Bessho Harumasa: Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{Character Infobox | ||
|name= Bessho Harumasa | |||
[[ | |image= ACSH Bessho Harumasa Closeup 1.png | ||
'''Bessho Harumasa''' (別所 治正; died 1582), also known as '''The Ox''', was a [[Japan]]ese warrior who served as a retainer to the [[Bessho clan]] alongside [[Nakamura Tadashige]] during the late 16th century. Following the {{Wiki|Siege of Miki|fall}} of [[Miki Castle]], which served as the Bessho's clan stronghold, Harumasa sought to regain control of [[Harima]] and joined the [[Shinbakufu]] to gain the manpower to do so.<ref name=" | |death= 1582<br>[[Miki Castle]], [[Harima]], [[Japan]] | ||
|species= [[Human]] | |||
|database= [[Database: Bessho Harumasa|Bessho Harumasa]] | |||
|affiliates= [[Shinbakufu]]<br>[[Bessho clan]] | |||
}} | |||
'''Bessho Harumasa''' (別所 治正; died 1582), also known as '''The Ox''', was a [[Japan]]ese warrior who served as a retainer to the [[Bessho clan]] alongside [[Nakamura Tadashige]] during the late 16th century. Following the {{Wiki|Siege of Miki|fall}} of [[Miki Castle]], which served as the Bessho's clan stronghold, Harumasa sought to regain control of [[Harima]] and joined the [[Shinbakufu]] to gain the manpower to do so.<ref name="Broken Horn">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Broken Horn]]</ref> | |||
==Biography== | |||
===Life as a retainer=== | |||
During the {{Wiki|Siege of Miki|Siege of Miki Castle}} from 1578 to 1580,<ref name="Database">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Database: The Siege of Miki Castle]]</ref><ref name="Database2">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Database: Bessho Nagaharu]]</ref><ref name="Database"/> Bessho Harumasa was a retainer under [[Bessho Nagaharu]].<ref name="A Voice in Anger">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[A Voice in Anger]]</ref> When Nagaharu lost to [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Hashiba Hideyoshi]] and then committed ''[[seppuku]]'' alongside his wife and brother for the lives of their soldiers,<ref name="Database2">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Database: Bessho Nagaharu]]</ref><ref name="Database"/> Harumasa saw the fall of the Bessho clan and vowed vengeance. Instigating the flames of rebellion, Harumasa gained a following among the people and fought against the occupation of the [[Oda clan]].<ref name="Database3">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Database: Bessho Harumasa]]</ref> | |||
===Joining the Shinbakufu=== | |||
Harumasa's plan to rebel against the Oda occupation eventually led him to join the [[Shinbakufu]], who in return supported his war efforts to overtake [[Miki Castle]] from the Oda clan. Using his moniker "The Ox", Harumasa participated in the search for the [[Imperial Regalia of Japan|Imperial Regalia]] protected by the [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Kakushiba ''ikki'']]. However, he knew very little of what the {{Wiki|Magatama|last box}} contained and fulfilled his promise just out of obligation.<ref name="Broken Horn"/> | |||
In September 1581, Harumasa left Harima for the first time and joined his fellow Shinbakufu members during Nobunaga's [[Tenshō Iga War|invasion]] of [[Iga]] to find the regalia's jewel. The group arrived at [[Katano Castle]], where fellow member [[Ido Yoshihiro]] obtained the jewel after stealing it from the [[Mihata Kofun]]. However, the ''[[ninja|kunoichi]]'' [[Fujibayashi Naoe]] [[Assassination|assassinated]] Yoshihiro, recovered the box, and ran from the castle.<ref name="The Onyro Samurai">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[The Onryo Samurai]]</ref> | |||
Naoe attempted to escape with it, only to be ambushed and crippled by [[Yaita Wakasa]] and [[Wada Koretake]], who reclaimed the box for the Shinbakufu. Just as Naoe's father [[Fujibayashi Nagato|Nagato]] came and pushed back the pair, the remaining Shinbakufu members, including Harumasa, arrived. Ordered by their [[Horse|mounted]] [[Ashikaga Yoshiaki|leader]] to kill Nagato and secure the box, Harumasa went to attack Nagato but was swiftly countered. However, Nagato was ultimately mortally wounded him while they departed with their prize, leaving the Fujibayashi's for dead.<ref name="The Onyro Samurai"/> | |||
===Wartime in Harima=== | |||
In late June 1582, from Nobunaga's death during the [[Honnō-ji incident]], Harumasa immediately took over Miki Castle from Hideyoshi. Along with his second-in-command [[The Tsuno]], he raised an army from any locals, consisting of warriors as young as a child, willing to fight for their home no matter the cost. Leading his cause, he went towards [[Tanjosan Myoyoji Temple]] after he abducted all the monks and former general [[Nakamura Tadashige]] who left the temple after Nagaharu's loss. When Tadashige demanded to know who took him and the monks, Harumasa introduced himself and gave them all an ultimatum: join back into the fight or die at his hands<ref name="A Voice in Anger"/> | |||
Fortunately, the [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Kakushiba ''ikki'']] members Naoe and [[Yasuke]] came to rescue Tadashige and the monks but missed Harumasa who left for Miki Castle.<ref name="A Voice in Anger"/> However, Harumasa's control began to waver when Naoe and Yasuke gained allies, including former Bessho clan samurai [[Koshiro]] and his fellow conscripts,<ref name="Brothers in Arms">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Brothers in Arms (Shadows)|Brothers in Arms]]</ref> and were aided by the [[merchant]] [[Hiromichi]], who agreed to sneak Naoe into Miki Castle undetected.<ref name="Of My Enemy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Of My Enemy]]</ref> | |||
===Death=== | |||
When Naoe and Yasuke, along with Koshiro and his conscripts, launched their [[Assault on Miki Castle|assault]] on Miki Castle, Naoe took down gunmen to allow Yasuke and the conscripts to attack. Yasuke made his way through the castle grounds and was soon confronted by Harumasa, the Tsuno, and his men. While Harumasa condemned Yasuke's presence and allegiance to his former lord, Yasuke challenged Harumasa to a duel. When Harumasa accepted, The Tsuno presented himself as his challenger. When Harumasa accepted his champion, he left for the main courtyard. However, The Tsuno fought and was fatally wounded by Yasuke, while Naoe aided Koshiro save other conscripts. With most of Harumasa's forces defeated, they led Koshiro and his men away before confronting Harumasa.<ref name="Broken Horn"/> | |||
Harumasa saw the pair confront him and fought them as his last stand. However, he proved no match and fell to his knees after being defeated. Naoe then attempted to [[Interrogation|interrogate]] him about the box stolen from Iga, but Harumasa admitted that he knew nothing about the box and only left Harima to repay the Tatsu, who provided him military support for his cause.<ref name="Broken Horn"/> | |||
While Naoe was stunned from having no answers, Yasuke asked Harumasa who the Tsuno really was, but Harumasa stated that his warrior died once before and died this time as the Tsuno. When Naoe and Yasuke imparted that they will let his men have the freedom to decide, Harumasa responded that this choice was pure cowardice in times of war. Having enough, Naoe signaled Yasuke to execute him. At his end, Harumasa thanked Yasuke for a warrior's end just before Yasuke executed him. Before leaving the castle, they acquired a ''[[kanabō]]'' [[Daybreak's Fury]] from the Ox's personal effects.<ref name="Broken Horn"/> | |||
==Behind the scenes== | ==Behind the scenes== | ||
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The surname Bessho (別所) is from the clan of the same name, a cadet branch of the {{Wiki|Akamatsu clan}}.<ref>{{WP|ja:別所氏|別所氏}}</ref> It is comprised of the characters [[wikt:別#Japanese|別]] (''be, betsu, bechi'') "different, seperate, another" and the suffix [[wikt:所#Japanese|所]] (''-sho'') "place".<ref>{{WT|別#Japanese|別}}</ref><ref>{{WT|所#Japanese|所}}</ref> | The surname Bessho (別所) is from the clan of the same name, a cadet branch of the {{Wiki|Akamatsu clan}}.<ref>{{WP|ja:別所氏|別所氏}}</ref> It is comprised of the characters [[wikt:別#Japanese|別]] (''be, betsu, bechi'') "different, seperate, another" and the suffix [[wikt:所#Japanese|所]] (''-sho'') "place".<ref>{{WT|別#Japanese|別}}</ref><ref>{{WT|所#Japanese|所}}</ref> | ||
==Gallery== | |||
<gallery position="center" widths="180" captionalign="center"> | |||
ACSH Bessho Harumasa 1.png|Bessho Harumasa | |||
ACSH Bessho Harumasa in Harima Concept.jpg|Concept art of Bessho Harumasa in Harima | |||
ACSH Bessho Harumasa CA 1.jpg|Concept art of Bessho Harumasa | |||
ACSH Bessho Harumasa CA 2.jpg|Concept art of Bessho Harumasa | |||
</gallery> | |||
==Appearances== | ==Appearances== | ||
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[[Category:Individuals]] | [[Category:Individuals]] | ||
[[Category:Japanese]] | [[Category:Japanese]] | ||
[[Category:Samurai]] | |||
[[Category:Retainers]] | [[Category:Retainers]] | ||
[[Category:Bessho clan]] | [[Category:Bessho clan]] | ||
[[Category:Shinbakufu]] | [[Category:Shinbakufu]] | ||
Revision as of 09:57, 6 November 2025
Bessho Harumasa (別所 治正; died 1582), also known as The Ox, was a Japanese warrior who served as a retainer to the Bessho clan alongside Nakamura Tadashige during the late 16th century. Following the fall of Miki Castle, which served as the Bessho's clan stronghold, Harumasa sought to regain control of Harima and joined the Shinbakufu to gain the manpower to do so.[1]
Biography
Life as a retainer
During the Siege of Miki Castle from 1578 to 1580,[2][3][2] Bessho Harumasa was a retainer under Bessho Nagaharu.[4] When Nagaharu lost to Hashiba Hideyoshi and then committed seppuku alongside his wife and brother for the lives of their soldiers,[3][2] Harumasa saw the fall of the Bessho clan and vowed vengeance. Instigating the flames of rebellion, Harumasa gained a following among the people and fought against the occupation of the Oda clan.[5]
Joining the Shinbakufu
Harumasa's plan to rebel against the Oda occupation eventually led him to join the Shinbakufu, who in return supported his war efforts to overtake Miki Castle from the Oda clan. Using his moniker "The Ox", Harumasa participated in the search for the Imperial Regalia protected by the Kakushiba ikki. However, he knew very little of what the last box contained and fulfilled his promise just out of obligation.[1]
In September 1581, Harumasa left Harima for the first time and joined his fellow Shinbakufu members during Nobunaga's invasion of Iga to find the regalia's jewel. The group arrived at Katano Castle, where fellow member Ido Yoshihiro obtained the jewel after stealing it from the Mihata Kofun. However, the kunoichi Fujibayashi Naoe assassinated Yoshihiro, recovered the box, and ran from the castle.[6]
Naoe attempted to escape with it, only to be ambushed and crippled by Yaita Wakasa and Wada Koretake, who reclaimed the box for the Shinbakufu. Just as Naoe's father Nagato came and pushed back the pair, the remaining Shinbakufu members, including Harumasa, arrived. Ordered by their mounted leader to kill Nagato and secure the box, Harumasa went to attack Nagato but was swiftly countered. However, Nagato was ultimately mortally wounded him while they departed with their prize, leaving the Fujibayashi's for dead.[6]
Wartime in Harima
In late June 1582, from Nobunaga's death during the Honnō-ji incident, Harumasa immediately took over Miki Castle from Hideyoshi. Along with his second-in-command The Tsuno, he raised an army from any locals, consisting of warriors as young as a child, willing to fight for their home no matter the cost. Leading his cause, he went towards Tanjosan Myoyoji Temple after he abducted all the monks and former general Nakamura Tadashige who left the temple after Nagaharu's loss. When Tadashige demanded to know who took him and the monks, Harumasa introduced himself and gave them all an ultimatum: join back into the fight or die at his hands[4]
Fortunately, the Kakushiba ikki members Naoe and Yasuke came to rescue Tadashige and the monks but missed Harumasa who left for Miki Castle.[4] However, Harumasa's control began to waver when Naoe and Yasuke gained allies, including former Bessho clan samurai Koshiro and his fellow conscripts,[7] and were aided by the merchant Hiromichi, who agreed to sneak Naoe into Miki Castle undetected.[8]
Death
When Naoe and Yasuke, along with Koshiro and his conscripts, launched their assault on Miki Castle, Naoe took down gunmen to allow Yasuke and the conscripts to attack. Yasuke made his way through the castle grounds and was soon confronted by Harumasa, the Tsuno, and his men. While Harumasa condemned Yasuke's presence and allegiance to his former lord, Yasuke challenged Harumasa to a duel. When Harumasa accepted, The Tsuno presented himself as his challenger. When Harumasa accepted his champion, he left for the main courtyard. However, The Tsuno fought and was fatally wounded by Yasuke, while Naoe aided Koshiro save other conscripts. With most of Harumasa's forces defeated, they led Koshiro and his men away before confronting Harumasa.[1]
Harumasa saw the pair confront him and fought them as his last stand. However, he proved no match and fell to his knees after being defeated. Naoe then attempted to interrogate him about the box stolen from Iga, but Harumasa admitted that he knew nothing about the box and only left Harima to repay the Tatsu, who provided him military support for his cause.[1]
While Naoe was stunned from having no answers, Yasuke asked Harumasa who the Tsuno really was, but Harumasa stated that his warrior died once before and died this time as the Tsuno. When Naoe and Yasuke imparted that they will let his men have the freedom to decide, Harumasa responded that this choice was pure cowardice in times of war. Having enough, Naoe signaled Yasuke to execute him. At his end, Harumasa thanked Yasuke for a warrior's end just before Yasuke executed him. Before leaving the castle, they acquired a kanabō Daybreak's Fury from the Ox's personal effects.[1]
Behind the scenes
Bessho Harumasa is a character created for the 2025 video game Assassin's Creed: Shadows. He is portrayed by Andrew Kishino, who also provided the voice of Heiji and other additional characters.[9]
Etymology
Harumasa (治正) is a Japanese given name, comprised of the characters 治 (haru) "govern, regulate, administer, reign" or "cure" and 正 (masa) "correct" or "justice".[10][11]
The surname Bessho (別所) is from the clan of the same name, a cadet branch of the Akamatsu clan.[12] It is comprised of the characters 別 (be, betsu, bechi) "different, seperate, another" and the suffix 所 (-sho) "place".[13][14]
Gallery
-
Bessho Harumasa -
Concept art of Bessho Harumasa in Harima -
Concept art of Bessho Harumasa -
Concept art of Bessho Harumasa
Appearances
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Broken Horn
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Database: The Siege of Miki Castle
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Database: Bessho Nagaharu
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – A Voice in Anger
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Database: Bessho Harumasa
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – The Onryo Samurai
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Brothers in Arms
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Of My Enemy
- ↑
Andrew Kishino at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑
治 on Wiktionary
- ↑ 正 on Wiktionary
- ↑
別所氏 on Wikipedia
- ↑ 別 on Wiktionary
- ↑ 所 on Wiktionary