Takeda clan
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The Takeda clan (秋山氏, Takeda-shi) was a Japanese samurai family that held power in the Wakasa Province during the Sengoku period. It collapsed in power in 1582 when Oda Nobunaga ultimately defeated the clan during his campaign.[1]
History
Conflict with the Oda clan
Near the middle of the 15th century, the Takeda clan had held power in Wakasa and maintained political alliances with the Ashikaga shogunate up until the 16th century. It had continued its trade and cultural exchanges within Kyoto.[2]
In 1568, the Asakura clan conquered the province and placed the young head of the Takeda clan under their protection.[2] However, when Oda Nobunaga started his campaign to unify Japan, the Takeda clan opposed the new alliance between the Oda clan and the Tokugawa clan.
In 1573, at the Battle of Mikatagahara, Takeda Shingen, leader of the clan, successfully won against Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu's forces. With this progression, he pursued Ieyasu to Mikawa, however he was soon slain by the Assassin Hattori Hanzō and Ieyasu's general Honda Tadakatsu.[3]
With Shingen's death, the clan fell into power. As a consequence, young samurai Takeda Motoaki suffered major losses, such as losing Nochiseyama Castle[4][5] and his partner to the battles against Nobunaga. As a result, he harbored resented towards the Niwa clan, especially its leader Niwa Nagahide, one of Nobunaga's generals, who was gifted Wakasa as a reward for his loyalty.[4]
In 1575, Nobunaga and Ieyasu defeated the clan easily during the Battle of Nagashino, leading the Takeda clan to fall further in power.[6] Within four years, Omaki, Takeda Yoshimune's daughter and Akechi Mitsuhide's mother, was killed in a hostage situation as a response after Nobunaga killed Hatano Hideharu at Yakami Castle. This led to Mitsuhide to hold Nobunaga personally responsible for her death.[7]
Alliance with the Shinbakufu
With the desire to resurrect his clan's power and to avenge his family, Motoaki joined the Shinbakufu, a secret collective led by deposed Shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, in order to eliminate the Niwa clan and retake Nochiseyama.[4]
In September 1581, during the invasion of Iga, Motokai joined his fellow Shinbakufu in search of the Imperial Regalia. Ultimately, they recovered the box holding the Jewel while killing the remaining Kakushiba ikki member Fujibayashi Nagato and his daughter Fujibayashi Naoe. While the Shinbakufu left them to die, Naoe survived her wounds and vowed her revenge for the death of her father.[8]
In 1582, despite their alliance with the Mōri clan, the Takeda clan suffered even more losses and was ultimately annilihated at the Battle of Tenmokuzan.[9] In late June, after Nobunaga committed suicide during the Honnō-ji incident,[10] Motoaki enacted his plan against the Niwa clan. With the help of the Pirate Alliance, Motokai had promised the pirates' leader Samemaru a shipment of slaves, yet failed to deliver.[11]
One day, Motoaki initiated an attack against Nagahide at his estate. However, Naoe and her ally and former Oda retainer Yasuke came and saved Nagahide from the pirates.[12] Despite the setback, he continued to plan and enacted a second attack on Nagahide's relatives at Tsuruga Castle. However, due to Naoe and Yasuke's interference again, it failed.[13] With these failed outcomes, Motoaki ended his partnership and decided to eliminate the pirates and their leader Samemaru.[4]
However, one night, Motoaki played his tune towards Nochiseyama before being interrupted by Naoe,[4] who figured out the tune with the help of his mentor Shido.[14] Without regret, Motoaki admitted that he wanted justice for what he had lost before challenging Naoe to a duel. However, Motoaki was fatally wounded and asked Naoe to take his biwa to Shido before succumbing to his wounds. With his demise, the Niwa clan was left alone and one more Shinbakufu member fell to the Kakushiba ikki.[4]
Notable members
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed: Memories (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Shadows
References
- ↑
Takeda clan on Wikipedia
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Database: Wakasa
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Memories
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – The Performer
- ↑ Nochiseyama Castle on Wikipedia
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Database: Oda Nobunaga
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Database: Tamba
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – The Onryo Samurai
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Database: Mori Ranmaru
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Temple of the Horseman
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Smuggler's Gambit
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Red Walls
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Revenge
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – The Music