Senior Oda retainer: conquest of Tanba
Akechi Mitsuhide
明智光秀
birth year unknown – 1582
Senior retainer to Oda Nobunaga responsible for the conquest and governance of Tamba and the administration of Kyoto and Ōmi. He began the conquest of Tamba in 1575 but withdrew due to counterattacks around Kurai Castle, then shifted to a strategy of gradually securing castles and local powers, completing pacification by 1579. He built Kameyama Castle and, using Fukuchiyama as a base, reorganized the old samurai castles, leaving documents and traditions related to castle development, tax exemptions, and religious patronage. This Tamba rule became the foundation for him to act as an influential general with his own castles, retainers, and communication networks; the Honnō-ji Incident of June 1582 was an incident in which he advanced troops to Kyoto using this foundation. There are many perspectives on the incident's motives—personal grievance, Shikoku policy, hidden mastermind theories—but there is no decisive contemporary historical record.
Sources 福知山市「明智光秀が築いた城下町について」／福知山市「御霊神社 紙本墨書明智光秀関係文書」／福知山市「福知山城跡」
Related events
10
1575
6/29
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Month 8
The Suppression of the Echizen Ikkō-ikki
Took part in the Sugitsu assaultAfter the fall of the Asakura, the Ikkō-ikki had effectively ruled Echizen Province. Nobunaga's army crushed it with a two-pronged assault through Kinome Pass and Sugitsu. Afterward, Shibata Katsuie received eight districts of Echizen, while Maeda Toshiie, Sassa Narimasa, and Fuwa Mitsuji — the 'Three Men of Fuchū' — were granted the two Fuchū districts.
Akechi Mitsuhide Begins the Conquest of Tamba
Conquest of TanbaUnder Oda Nobunaga's orders, Akechi Mitsuhide began the conquest of Tamba. He surrounded Kuroi Castle but was forced to retreat after Hatano Hideharu defected and his army was attacked from both sides.
1577
Akechi Mitsuhide Builds Tamba Kameyama Castle
Castle building and ruleAkechi Mitsuhide built Tamba Kameyama Castle at a strategic point on the San'indō, using it as a base for the difficult conquest and subsequent governance of Tamba.
1579
Month 10
Akechi Mitsuhide Completes the Pacification of Tamba
Conquest of TanbaAfter capturing Yakami Castle, Akechi Mitsuhide subdued Onigajō and Kuroi Castle and completed the pacification of Tamba, then advanced the construction of Fukuchiyama Castle and its castle town.
1582
Month 6
Oda Nobutaka Abandons the Shikoku Expedition and Joins the Yamazaki Campaign
Took part / involvedOda Nobutaka had assembled near Osaka for an expedition to Shikoku, but abandoned it after the Honnōji Incident. He then joined Hashiba Hideyoshi's army against Akechi Mitsuhide at Yamazaki.
6/21
Incident at Honnō-ji
Akechi armyAkechi Mitsuhide assassinates Oda Nobunaga at Honnō-ji in Kyoto. Nobunaga dies.
6/25
The Chūgoku Great Return
Target of the subjugationAfter making peace with the Mōri, Hashiba Hideyoshi's army hurried from Bitchū through Himeji Castle toward the Kinai to confront Akechi Mitsuhide.
7/2
Battle of Yamazaki
Akechi armyHashiba Hideyoshi defeated Akechi Mitsuhide near Yamazaki. Mitsuhide withdrew to Shōryūji Castle, escaped during the night, and died while attempting to reach Sakamoto Castle.
7/2
Hashiba Hidenaga Supports His Brother at Yamazaki
Took part / involvedHashiba Hidenaga served in his brother Hideyoshi's army at the Battle of Yamazaki, a decisive step in Hideyoshi's rise after Akechi Mitsuhide's defeat.
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