Database: Akechi Mitsuhide

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Akechi Mitsuhide is best known for rising against his lord Oda Nobunaga and forcing the latter to commit suicide in the Honnô-ji temple in 1582. His attempt ultimately ended in failure as he was defeated a few days later by Hideyoshi and killed during his escape. A warrior of obscure origin, Mitsuhide was first in the service of the Asakura before joining Nobunaga. He gradually rose in the military hierarchy of the latter's vassalage to become one of his main generals by fighting at places like Tamba. Nobunaga gave him the fief of Sakamoto Castle near Lake Biwa.

Several hypotheses have been made regarding the motives for his betrayal, but nothing is really clear. He is said to have blamed Nobunaga for the execution of his mother, whom he had entrusted as a hostage to Hatano Hideharu. However, this story does not appear in any reliable historical document. What is certain is that his revolt was poorly organized. He had few allies, and all those he contacted to rally to him remained passive. As a result, he was defeated at the Battle of Yamazaki by Hideyoshi, who, in the meantime, had masterfully made peace with the Mōri, returned at a forced march to Kyoto, and received reinforcements from Oda Nobutaka's troops who were in Osaka. Ultimately, Mitsuhide's uprising lasted only thirteen days. Hideyoshi took Sakamoto Castle, where Mitsuhide's relatives had taken refuge. The latter's descendants were exterminated, except for his youngest daughter Tama, married to Hosokawa Tadaoki, who remained loyal to Hideyoshi. She converted to Christianity shortly after and is known in history as Hosokawa Gracia.

Akechi Mitsuhide perfectly embodies the figure of the warrior traitor to his suzerain. Yet in Tamba, where he had some successes, he undertook reforms that generally improved the lives of the population and contributed to ensuring him some local popularity, notably development work along the region's rivers to prevent flooding and improve harvests. He also reduced the peasants' tax burdens and generally ensured good governance of his province when he was in charge. He was also a cultured man, skilled in composing poems, particularly linked poems (renga). He was also versed in the tea ceremony (chanoyu) so appreciated by Nobunaga.