Oda Nobukatsu

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Oda Nobukatsu (織田 信雄, 1558 – 1630), also known as Kitabatake Tomotoyo (北畠 具豊), was a Japanese samurai. The second son of Oda Nobunaga, he was adopted into the Kitabatake clan of Ise Province. Nobunaga later had key Kitabatake clan members assassinated to clear the way for Nobukatsu to rise in the hierarchy, essentially taking over the clan from within.

Biography

Wishing to establish his reputation, Nobukatsu decided to invade the neighboring province of Iga without his father's permission. In 1578, taking the Iga ikki's expulsion of their military governor as an excuse, he dispatched General Takigawa Kazumasu to build a castle for them to use as a staging point for the invasion, though Kazumasu and his men were forced to retreat in November of that year.

In October 1579, Nobukatsu opted for a larger invasion, gathering over 10,000 men and entering Iga in a three-pronged attack: 8,000 from the north, and a group of 1,500 and 1,300 from the south. Once again, however, the Iga forces used guerrilla tactics and inflicted heavy losses against Nobukatsu's army, forcing a retreat. Upon learning of his son's humiliating defeat, Nobunaga threatened to disown him, though did not follow through with it.

In late 1581, following a shinobi attack at Azuchi Castle, Nobukatsu attended a war council which his father presided over. As Nobunaga boasted of their past victories over the Ikkō-ikki monks in the Ishiyama Hongan-ji War and the Bessho clan, Tokugawa Ieyasu asserted that Iga still remained a problem. Nobukatsu insisted that the Igans had suffered heavy losses against his army, only for Ieyasu to point out that the enemy had routed his forces and were currently rallying support. Nobukatsu bowed his head in shame as his father rebuked him for trying to prove himself and provoking the Igans, whom he otherwise would have left alone. As Ieyasu, Hashiba Hideyoshi, and Akechi Mitsuhide gave their advice for an attack, Nobukatsu attempted to give his own opinion but was denied. Ultimately, Nobunaga deferred to the advice of his samurai Yasuke, who supported Mitsuhide's strategy.

On 30 September, Nobunaga led his forces to conquer Iga, proving successful in the effort. Later, in early November, Nobunaga visited Iga before withdrawing his army and giving the province to Nobukatsu to administer.

Gallery

• 
  Closeup of Nobukatsu in his usual clothing

Appearances

• Echoes of History – Shadows (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Shadows (first appearance)