Oda Nobuhide

Biography

Oda Nobuhide was born in 1510 in Owari Province, the eldest son of Oda Nobusada, the head of the Oda clan and a shugodai (deputy shugo) of the lower Owari area. Nobuhide became head of the Oda clan when Nobusada died in 1538, and became involved in open warfare as he was confronted to the north by Saitō Dōsan, the daimyō of Mino Province, and to the east by Imagawa Yoshimoto, the daimyō of Mikawa, Suruga, and Tōtōmi provinces.

At certain year, Nobuhide invaded and besiege Ida castle in Mikawa. Sakai Tadatsugu and Naitō Nobunari were reportedly sallied out fighting Nobuhide's army to defend the castle.

In 1540, Nobuhide attacked and took Anjō castle, which was held by the Matsudaira clan. He was assisted by Mizuno Tadamasa, his son, Oda Nobuhiro, was installed as the lord of the castle.

In 1542, he defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto at First Battle of Azukizaka. Nobuhide managed to hold his own against his opponents, but was never able to fully unite Owari due to constant internal struggles within Oda clan, which prevented him from achieving a complete victory.

In 1543, he donated 4000 kan (the currency of Japan at that time) to the Imperial Court in Kyoto for the repair expenses of the Imperial Palace, while Imagawa Yoshimoto's donation was 500 kan. With such financial resources, the Oda clan came to possess more power than the Shiba clan (Shugo of Owari). Nobuhide's economic policies were steadily passed down to his son and heir, Nobunaga.

In 1547, Nobuhide was defeated at the Battle of Kanōguchi by Saitō Dōsan.

In 1548, Imagawa defeated Nobuhide in the Second Battle of Azukizaka and continued to expand his territory until 1560.

In 1549, Nobuhide made peace with Dōsan by arranging a political marriage between his eldest son, Oda Nobunaga, and Saitō Dōsan's daughter, Nōhime. Dōsan supported the marriage which allowed Nobuhide to focus on facing Yoshimoto. In one of his moments of glory, Nobuhide managed to capture Matsudaira Hirotada's son and heir, Matsudaira Motoyasu (later known as Tokugawa Ieyasu) as a hostage, to en route Yoshimoto and was thus able to gain some footholds into Mikawa.

Nobuhide died unexpectedly in 1551, and his remains are interred in a little-known alley near Osu Kannon temple in Nagoya.

Succession controversy

Nobuhide's eldest son, Oda Nobuhiro, was illegitimate. Therefore, Nobuhide designated his eldest legitimate son, Nobunaga, to succeed him as the head of the Oda clan and its small domain. Nobunaga, who hardly knew his father and already had a bad reputation as a delinquent in Owari, arrived inappropriately dressed at Nobuhide's funeral and threw incense at the altar of the temple as he cursed his fate. Nobunaga's behavior and reputation resulted in almost all support that Nobuhide's retainers would have given him to disappear. Almost all Oda retainers and Nobunaga's mother Tsuchida Gozen favored his younger brother, Oda Nobuyuki, who was considered to be well-behaved and reputable. As a result, Nobunaga was left with support from Hirate Masahide and his father-in-law Saitō Dōsan, whom he had never met before, and a succession crisis. Many of Nobuhide's relatives and retainers attempted to usurp his heir, and it would take seven years for Nobunaga to consolidate his power within the Oda clan and finally unite Owari Province. Nobunaga eventually conquered most of Japan, beginning his campaign in Owari, and became known as the first of the three "Great Unifiers" of the Sengoku period.

Notable retainers

Hirate Masahide

Hayashi Hidesada

Murai Sadakatsu

Kawajiri Hidetaka

Sakuma Nobumori

Family

Father: Oda Nobusada

Brothers:

Oda Nobuyasu

Oda Nobumitsu (1516–1556)

Oda Nobutsugu

Oda Nobuzane

Sister: Lady Otsuya

Wife: Tsuchida Gozen (1511-1594), who gave birth to four of his sons (Nobunaga, Nobuyuki, Nobukane and Oda Hidetaka).

Sons:

Oda Nobuhiro (died 1574) (illegitimate oldest son)

Oda Nobunaga (1534–1582)

Oda Nobuyuki (1536–1557)

Oda Nobukane (1548–1614)

Oda Nagamasu (1548–1622)

Oda Nobuharu (1549–1570)

Oda Nobutoki (died 1556)

Oda Nobuoki

Oda Hidetaka (died 1555)

Oda Hidenari

Oda Nobuteru

Oda Nagatoshi

Daughters:

Oichi (1547–1583)

Oinu, married Saji Nobutaka and mother of Saji Kazunari