shogun fought alongside with him, which seems to suggest that they believed Mitsuhide was trying to restore the Ashikaga Shogun's power.
If that was indeed the case, Mitsuhide was not a traitor at all. On the contrary, he was a thru and thru Ashikaga loyalist who never forgot which family his clan had served for generations.
I believe you’re on to something.
Nobunaga knew immediately the justification for the betrayal as soon as he heard that it was the Akechi Clan that had attacked. He fumbled the ball a few too many times and knew it too.
Nobunaga knew that it’s a part of the game. He might be mad that he died but it was like “GGWP”.
Who knows. Maybe Nobunaga was One Piece crying because he didn't expected Akechi to betray him and then he took his own life. Historians are just preserving his honor and dignity.
Nah.. Actually from what modern historian consensus agreed. The main drive of Mitsuhide can only summed in one word:
Ambition
Despite many embellishments or eccentric conspiracy theories about the background. Historical accounts and logical consrquences didnt accept the "Nobunaga wronged Mitsuhide" since many of those theories appeared only from unverified secondary sources
*Takes a deep breath*
In defense of Kobayakawa Hideaki.
Second
Yes, that's an interesting take.
@@loneshinobi2682 Third
I support interestingly enough having read more on him and the more I read about him the less I regard him in a bad light.
After watching Aoi Tokugawa Sandai, there is no way to defend Hideaki's actions lol
Mitushide is such a fascinating figure because his betrayal and his reasons for it really are ripe for spectating, exploration as has been the case over the last 500 years. With historians, samurai fans, theorists and analyses going back and forth over everything from his ties, his relationships, actions and history throughout his life.
Which has made for some fascinating portrayals of him from Kessen 3, where he is the main villain that we see throughout the game first with the Oda and getting hints he is up to no good with his scenes with Kitcho and scenes he has with Nobunaga, then seeing Honnojil and the aftermath of the What If scenario the game goes in afterwards with his final scene putting into context what drove his actions throughout. With the hard mode giving a few more scenes that adds a bit more, though not the option to play as him, which was a shame considering the other two Kessen games allowed us to play the other side we initially played as.
To Samurai Warriors 5, that shows his years between leaving Mino, with the Asakura, with the future Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki and other stuff as well.
To the Nioh series that portrays the idea of the legend around Tenkai and the Buddhist/mythology origins that surround Tenkai's character.
Mitushide could not have foreseen just how far-reaching his actions would affect the era, Japan's history and the legacy as a whole.
Whatever drove him, whether it was out of ambition? revenge over slights and actions done by Nobunaga? A play to restore the Ashikaga shogunate or merely a power play that caused him to get outplayed by the future Taiko?
The fact we still talk, write about Akechi Mitsuhide to this day is a testament to his legacy and the actions he took in his life.
Trust me, if you could understood japanese and active in Japan history discussions
Mitsuhide's betrayal is the biggest mystery of Japan till now 😂
I lost count how much conspiracy theories both from expert historian communities to amateurs or fictional novelist about the reason of Mitsuhide betrayal. No concrete consensus has been formed till this day 🤣
The truth is still out there somewhere
This video has been sponsored by the Akechi clan
In defense of Ishida Mitsunari or Yodo Dono next.
It’s baffling how these two got so much hate for going against the shogun Ieyasu. Meanwhile, figures like Sanada Yukimura, Sanada Masayuki and Toyotomi Hideyori got so much love from historians and general populace even though these three were also in the same team (the western army) as the two hated ones.
Yeah, a Mitsunari themed video of this kind is definetly needed
Mitsunari definitely.
Yoro Dono was just dumb.
Mitsunari was literally inflexible
Peoples tends to say "he was just bureucrat who not cut for military affairs"
But no, Even in the field of politic, he kinda sucks too...
He made good works on making too many enemies as the likes of Fukushima Masanori, Kuroda clan, Kato Kiyomasa, Todo Takatora etc sided with Ieyasu instead
Gotta agree with above,
Yodo-Dono single handedly caused the Toyotomi clan annihilated with her ego 😅
She could just teach Hideyori to lay low his head... so Toyotomi line could survive.. But no....
a Japanese version of the "Lost Cause" myth.
We wouldn't have gotten Samanosuke Akechi from Onimusha without Mitsuhide Akechi
Samanosuke is likely an insert by Capcom and not a real samurai of history but he's an awesome character none the less...
Mitsuhide coulda had a nephew in his army that's possible but it never comes up in the reports lol
@@judgedrekk2981 Did you really just explain to me that a game character is a work of fiction?
@@judgedrekk2981 Samanosuke is based on Akechi Hidemitsu, Mitsuhide's real life son-in-law. Sama-no-suke was a sort of title Hidemitsu was given, IIRC.
I wish I could like this 100x
. . .
Yea samanouski is from a video game franchise ofc he is fictional. So are most of his friends like ako, jacks, genma etc@@judgedrekk2981
From Shogun 2 to Persona 5, Akechi has solidified itself through the ages as a traitor's name.
It's funny that you released this today, as I was thinking about Akechi Mitsuhide earlier while cutting my lawn with my lawn tractor.
Some might wonder why I was thinking about Akechi Mitsuhide while cutting the grass; well it was either thinking about him, or the Roman Empire.
Makes sense!
you wouldn;t wanna know what i think of during grueling activities.....
"I wonder if Dracula had to suffer such indignities at the end"
"I wonder where the nukes will land when they fly.....just so i can get to ground zero"
"why don't assassins kill actual evil men? why is it always those who preach peace?" actually that last one I may have answered, the world itself wants chaos....
My ppl
The parallels between the Sengoku Jidai and the late Roman Republic clusterfuck would be worth its own video. Ieyasu and Octavianus especially played similar roles in ending the conflict. And Cato would feel right at home among samurai.
Bit of a stretch but also: Sen no Rikyu and Petronius. Both doomed aesthetes serving a tyrant with atrociously bad taste.
@@akechijubeimitsuhide Dont Sleep on Fall of Western Rome either (395-476) or Crisis of the 3rd century
Thanks :D I've tried to explain Mitsuhide to people who don't know much about the era as "ok, imagine about 80% Brutus and 20% Macbeth".
Perfect description!
He’s more like Jaime Lannister
I insist Benedict Arnold is a saint compared to Mitsuhide.
The fact that he couldnt rally enough support after his coup showed how less influence he thought he had. For me the question was what if Nobutada lived for he had such a big future.
Another thing to say about Mitsuhide (mainly about his last defeat) is that he had not much of a chance of defeating his enemies so quickly. Just 1/2 weeks from Honnoji was ver little time to actually assemble a proper army, not only because of the chaos around the chapittal and all the areas around it that belonged to the Oda and would clearly have resistance against the traitors, but also because the Hashiba made it to Yamazaki in only 10 days, which was not a reallistics time for any army to arrive from the west, so this cought Mitsuhide and his forces off-guard, adding more chaos to the organization of his armies and newly form "clan" or "faction". And on top of that, even if he would have managed to defeat the Hashiba withouth the Hosokawa, he would still have to had defeated more armies like the ones of Nobunaga's sons and the armiers of Shibata Katsuhie, all that in a short period of time and with less troups each time, and all of that witouth someone else attacking him while fighthing. Personally, I think he had no real change of winning in the long run, even he would have won Yamazaki.
Yeah he would have been screwed. Not a very smart idea but he had won against bigger odds before with Nobunaga
Not really. Had he defeated Hideyoshi, he would have first caused Chaos amongst the Oda retainers. Perhaps some enemies of the Oda like the Uesugi, Mori might have rose up in his support if the news of Nobunaga's death was publicised
He didn't do enough preparation in advance and ensure enough people were on his side, I think it could have been done but he just didn't play his cards right.
@@sumedhraosurendramalandkar4056The Mori were too far away to aid him in any significant manner, and although the Uesugi would aid against Shibata Katsuie, they wouldn't be able to help against the rest of the Oda or more significantly Tokugawa Ieyasu.
@@sumedhraosurendramalandkar4056 Uesugi no.. Their condition at that time were not well enpugh after civil war bwtween two of Kenshin's successor
Mori is probable, theyre still strong at that moment... Even Hideyoshi need to make trucr with them first before race to Yamazaki
Akechi Mitsuhide killed Oda Nobunaga
But Toyotomi Hideyoshi killed the Oda clan
Mitsuhide only got more flack because he couldn’t keep the throne more than 13 days while Hideyoshi kept his throne for 16 years. It’s all about might makes right and Hideyoshi was far mightier.
Umm... No... Actually Oda direct bloodline were preserved until this day.. Mainly through Nobukatsu..
While Toyotomi/Hashiba main branch bloodline extinct in the siege of Osaka
Ironiclally, Nobukatsu sided with Tokugawa during that siege
So the more correct words actually "Oda killed Toyotomi"
Nobukatsu definitely played the long game
nah, the oda clan survived through the ages, only Tokugawa that killed the Toyotomi entirely.
Not really, the Oda clan was already dead after both Nobunaga and Nobutada was killed because the other son's had little influence and wasnt at prominent as Nobutada. The son's were split between Hashiba and Ieyasu but werent strong enough to establish themselves independently and slowly their holdings got smaller and insignificant.
@@arielquelme They're making the point that Hideyoshi wiped them out as a political entity,not as a bloodline
i never knew how interesting mitsuhide was. Thank you for this video
Thank you, excellent video!
When you break down just how many other people also rebelled against Nobunaga, it becomes clear that there was always trouble in the Oda paradise. I think Akechi had been planning to destroy Nobunaga all along but kept a good poker face right up to Honnoji. Either he felt thst Nobunaga hadn't earned unswerving loyalty or he felt that a Japan united under him would be a dreadful place.
Another great video. It was most informative.
I didn’t know the theory that he survived and became a monk. Every day is a school day!
Honestly considering his deep convictions to Buddhism I wouldn't put it past him to bow out after he was beaten and retreat to the monastic life
That theory is even more interesting because not only does this theory suggest that he survived the battle of Yamazaki and became a monk going by the name Tenkai Nankobo but that he also went on to serve Ieyasu Tokugawa and 2 more Tokugawa shoguns as an advisor
Would be interesting & out of the box if u made "in defense of Matsunaga Hisahide"
Yasuke was not a samurai, if he was a feudal lord, no way that he would be allowed to live given his proximity to oda.
Worse, this whole thing could have worsened his relations with the portuguese, assuming yasuke was a loyal feudal lord and didn't immediately return to ennact revenge.
The problem with him surviving is that he was no "nobody". Specially since he was just a mercenary before oda.
Yasuke was by no means a feudal lord. But he was someone who was elevated to significant status.
@TheShogunate yes, very significant status.
Some people use the term "half-samurai". It's kinda nebulous though.
@@robbierobinson4110 Not lying at all. Going off of historical record. Yasuke was either VERY closely associated with the samurai or in fact was one. Call it whatever you want.
@robbierobinson4110 not a pet either.
Not samurai, not a pet, a body guard well rewarded.
@@TheShogunatewell historical things said he was servant, not figurative "samurai servant", but literal servant
Akechi Mirsuhide knew better since he called him as " just animal and not japanese" while expelling him from Japan
Incredible video! I have recently been entranced by Japanese history! Your explanation and presentation is impeccable as is the feel of immersion in your videos! Amazing video sir!
Thank you! I've been noticing your great videos as well!
Yes, I did enjoy this video. Which was even more than I thought I would, which was already a lot. As always I learned things far beyond the surface level that I had previously known. The problem with history is that there are rarely enough remaining writings of contemporaries to get an accurate portrait of an individual. So much of what we call historical sources were written well after the events happened, by authors who weren't present at the events they describe. The documents were usually written to support some person or cause with a historical figure to bolster the actions then taking place.
The reasons for Mitsuhide's actions were always somewhat murky. You have provided contexts that I had both read about, and never heard of before. The surviving as a monk I had never previously heard of. Although a fascinating story and theory, I don't give it much credence beyond wouldn't that have been amazing if it had happened. So many historical figures have had similar tales told about surviving a well believed death, and then assuming another character and living quiet reflective lives. Mitsuhide was too well known due to his past exploits to not be known and recognized.
This was yet another in the long line of amazing, and thought provoking content that you continually produce.
Thanks man!
Thanks for the upload. Love your narrations, especially paired with the information. Thanks man.
The reason why Oda Nobunaga is called "Demon" is that Ikko Ikki monks of the time gave the name due to Honganji Temple burning. After executing Mitsuhide's entire family, Nobunaga really had it coming.
Y'know who I think could use an "In Defense of"? Hojo Ujimasa. I remember for the longest time he was viewed as a loser heir to Ujiyasu, and there's the phrase "Odawara Conference" mocking him and his clan, when really, the forces Hideyoshi brought against him were unprecedented. Yet I think he was a very competent successor, probably one of the best when it comes to the heirs of legendary daimyo. Compared to guys like Imagawa Ujizane, or Oda Nobukatsu, or Otomo Yoshimune, or Mori Terumoto, and so on.
I wouldn't say Ujimasa was a very competent successor, I'd say he's a decent successor with competent brothers around to help him (Ujikuni, Ujiteru, etc)
finally man, it's valid why he betrayed Oda Nobunaga
yes this is what I was hoping for!
Thank you for an excellent discussion on one of the most intriguing characters in the whole warring states period. I've been curious about Mitsuhide since I first became aware of the history of this time in Japan. As you point out there are no hard and fast answers to the why, only speculation. Greatly enjoyed this well done vid
"Nobunaga was after his own ambition" gives the same vibe as "We'll counter and strike them in a global offensive"
"You did it Nobunaga, you truly had an Ambition: Awakening (with Power-Up Kit)"
This was really good. You should just make this a series “”Traitors” of ancient Japan”
This is gonna sound weird but this topic is my longest lasting hyperfixation about the Sengoku era, and I been waiting for this video for a WHILE! I remember you mentioning you were planning on doing it a while back in one of your older videos. I think the timing is perfect considering the announcement of AC: Shadows and the reveal that the story will focus on Yasuke, and, possibly by extension, Nobunaga and even Mitsuhide as well.
I know that the choice to play as Yasuke is controversial for some. I would have preferred a story from Mitsuhide or one of his allies’ point of view, instead. But I’m at least glad we’re getting a story about this group. Tbh, I’m a little burnt out on “we must aid Lord Tokugawa” stories lol.
Well 26:52, clearly Ubisoft had a lot to cook with Akechi Mitsuhide becoming some sort of Assasin mentor or what not.
@@snowshock8958 yeah, perhaps Ubisoft coulf polish the story of Mitsuhide expelling Yasuke from Japan because "he is just an animal" here
@@arielquelme I doubt Ubisoft would do that. Obviously Yasuke in AC will be secretly (impossible though) in Japan active somehow and helping, I heard”secretly unifying Japan” with Naoe. And I believe if ISU are involved, I won’t be surprised if Naoe is the reincarnation of a Japanese deities like Izanami. And yasuke a Japanese spirit of some sort.
@@snowshock8958 🤣
In defense of Imagawa Ujizane, Saito Tatsuoki or Matsudaira Nobuyasu next?
Still think the dude is the embodiment of doing something half cooked.... dude betrayed the most powerful man in Japan and thought he could get away with it when almost everyone beside the man he killed actually liked him. All the other Oda genrals hated this man if not outright habored grudges against him
Not exactly, I think he took a very rare opportunity at Nobunaga in a vulnerable position. I think he gambled on more generals sympathizing with him against Nobunaga and they probably did. But this was Sengoku Jidai and everyone was out for themselves, I believe Toyotomi Hideyoshi only avenged Nobunaga because he had the foresight to see that Japanese propriety would establish him as Taiko. Hell both he and Tokugawa Ieyasu literally raced to avenge him because it would place them in power. Self-serving ambitions only excluded rare unicorns like Honda Todakatsu and Uesugi Kenshin who actually put honor and morality above personal gain.
@@IsaiahRodriguez-vx4gd Yes and the big diffrence between those two and Mitsuhide is they had loyal followers while he only had what a small army of soldiers and some rag tag bunch of third class generals on his side. They went into their plans with great care and thought they didn't race as you say they did, both where playing chess while Mitsuhide played checkers. Hideyoshi did do it at first for Oda that man would been a peasent working the fields if it wasn't for him so I believe he did want to avenge him. But like all of us would done in his shoes once he realized he could take over he did.
Even mori didn't want to attack hideyoshi😂
Such rare saints i got in the name of Tachibana Dosetsu instead..
Lately i grew some love for this man career.. And IMO he is more awesome than both Kenshin or Tadakatsu
@SasoriZert yes and no..
Ieyasu has his companies of hereditary vassals who served Tokugawa/Matsudaira clan for generations
Hideyoshi? Nope.. He literally from peasant class.. So he had no established vassals on his own
Many of his later generals were actually startups too like Fukushima Masanori, Otani Yoshiysugu or Kato Kiyomasa
I just love this channel I always watch a video everyday I love Japanese history keep up the good work!
Since others have suggested Mitsunari, i would like to suggest Matsunaga Hisahide. He was always portrayed in the media as purely evil, but i read somewhere that he might not be like that at all. So i wanna hear your take on him as well.
I personally see Hisahide as an anarchist before anarchism was a thing.
@@Hilversumbornnah, historians (true historians, not internet historians) has suggested that Hisahide actually loyal to his true lord, Miyoshi Nagayoshi
His character was wrongly judged by many
Agreed.. Just he was portrayed evil just bcause he betrayed Nobunaga.. Not that i justify his treason, but before Nobunaga, he was instrymental in shogunate government (actually Miyoshi clan government)
@@arielquelme did he also assassinate the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru? Correct me if i'm wrong.
@@qq5847 objectively? No
It was his son (plus the Miyoshi trio) who was caught redhanded assassinating the Shogun..
There is no written or physical proof Hisahide involved in the murder of Yoshiteru.. If we stay true to "innocent until proven otherwise"
No we don’t know for certain that Yasuke was given the rank of samurai since the word samurai wasn’t used officially for around 50 years after his time. We know for certain that he was regarded as a warrior and was granted an estate, however he was not expected to commit seppuku when other nobles were which suggests that he was regarded as something else. A highly respected individual, but samurai always made a point about their particular family lineage which Yasuke of course didn’t have being a foreigner. Perhaps he was considered a samurai by people using that term, but the sources do not explicitly refer to him as samurai.
Great Video, Akechi Mitsuhide is one of my favourite Historical figures.
And with this video, I finally subscribed to your channel.
It's incredible how much similiar were Nobunaga and Caesar, both increased their power through conquest, both fought battle where they had a great numerical disadvantage but managed to win, and both were betrayed and killed at the highest of their power.
Ohh yes, I've been waiting for this. More than meets the eye.
"The time is now, as the rain falls down, in the fifth month"
-Poem attributed to Akechi Mitsuhide, reportedly written just before the Honno-ji Incident.
I'd like to see an In Defence of video made for the notorious Matsunaga Hisahide (aka the "Shogun-killer") one day.
That said, Nobunaga's issue is that he is in essence an EXTREMELY talented manchild. He's daring in innovating new ways, used to doing things with blatant disdain for traditional rules, and curious about all sorts of things and can spend incredible focus and time examining people and things that hold his interest, like Firearms, Western Clothing, Economical Warfare, Yasuke etc. But at the same time, Nobunaga is spoiled rotten, he's infamous for some VERY wild mood swings and temper tantrums, and if he loses interest in you, he *will* discard and utterly snub you at best (i.e. what happened to Nobuhide Sakuma after Honganji), or kick you around at worst for the smallest things that displease him. It would totally fit the bill that Mitsuhide was repeatedly on the receiving end of being kicked around like a ball by Nobunaga just because 'for the lolz'; rumors that Nobunaga physically beat Mitsuhide for serving fish not to his liking while hosting Ieyasu one day, and then had his lands taken away as punishment, were probably not altogether unfounded either, or at least, Mitsuhide had every reason to fear Nobunaga would do that given how he had treated other subordinates before, even Hideyoshi...
Luv me Akechi Mitsuhide, Luv me Shogunate simple as
On shogun TV show they kinda hinted that tokugawa knew mitsuhide would betray nobunaga(maybe even influenced him to do it) & that's why took his daughter by his side after
Lady Mariko from the show Shogun is based on his daughter :)
Even in dishonor, one may, occasionally, find honor.
This is the case for Mitsuhide, in my opinion. He betrayed his lord, thus brought great dishonor unto his family and name but I'm most certain, the right thing came out of it.
Well, he wasn't the sole traitor actually, almost all of Nobunaga's top generals betrayed his family after his death.
Hideyoshi, for example, just isn't remembered for it that much since he managed to survive the turmoil afterwards quite well and sort of managed to lay the foundation on which Ieyasu would build his shōgunate. But after all, it was mostly Hashiba Hideyoshi who usurped the Oda, since their inner unity was pitifully weak.
Generally, I wouldn't trust in the idea that with Oda Nobunaga at the top, Japan could've been sincerely unified the way the Tokugawa managed to in the end. He just doesn't seem to be the guy for it and I doubt evenmore that one of his family members would've done a better job.
Nobunaga simply was too opportunistic, even by macchiavellian standards. And he's grown careless in the end, the same thing goes with Hideyoshi. Both made mistakes they could've very well avoided that ultimately led to their clan's downfall.
Anyway, Mitsuhide is mostly remembered for being this, a traitor. I doubt that he did it for the greater good of Japan but no matter his intentions, the consequences count.
That is a lesson worthy of remembering.
But anyway, I probably only write like this since I, personally, don't particulary like Nobunaga or the Oda in general.
Well.. In case of "betrayal"... Either get rich or die tryin
U either go ballin' like Todo Takatora or Mizuno Katsunari
Or go down as traitor in history book like Akechi Mitsuhide
Sometimes history judged by the success..
well said, same thing with Toyotomi Hideyoshi or even Tokugawa Ieyasu
Akechi clan sponsored this video if you dont know lol. The main reason akechi betrayed oda is AMBITION he sense that it is the perfect day or lucky day to go grab the throne and no other day will come vulnerable so he take his chances for his ambition that night or day!
Better die like Akechi Mitsuhide than side with Ishida Mitsunari.
My guess is that Akechi Mitsuhide was outraged when Nobunaga destroyed the Ashikaga shogunate because Mitsuhide served the shogun before he joined Nobunaga. If that is true, then Mitsuhide probably patiently waited for a good chance to avenge the final downfall of the Ashikaga shogunate.
Since the Ashikaga shogunate was gone I suspect that Mitsuhide wanted to restore (almost 300 years earlier than it historically happened) the Imperial power. IMHO, the word 'heaven' in Japan and China could mean the emperor. I suspect that is what Mitsuhide meant by his poem. In China, the emperor was the Son of Heaven and he needed the Mandate of Heaven to justify his rule.
My man Nobunaga got back stabbed, betrayed and Bamboozled..
このチャンネルの動画は、常に地に足がついていて素晴らしい👍
I do wonder how different things would have been had his message to the Mori made it. Or if he'd been able to at least survive against Hideyoshi.
There is a theory that Mitsuhide colluded with Hideyoshi to kill Nobunaga, and that Hideyoshi later betrayed Mitsuhide.
I think a lot of the mystic vibes around Mitsuhide come from us not knowing why he betrayed Nobunaga or if he really survived as Tenkai. If those answers were committed to paper, Mitsuhide would likely just be some traitor general.
I have a different head canon on Mitsuhide. I see him doing it out of spite. From what I understood, he was supposed to be reinforcing Hideyoshi on the Western front since he was caught in a stalemate. I could see a trueborn samurai being pissed at the idea of reinforcing a peasant, especially one who seemed to get favor over him time and time again. He had to sit there and watch Nobunaga make a peasant and (likely) an African gaijin to be his equal for a while, and now he was sent to reinforce a struggling peasant who would still get the credit if the reinforcements turned the tide. Seeing that Hideyoshi was busy in the West and Katsuie had to keep en eye on the Uesugi, Mitsuhide saw an opportunity to finally act on his resentment, unable to foresee either being willing to turn around and march to avenge their lord.
I based this on how Mitsubide refused to give Yasuke a samurai's death. If Yasuke was made samurai by Nobunaga, it paints Mitsuhide as a man who ultimately gave little value to his former lord's words. If he was never officially made samurai, the fact that he kept Yasuke alive, despite the fact that he stood defiantly against him at Honnouji and Nijo does paint Mitsugide as looking down on him, not really mercy for his life. Obviously both versions do paint Mitsuhide in a very negative light, which would tarnish his image as the tragic hero who delivered Japan from the Demon King, which is why a lot of people choose to ignore this admittedly small detail.
At the end of the day, it's all pure speculation from all sides. We take what we know and build our version based on that. Because Mitsuhide never declared his reasons for betrayal publicly, all we're left with are theories. Mine chooses to believe it was out of elitism (and likely many other smaller events)
The title of the video definitely got my attention. The next question is how this fool thought he could assassinate Oda and not face the consequences.
That netflix samurai documentary also defended him. "Nobunaga was just crazy and had to be stopped" they said
Garbage documentary then. Man was about to forge an empire, but this bastard Mitsuhide put a stop to that and delayed Japan's glory for centuries. If ushering an empire is crazy, then its really is a pathetic world out there.
In Defense of Ishida Mitsunari next?
About mitzuhide i still think desertion would be best than the way he went, but things on the period were dire and he may have no other choice in order to escape nobunaga's reach.
I recommend to watch "Awaiting Kirin" which is an NHK drama depicting the life of Akechi
I rather recommend reading more history books
Drama was not really good for history audience
please do a in defense video of nobunaga oda and date masamune
If I'm correct, this man is the man that Toda Mariko's father in the show Shogun was meant to be loosely based on, given that Kuroda Nobuhisa was meant to be the show's version of Oda Nobunaga.
You are correct
Nobunaga was a progressive and visionary Daimyo however several his actions made his retainers and Allies went mad as follow :
1. Nobunaga ordered Ieyasu to have his first wife and son perfom seppuku for their "alleged" betrayal to Takeda Clan.
2. Nobunaga burned Mountain Hiei and let christian missionary spread catholic. This action angered Hideyoshi, a devout buddhist himself
3. Nobunaga Insulted Akechi during the tea ceremonial personally.
4. Nobunaga killed Nagamasa Azai, who was the friend of Katsuie Shibata
I dont think Ieyasu mad at all with Nobutadu committed suicide
As far as i know, by any indication of historical records, Nobuyasu was indeed accused of netrayal, not only to Nobunaga, but to his own father Ieyasu himself
What do you mean in his defense?!
You’re no Samurai…. *sniff
It seems like betrayal was par for the course and Mitsuhide had already done his share before then. It was just a matter of time.
Thank you for this video man. I learnt more about the guy now. Still absolutely hate him though. Nobunaga was about to create an empire and usher in an age of imperial might, but the bastard here castrated that hope, and delayed Japan's glory for centuries. Still utterly despise him, but this video does add some nuance to a 'complicated' individual.
Ah Mitsuhide, an interesting figure
Another question is: How much was Tokugawa Ieyasu in on it with the plan?
Even though it’s totally from 2024 Shogunverse canon that Ieyasu conspired with Mitsuhide to take down Nobunaga, in real life, both of them had the grievance against Nobunaga, especially family matters. Nobunaga got Mitsuhide’s mom killed while ordering the execution of Ieyasu’s family.
And the interesting part is that, after Honnoji, it was Ieyasu who took Mitsuhide’s daughter, Hosokawa Gracia (aka Mariko) under his protection while also having Lady Kasuga no Tsubone (who’s a daughter of Mitsuhide’s retainer) as a wet nurse for his grandson, the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu. Ieyasu not only took Mitsuhide’s people under his wings, he also gave them important positions of power. For a guy whose whole career was about fighting like hell to gain legitimacy to the throne, Ieyasu somehow treated these henchmen of “the traitor” way too well.
Close to 0% IMO
Its just unverified theory without historical backup
Even from logical perspective only, theres too stupid to think Ieyasu involved in Honnoji.. Nobunaga was his strongest backer at that time
Not to mention if he rreally involved, Ieyasu should immediately jpined Mitsuhide instead of escaping thw scene and makes dangerous journey back to Mikawa
When did Tokugawa ever have anything to do with Hosokawa Gracia? She was hidden in Hosokawa territory before she was allowed back to Osaka.
@@csl7972yeah correct.. For history avids, actually tthe more important question is how parasitic Sena(Tsukiyama) and her son Nobuyasu within Tokugawa family?
I heard they want to depose Ieyasu and seize the rein of Tokugawa clan by their own initiative..
I love the traditional art and such, but I feel guilty for just how much the way they depict horses makes me laugh.
What a tragedy.
And that's why you always construct a secret escape tunnel. 100 percent nobunaga's fault that he got killed by his underling.
Can you please talk about kodai-in ((Nene)) hideyoshi 's first wife that would be interesting I think
Crackpot theory: Mitsuhide was actually replaced with an exact clone made by a rival clan with advanced cloning technology the night before Honno-ji and was programmed to destroy Nobunaga. 😂
Akechi Mitsuhide and Ishida Mitsunari had their own cause...but they just lose the battle..
24:21 "Fought at Nijo for some time..."?
How could Yasuke do that when Nobunaga and Nobutada died on the same day!? It's just blowing smoke up Yasuke's ass again to make him look significant.
When Yasuke retreated to Nijo after Honnoji was assaulted, he was recorded to have fought there for a while, likely until Nobutada was dead and he was forced to surrender. What I was trying to get at was he did not just instantly surrender as others have been falsely saying.
@@TheShogunate IDk, man. There's some some constant inflation with Yasuke. Him being a sword bearer is thought by normies as like a bodyguard and being as celebrated as someone like Yukimura or Musashi, Nobunaga giving him a koshigatana is thought by everyone as a katana, fighting for some time is by definition a "long period of time" but it's actually less than a day or a few hours since they died on the same day.
Yeah, like I said in another response, I certainly do not believe he was a "legendary samurai" as he is being touted today. But he certainly was a a figure who had been given significant status and who we do have some record of to show what he did. Just fascinating over all.
I don't have too much of a personal gripe with the actual historical figure himself, but I don't like how in games and other forms of media he's very wishy washy at best, at worse he's rather a complete pushover or just evil. It's hard to really have a positive opinion on the dude when so much of his motivations are a mystery, a very fun mystery to discuss mind you, but I can't ever find myself rooting for him in anything.
this always makes me thing, what if Nobunaga succeeded? what would Japan be?
He so appears Samurai warrior game as well
After reading African Samurai, the true story of Yasuke and learning a lot more about Nobunaga’s character, I think he was completely justified. Nobunaga abused a ton of people and Mitsuhide was just another victim. Maybe if he had betrayed him in a different way, he would of been the second great unifier of Japan.
Yasuke was pretty much useless as Nobunaga's tool holder and easily captured by the Akechi.
@@LyssLiLi here we go again, maybe you should read the book I just mentioned
@@jonathanvillanueva9206 Those are facts. What did Yasuke do against Akechi again? Nothing. Maybe it's you who needs to read up on actual Japanese history during the Sengoku period.
I like Mitsuhide because he's the only samurai warrior in the game Samurai Warriors to actually use a katana!
Tought job. Defend him is like defending Pedro Lopez. Having a bad childhood doesn't give him a check to go on murder spree. Same as Akechi. Maybe Nobunaga wrong him a few thing, but that doesn't make him right to stab him in the back
How about his mother?
Is it wrong for an archer to kill a spearman from a distance, cavalry to kill a foot soldiers, teppo tai to kill everyone? It's just war. All strategy to get the jump on your enemy's vulnerability.
bro how dare you?
Mitsuhide koei= Noble,righteous. Capcom= Sadistic demonic
Nobunaga taken an action he knew would result in the death of Mitsuhide’s mother is justification enough for Mitsuhide to end Nobunaga IMO
Yeah, he's not as power-hungry scummy like Tokugawa.
Nobunaga was a very interesting man, though his brutality is legendary. After reading about that very brutality being displayed many times, and how he treated Mitsuhide, *if* Mitsuhide was after revenge, I can understand.
I believe Mitsuhide did future generations a favor by ending Nobunaga's life at Honnoji. Had he not betrayed Nobunaga, who knows what bloodshed there would have been.
With Tokugawa close to Oda, we probably won't have Toyotomi ruling. And if Nobunaga haven't got his ducks in a row. we'd have a Tokugawa shogunate much sooner.
Something I love about Japan is that they still keep statues of people who us westerners would consider "the bad guys"
Akechi Mitsuhide was African though, Ubisoft said so
Lol
Get a life man 🙄
@@kehinde3803 Like you who have all the life men? lol
I hate that guy but he was a more rightful shogun than ieyasu
You uploaded this in the month of Nobunaga’s death? I might have to unsubscribe.
/s JK
Nobunaga, by his deeds is a psychopath. There is absolutely NO WAY anyone else would issue his type of orders unless they were. Look up the psychopath traits and you will see; history cannot hide from human nature. He didn't care about his loyal subordinates families, beliefs or desires. He was envious that religious people weren't worshipping or following his ideas, he insulted his loyal subjects in front of anyone without regard. Just think about that, that the friggin foreign priests even knew he was rude to Mitsuhide. The only way they could have found out is if they were literally there and saw it.
My view on the subject is Nobunaga's benevolence is propaganda through and through. His natural actions were greed, gluttony, pride and conquest of anything that would give him that.
Mitsuhide was co-opted by others below him who agreed but were too kind to actually attack or go against the status quo (you swear loyalty) which led to Mitsuhide being unable to form his government to rule Japan.
Nobunaga would cut up his best friend's children if it would get him anything of benefit. Whether a few laughs, moderate wealth or more power.
You wouldn't be a warlord who almost unified Japan by being nice. Violent men fall in line because they know you're more brutal than them and can further their ambitions too.
I agree entirely.
@@poloshirtsamuraiYes, they were barbaric psychopaths, weren’t they? If they were more enlightened, diplomacy and commerce would have mostly united the country in a spirit of survival and mutual benefit, not a pathetic cycle of violence which Japan found itself caught up in. To think genocide and brutal conquest was the only solution when history proves otherwise was sadly simple-minded. For example, if society at that time didn’t look down so much on merchants, wanted more trade from westerners than mostly guns and allowed the spread of Christianity more throughout the country, things could have been different.
His nephew Samonosuke was much cooler.
The whole Yasuke part seems shoehorned in the video. Pretty insignificant compared to the events taking place at the time. One could say video game worthy.
Yasuke was only mentioned in relation to Mitsuhide trying to gain favor with the Jesuits. Get your hear out of your rear.
@@KuroNoTenno You're lying, if he stopped at "Nobunaga had taken into his service just a year prior" then I'd agree with you. But he hyped Yasuke up with some dubious ish and finished with "fought at Nijo for some time...". How could Yasuke do that when Nobunaga and Nobutada died on the same day!?
You are right to assume that I purposely gave Yasuke more time because of recent discussion regarding him thanks to the Assassins Creed controversy. There is a lot of misinformation floating around about him right now. I don't think he was a "legendary samurai" at all but he is a fascinating detail in history.
It was recorded by Luis Frois, that during the night of the Honnoji incident he went to fight at Nijo for a bit.
Insignificant enough that Luis Frois, one of our biggest contemporary sources on information about Nobunaga, wrote about it. Come on dude. Where's that energy for Ranmaru then? He was in the same position as Yasuke as being "insignificant" but it's funny how you guys don't seem to say a thing when there's just as much recorded about Ranmaru's actions in the Honnoji Incident as Yasuke, but everyone just agrees that Ranmaru was by Nobunaga's side defending him throughout the fighting, and he's often portrayed as being Nobunaga's second. So why is that acceptance not afforded to Yasuke, when we have it on record he went from Honnoji to Nijo, and fought there in the defense there?
Nope. Dishonor. Mitsuhide bad. Seppuku at sundown!
shhh----
In order to understand the Honnoji Incident, you should know the word "下剋上Ge-koku-jo". This is a trend that was generally accepted and practiced during the Sengoku period (1467-around the end of 16th century). It is a way for a person of lower rank or status to seize power by defeating a person of higher rank. Idiot, incompetent, and tyrannical daimyo would easily lose their territory, so such people were replaced, exiled, or killed by their vassals. As the scale of the battles grew, alliances between daimyos and weaker daimyos became loyal to powerful daimyos, but those who gained the upper hand could never let their guard down. To put it in an analogy, the weaker ones were "wolves," and if they are given to chances, they would bite the stronger one to death. For this reason, Nobunaga, who was on the verge of unifying the whole country, imposed heavy burdens on his vassal daimyos and allied daimyos while fighting the enemies around him. Behind the scenes, there were very tense relations between them. Under such circumstances, it was natural that betrayals and rebellions would occur, and we should not think of Akechi Mitsuhide as an exception. The true cause has not been identified, but it seems likely that he decided that he could no longer remain Nobunaga's vassal and so rebelled against his lord. In the later Edo period (1603-1867), relations of master and servant became rigid, and from that perspective the Honnoji Incident became inexplicable and immoral, with many stories about it being fabricated, and Mitsuhide deliberately was treated as the villain.
Gekokujo, "low overtaking the high", is about peasants becoming samurai. As it was for Saito Dosan and Toyotomi. IIRC, it was Toyotomi too who outlawed gekokujo (after benefitting from it) when he was made kampaku. Making samurai status only by blood which Tokugawa gladly continued.
@@poloshirtsamurai 様(sama)
Are you misinterpreting the meaning of gekokujo in a narrow way? Also, it is very difficult for a peasant to become a samurai, even in the turbulent Sengoku period. Many stories were created in the Edo period, and it is doubtful that Hideyoshi was a peasant or Saito Dosan was an oil merchant. It is more reasonable to think that Hideyoshi was able to promote because he was an ashigaru, the lowest class of samurai, and the view that Dosan succeeded to his father's obtained samurai status. A samurai needs to have not only martial arts skills, but also basic abilities such as reading, writing, and calculating, which are impossible for a peasant to have. Otherwise, the lower classes will not obey him. To advance his rule, Hideyoshi deprived the lower classes of samurai of weapons on a national scale (katana gari -sword hunt (1588)). As a result, he was somehow able to suppress armed resistance and armed struggle against the rulers, the trend of gekokujo disappeared, and the social classes were fixed.
@@佐藤広-q2u Nah, I'm pretty sure it's easier: you'd have remarkable in battle like Toyotomi, have excellent swordsmanship, etc. After Toyotomi's ruling, it sure is difficult. You'd have to be adopted to a samurai family to become one or be an expert at shipwright and navigation, etc.
@@poloshirtsamurai 様(sama)
It is common knowledge that the literacy rate of Japanese rose during the peaceful Edo period, and that the number of educated people increased, leading to the blossoming of a unique culture. Before that, up until the Sengoku period, such people were limited to aristocrats, samurai, and Buddist priests, and the gap with the classes below must have been greater than one would imagine, so it seems impossible that it would be easy to become a samurai from a lower class. Also, as you commented, what does it mean that if you were a shipwright or a navigation expert, you could become a samurai? It seems strange to me.
So gekokujo=feudalism?
The Tokugawas kept the country stagnant for the next 200 years. Under Nobunaga Japan would have Industrialised much earlier.
If sakoku never happened, the Japan everyone love now would most probably not exist.
@@poloshirtsamuraiKind of wild to think about much things would change and how that effect everything else around it.
Its kind of like how lolis probably wouldn't have been as much as a thing had it not been for Miyazaki movies directly and indirectly popularizing it during the 80s and onwards. So many anime series since then (especially in the 80s and early 90s) have adults acting sus around teenagers, which still continues in various forms and permutations to this day, albeit just a lot more subtle about it.
@IsaacSperrow perhaps if Nobunaga stay alive and keep tolerant to spanish jesuits, there is possibility Japan would gradually became colony of Spanish empire, and cannot kept their own culture.. And become poor 3rd world country in modern time
Speaking of 'what if..'
There is reasons why Hideyoshi and Ieyasu expelling the foreigners
Perhaps they have heard what the spanish did to Native Americans
Just sayin
@@arielquelme Well my comment was mainly for jokes. The loli trivia is too good to not brought up. Although yeah they either gets invaded by Spain or Britian once those two colonisers gets going. If anything in hindsight its actually impressive how much Japan kept to themselves.
You would at least think some military fleet would have went there in the 17th or 18th century, just cause, especially for what they did to Christians, but I guess that news never fully leak out outside of Japan. The people in power at the time smartly manage to placated the foregin powers enough so they don't have any interest in Japan. I guess if you gotta give them credit for anything, its that they are really good at pretending that nothing bad is happening. Like literally that is what is still happening.
@@arielquelme Well my comment was mainly for jokes. The loli trivia is too good to not brought up. Although on a serious note, yeah Japan either gets invaded by Spain or Britian once those two colonisers gets going. If anything in hindsight its actually impressive how much Japan kept to themselves.
You would think at least some military fleet would have went there in the 17th or 18th century, just cause, especially for what they did to Christians, but I guess that news never fully leak out outside of Japan. The people in power at the time smartly manage to placated the foregin powers enough so they won't have any bigger interest in Japan. I guess if you gotta give them credit for anything, its that they are really good at pretending that nothing bad is happening. Like...literally, that is what is still happening.
STOP SPREADING AKECHI PROPAGANDA
Akechi did nothing wrong. lol
Maybe he’s just ambitious and ungrateful and wanted to usurp power. The stories may have been later inventions to justify.😮
Could be!
Loooooool The best defense is playing Samurai Warriors it will make you a fan.
Damn todays a good day..found out this girl likes me from work, gonna meet up with some buddies and play mtg and a new bio vid from the shogunate...what else can you asked for?
Hey that's great man. Have a good date and keep up the good work 💪
I find it interesting that you felt the need to title this “in defence of” because I think it shows something which may not be a good habit of the English speaking community when discussing the sengoku period.
There is a tendency to stick very closely to Nobunaga, and his “successors” in Hideyoshi and Ieyasu when discussing the historical order of events during the sengoku period. This isn’t without cause as all these characters are obviously very much at the heart of those contemporary political struggles. However, it appears to me to lead to a sort of “protagonist syndrome” in which we root for and morally praise those central figures of Nobunaga and company, while seeing any opposition that they had face as either facile or malicious.
Creating this kind of narrative which applies strong personal biases for and against certain historical persons in a conflict which is for all intents and purposes alien to us might limit the ways we are able to think about and discuss this history. Or worse, it may make us inclined to ignore or even vindicate actions taken by “the protagonists of history” regardless of whether they were just, informed, or appropriate.
Akechi Mitsuhide, should he have succeeded in his coup would have likely gone down in sengoku history as a protagonist, but he lost and thus is demonized as conniving and weak willed (in his betrayal).
You've overexplained the simple concept of "history is written by the victors".
@@LOOMING_WRAITH_OF_BAD_OMEN i think what he want to convey is english speaking audience has bad comprehension about sengoku war politics
I am glad i learned about him frol Samurai warriors 5
Can't wait to watch this! Even tho Oda Nobunaga is my favorite Daimyo n Unifier, Akechi Mitsuhide is my favorite of his retainers.
I'm very happy to have seen this video about touching upon Mitsuhide. For years people have either portrayed him as either "The Traitor that killed Nobuanga" or "The Loyal General of the Oda" or a combination of the two and have yet to fully understand the mystery behind Mitsuhide's life since most have only focused upon the Honnoji incident itself. I will admit myself. For years I held a grudge and bias towards Mitsuhide Akechi when I began to delve into Japanese history upon reading about the Sengoku period- But- Seeing this video has now made me appreciate Mitsuhide Akechi more than just a historical figure of note- But as a unique individual to have lived. Especially in an age of chaos and war in Sengoku Japan. To say that Mitsuhide's betrayal was selfish and ambitious that greatly altered the course for Japan- Would only be looking at the smaller picture of his life than looking at a much grander picture. Besides, betrayal and coups were already common place in Sengoku Japan, even before the Honnoji Incident. Sure- Previous incidents may not have been history-changing significant as the Honnoji Incident- But those previous incidents did play their part- And I will say- Honnoji was the most significant shockwave that has greatly altered the course of Japanese history. Perhaps years later we will find more information on Mitsuhide Akechi and perhaps unveil the truth behind his betrayal. But all-in-all, what's done is done.
Thank you very much for this video Shogunate.