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Bessho Harumasa

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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
    Bessho Harumasa
  • Concept art of Bessho Harumasa in Harima
    Concept art of Bessho Harumasa in Harima
  • Concept art of Bessho Harumasa
    Concept art of Bessho Harumasa
  • Concept art of Bessho Harumasa
    Concept art of Bessho Harumasa

Appearances

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Broken Horn
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Database: The Siege of Miki Castle
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Database: Bessho Nagaharu
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – A Voice in Anger
  5. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Database: Bessho Harumasa
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Assassin's Creed: Shadows – The Onryo Samurai
  7. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Brothers in Arms
  8. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Of My Enemy
  9. ↑ Andrew Kishino at the Internet Movie Database
  10. ↑ 治 on Wiktionary
  11. ↑ 正 on Wiktionary
  12. ↑ 別所氏 on Wikipedia
  13. ↑ 別 on Wiktionary
  14. ↑ 所 on Wiktionary

Characters
Assassins
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Minor targets
The Betrayers (Fujichika Nakayama • Endo Tomoyasu • Itakura Shigezo • Masatoshi Nakahara • Sato Genta • Sato Katsubei • Usami Yoshiko) • The Butterfly Collectors (Gamemaker • Kacho • Mucho • Richo • Shucho) • The Corrupt Daikan (Endo Riku • Gamo Morinari • Ise Asuka • Isshiki Mansaku • Izumi Bunzo • Okudaira Toshizo) • Genzaburo's Soldiers (Akane • Genzaburo • Shishimaru • Shin-no-suke • Yasokichi) • The Godai Shinobi (Kaji • Akira • Azai Jukei • Kazumi • Rokkaku Yoshimitsu) • The Hunters of Kyonyo (Inumaru • Kamakichi • Shishi-o • Toro • Tsuchi-Gumo) • The Iron Hand Guild (Ginroku • Kanta • Kin-no-suke • Tamao • The Iron Hand) • The Kabukimono (Big Sueki • Chief Cuckoo • Corrupt Blade • Ember • Ghost General • Grave Dancer • Laughing Man • Peacock) • Kurai Eikyou (The Akiyama Agent • The Blacksmith Agent • The Katsuragi Agent • The Tsutsui Agent • The Messenger) • Nobutsuna's Students (Asari Nobutane • Hozoin In'ei • Marume Nagayoshi • Nagano Saemon • Sanada Masatoyo • Yagyū Munetoshi • Yuki no Kata) • The Pirate Alliance (Kage • Little Kappa • Lopo Cruz • Oni-yuri • Sen) • The Seta River Killers (Gaspar • Ermigo • Trader • Exterminator • Builder • Contractor • Collector • Stalker • Tormentor) • The Silver Smugglers (Enju • Fernam Moreno • Takeru • Mai • Nycollaao de Castel Branco • Shinji • Yoshisada) • The Twisted Tree (Takahashi Goro • Takahashi Ichi-Hime • Takahashi Inoshichi • Takahashi Jiro • Takahashi Saburo • Takahashi Shiro • Takahashi Taro) • The Winter Raiders (Akumu • Hayate • Sobei • Jinbei • Yasha) • The Yamabushi Imposters (The Clifftop Yamabushi • The Forest Yamabushi • The Mountain Yamabushi • The Pathway Yamabushi • The Pond Yamabushi • The River Yamabushi • The Shadow Yamabushi • The Valley Yamabushi • The Village Yamabushi) • The Yokai (Ao Andon • Daitengu • Kappa (Kappa Taku • Kappa Rei) • Makuwauri no Bakemono • Oshiroi Babā • Suika no Bakemono • Taka Nyudo • Yuki-onna)
Mythic Beings
Others
Animus EGO user • The Eagle • Ego • The Guide | Akechi Mitsuyoshi • Aoi • Aoki Ujimasa • Asajiro • Bessho Nagaharu • Luís Fróis • Fujita Juro • Furuta Tanji • Fuyu • Gamo Yoshimitsu • Gennojo • Genpaku • Hatakeyama Yoshimasa • Hori Hidemasa • Hosokawa Fujitaka • Imai Sōkun • Imai Sōkyū • Ise Sadatame • Ishikawa Goemon • Kanō Eitoku • Kamiizumi Nobutsuna • Kennyo • Konishi Yukinaga • Konatsu • Kumabe Ujiie • Kuroda Yoshitaka • Kyonyo • Mamushi • Matsu • Mayu • Meiran • Mitsumune • Mori Ranmaru • Murakami Norimasa • Nakamura Tadashige • Nene • Niwa Nagahide • Norimune • Oda Nobukatsu • Oda Nobunaga • Ōta Gyūichi • Otama • Rin • Samemaru • Satoko • Shibata Katsuie • Shindo Hiroshii • Shin'nyo • Shōtei • Sorin • Suzu • Tetsuo • Tokubei • Tokugawa Ieyasu • Tatsugoro • Tominaga • Tomita Nobutaka • Toyotomi Hideyoshi • Ukita Hideie • Ujimasa • Yakichi • Yamamoto Masakatsu
Factions
Assassins (Kakushiba ikki) • Templars (Abstergo Industries (Sentinels) | Japanese Rite (Sanzoku Ippa) • Portuguese Rite • Roman Rite) • Shinbakufu • Japanese clans (Akiyama • Akechi • Bessho • Fukui • Niwa • Oda • Rokkaku • Sengoku • Takahashi • Takeda • Tokugawa • Toyotomi • Tsutsui • Ukita) • Japanese confederations (Iga ikki • Ikkō-ikki • Koga ikki) • Japanese subcultures (Ashigaru • Kabukimono • Rōnin • Samurai • Shinobi • Sōhei • Yamabushi) • Minor factions (The Butterfly Collectors • Godai Shinobi • Iron Hand Guild • Kurai Eikyou • Pirate Alliance • Seta River Killers • Winter Raiders) • Jesuits • Portuguese Empire
Locations
Japan (Awaji (Sumoto • Yura) • Harima (Aga • Himeji • Miki • Takasago) • Iga (Hijiyama • Ichinomiya (Aekuni Shrine Town) • Mibuno Vale) • Kii (Mount Kōya • Negoro-ji • Saika • Shingū) • Ōmi (Azuchi (Azuchi Castle) • Hachiman • Lake Biwa (Chikubushima) • Nagahama • Ōmizo • Ōtsu • Sakamoto • Shiotsu) • Izumi Settsu (Amagasaki • Katano • Osaka • Sakai • Takatsuki • Tomiko's Homestead) • Tamba (Fukuchiyama • Kameyama • Miyazu • Tada • Takeda • Yakami) • Wakasa (Obama • Tsuruga) • Yamashiro (Kyoto (Honnō-ji) • Shōryūji • Ujitawara • Yamazaki) • Yamato (Asuka • Katsuragi • Kōriyama • Nara Heartland (Tōdai-ji) • Takatori • Uda Matsuyama • Yoshino))
Events
Terms and concepts
Animus (Anomalies • Database • Genetic memory • Hub • Memories • Rifts) • Crafting • Kakurega • Oni • Activities (Hidden Trails • Horse Archery • Kata • Kofun • Kuji-kiri) • Collectibles (Kamon • Tea sets • Sumi-e • Kano Paintings) • Imperial Regalia • Skills (Assassination • Eagle Vision • Freerunning • Eavesdropping • Leap of Faith) • Wardrobe (Naoe • Yasuke)
Weapons and tools
Blunt weapons (Kanabō) • Bow • Firearms (Teppō) • Grappling hook • Hidden Blade • Kusarigama • Polearms (Naginata • Yari) • Shinobi Tools (Kunai • Bells • Makibishi • Nightingale floor • Shuriken • Smoke bombs • Tezutsu) • Short blades (Tantō) • Staff (Bō) • Swords (Katana)
DLC
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