Mizuno clan

Last updated

Mizuno clan
水野
Japanese Crest Mizuno Omodaka.svg
(Mon) of the Mizuno clan
Home province Owari
Parent house Taira clan
TitlesVarious
Founder Mizuno Kiyofusa
Final ruler Mizuno Tadamoto
Current headUnknown
Founding year14th century
DissolutionStill extant?
Ruled until1871 (Abolition of the han system)

The Mizuno clan, a prominent Japanese clan, held the esteemed positions of samurai and nobility. Throughout the tumultuous Sengoku period, they were the rulers of Kariya Castle in Mikawa Province, which also served as the ancestral home of Tokugawa Ieyasu's mother, Odai no Kata (Denzuin). Following the Battle of Okehaza, the Mizuno clan pledged their allegiance to Ieyasu and became one of the Fudai Daimyo during the Edo period. Known for their loyalty and service, the Mizuno clan played a significant role in the shogunate, often appointing senior members to key positions. Tadakuni Mizuno, in particular, gained widespread recognition for spearheading the Tenpo Reforms. The Mizuno family was one of the five families that continued to hold power until the abolition of domains and the establishment of prefectures in the early Meiji period. The other families included the Shimousa Yuki clan, the Kazusa Kikuma clan, the Kazusa Tsurumaki clan, the Omi Asahiyama clan, and the Kii-Shingu Domain, all of whom were chief retainers of the Kishu Domain. Following the implementation of the Peerage Ordinance, the Mizuno clan was granted the title of viscounts, while the retainers of the retainers were bestowed with the title of barons, solidifying their status within the Japanese nobility. [1]

Contents

History

The Mizuno clan's origins are documented in the "Kansei Chushū Shōka Kefu" as the Seiwa-Genji Yashima clan line. The military base was established by Minamoto no Mitsumasa, who served as the shogun of the base. Mitsumasa's 7th grandson, Shigefusa Ogawa, resided in Ogawa, Akugo, Owari Chita District, and identified himself as a member of the Ogawa clan. Shigefusa's son, Shigekiyo, lived in Kasugai District. It is believed that Shigekiyo temporarily resided in Mizunogo, which led to the adoption of the name Mizuno. In Mizuno-go, Kasugai District (Mizuno, Seto City), where the family name is associated with, there are various lineages such as Kanbuhei clan, Yoshikane line, Nagata clan, and the Mizuno clan. It is possible that there were marital connections between the Ogawa clan, the Mizuno clan, and the Minamoto clan. Another theory mentioned in the "Kanseifu" suggests that the Mizuno clan's alternate surname originated from the village of Mizuno in Saga, Kyoto. This theory states that the son of Michitsune Konoe, who held the position of Minister of the Right, resided in Mizuno-mura, Nishi-Sagano (Kazuno District), Yamashiro Province, and adopted the Mizuno family name. However, due to the early birth of Tomoshige, the son of Ogawa Shigekiyo, he was adopted by Kiyofusa and the family name was changed accordingly. This tradition is believed to be one of the reasons why the Mizuno clan later became known as the Konoe family of the Fujiwara Kita family. Subsequently, Kiyofusa Masatsune's son, was appointed as the headman of Ogawa, Abigo, and served as a gokenin and land steward in Ogawa, Chita District until the era of Masafusa.

Muromachi Period

The Mizuno clan's rise to power can be traced back to the Sengoku period in the mid-15th century. It was during this time that Mizuno Sadamori, the 14th generation of the Ogawa clan, constructed Ogawa Castle in Owari Province. This marked the beginning of the clan's expansion, as they also established Kariya Castle in Aoumi District, Mikawa Province. These two strongholds, situated across the Sakaigawa River and the Aizuma River, served as the foundation for the Mizuno clan's growing influence. As the Mizuno clan continued to assert their power, they found themselves engaged in rivalries with other prominent clans in the region. They competed with the Saji clan in Ono, Chita District, and the Toda clan in Atsumi District. In addition to Ogawa Castle and Kariya Castle, the Mizuno clan came to possess several other castles, including Otaka Castle, Tokoname Castle, Kamezaki Castle, Miyazu Castle, and Washizuka Castle. These strategic strongholds further solidified their control and allowed them to exert their influence over the surrounding territories. Under the leadership of Mizuno Tadamasa, the head of the Mizuno clan, the family took control of Ogawa Castle and Kariya Castle. This marked a significant milestone, as these were the first castles to be held by the clan since Sadamori's time. With their power base secured, the Mizuno clan expanded their territory by moving southward to the Chita Peninsula. This move put pressure on the Saji and Toda clans, while also allowing the Mizuno clan to oppress the Kira clan of Nishio Castle in Mikawa. During this period, the Mizuno clan enjoyed a close relationship with the Imagawa clan and the Matsudaira clan, who were based in the nearby area. Intermarriage between the Mizuno and Matsudaira clans was common, and the Mizuno clan's influence rivaled that of the powerful Matsudaira clan. The Mizuno clan held a position of equal power to the Matsudaira clan during this particular era. As a result of this prevailing trend, Tokugawa Ieyasu's mother, Dentsuin, who happened to be the daughter of Mizuno Tadamasa, was transferred to the Matsudaira clan.

Orimizu Alliance and Destruction

Following Tadamasa's demise, his second son, Mizuno Nobumoto, assumed control. However, he deviated from his previous pro-Imagawa stance and instead forged an alliance with Oda Nobuhide, known as the Omizu Alliance. This shift in allegiance had significant consequences, particularly for Nobumoto's sister, Odai, who was married to Matsudaira Hirotada, the patriarch of the Matsudaira family and father of Tokugawa Ieyasu. As a result of the alliance, Odai divorced Hirotada and returned to Kariya, where she resided in the Shiinoki mansion near Kariya Castle for several years until her marriage into the Hisamatsu family. However, the alliance between the Matsudaira clan and the Mizuno clan was primarily led by Hirotada's uncle, Matsudaira Nobutaka, who served as Hirotada's guardian. Due to conflicts and disagreements, Nobutaka was ostracized by Hirotada and other senior vassals. This strained the relationship between the Mizuno clan, which had been collaborating with Nobutaka, and the Matsudaira clan. Consequently, there are theories suggesting that the alliance could not be sustained. Additionally, Mizuno Nobumoto, being a samurai situated on the border between the Imagawa clan and the Oda clan, occasionally aligned himself with the Imagawa side when the Imagawa clan expanded into Nishi-Mikawa. This occurred around 1551 when Nobumoto assumed leadership of the Mizuno clan and aimed to regain control over Chita County. Furthermore, there is evidence indicating that the Tokoname Mizuno clan, a branch of the Mizuno clan, maintained communication with the Imagawa clan even after these events took place.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tokugawa Ieyasu</span> First Tokugawa shōgun of Japan (1543–1616)

Tokugawa Ieyasu was the founder and first shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was one of the three "Great Unifiers" of Japan, along with his former lord Oda Nobunaga and fellow Oda subordinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The son of a minor daimyo, Ieyasu once lived as a hostage under daimyo Imagawa Yoshimoto on behalf of his father. He later succeeded as daimyo after his father's death, serving as ally, vassal and general of the Oda clan, and building up his strength under Oda Nobunaga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oda Nobuhide</span> Japanese daimyō and magistrate

Oda Nobuhide was a Japanese daimyō and magistrate of the Sengoku period known as "Tiger of Owari" and also the father of Oda Nobunaga the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. Nobuhide was a deputy shugo (Shugodai) of lower Owari Province and head of the Oda clan which controlled most of Owari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imagawa Yoshimoto</span> Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period

Imagawa Yoshimoto was a Japanese daimyō of the Sengoku period. Based in Suruga Province, he was known as The number one Daimyō in the Tōkaidō; he was one of the three daimyō that dominated the Tōkaidō region. He died in 1560 while marching to Kyoto to become Shogun. He was killed in the village of Dengakuhazama in Okehazama by Oda Nobunaga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kariya, Aichi</span> City in Chūbu, Japan

Kariya is a city in central Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2019, the city had an estimated population of 153,162 in 66,751 households, and a population density of 3,040 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 50.39 square kilometres (19.46 sq mi).

Mizuno Nobumoto was a Japanese daimyō of the Sengoku period. He was Tokugawa Ieyasu's uncle through Matsudaira Hirotada's marriage to his sister, Odai no Kata.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mizuno Tadashige</span> Japanese retainer

Mizuno Tadashige was a retainer of the Tokugawa clan following the later years of the Azuchi-Momoyama period of the 16th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Okazaki Castle</span> Feudal-era castle in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, Japan

Okazaki Castle is a Japanese castle located in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. At the end of the Edo period, Okazaki Castle was home to the Honda clan, daimyō of Okazaki Domain, but the castle is better known for its association with Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Tokugawa clan. The castle was also known as "Tatsu-jō " (龍城).

Torii Tadayoshi was a Japanese samurai of the mid-Sengoku period. Longtime retainer of Matsudaira Hirotada and later, his son Tokugawa Ieyasu. When Ieyasu was sent to Sunpu Castle to be a hostage to the Imagawa clan, Tadayoshi served alongside Matsudaira Shigeyoshi as castle warden of Okazaki Castle. He was renowned as a model of frugality, eventually saving up enough money by the time Ieyasu returned, in order to rearm the Matsudaira (Tokugawa) clan.

Matsudaira Hirotada was the lord of Okazaki Castle in Mikawa province, Japan during the Sengoku Period of the 16th century. He is best known for being the father of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matsudaira clan</span> Japanese samurai clan

The Matsudaira clan was a Japanese samurai clan that descended from the Minamoto clan. It originated in and took its name from Matsudaira village, in Mikawa Province. During the Sengoku period, the chieftain of the main line of the Matsudaira clan, Matsudaira Motoyasu became a powerful regional daimyo under Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi and changed his name to Tokugawa Ieyasu. He subsequently seized power as the first shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan during the Edo period until the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, many cadet branches of the clan retained the Matsudaira surname, and numerous new branches were formed in the decades after Ieyasu. Some of those branches were also of daimyō status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mizuno Tadamasa</span>

Mizuno Tadamasa was a Japanese samurai lord and daimyo of the Sengoku period. He was the father of Odai no Kata, the mother of shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was a member of the Mizuno clan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fukui Domain</span>

The Fukui Domain, also known as the Echizen Domain, was a domain (han) of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan during the Edo period from 1601 to 1871.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iwasaki Castle (Owari Province)</span>

Iwasaki Castle is a hill castle located in the city of Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It was built during the Sengoku period in Owari Province and was a support castle to Shobata Castle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanuki Domain</span>

Sanuki Domain was a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan, located in Kazusa Province. It was centered on Sanuki Castle in what is now the city of Futtsu, Chiba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kariya Domain</span>

Kariya Domain was a feudal domain of the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate located in Mikawa Province, Japan, what is now part of the modern-day cities of Kariya and Anjō. It was centered on Kariya Castle, which was located in what is now the city of Kariya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tahara Castle</span>

Tahara Castle is a Japanese castle located in Tahara, southern Aichi Prefecture, Japan. At the end of the Edo period, Tahara Castle was home to the Miyake clan, daimyō of the 12,000 koku Tahara Domain.

Matsudaira Ietada was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period and the 5th daimyō (lord) of the Katahara branch of the Matsudaira clan, which was based in Katahara Castle, Mikawa Province. Ietada was also known as Matsudaira Matashichiro, and had the nickname Kii no kami, or "The Defender of Kii" (紀伊守).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odai no Kata</span> Mother of Tokugawa Ieyasu

Odai no kata, also known as Dai, Daishi, and Denzûin, was a Japanese noble lady from the Sengoku period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Muraki Castle</span> 1554 battle between the forces of Oda Nobunaga and Imagawa clan

The Battle of Muraki Castle was one of the first victories of the young Oda Nobunaga in his struggle to unite the province of Owari against the powerful Imagawa Yoshimoto, whose army had invaded the eastern parts of Owari.

References

  1. Yuji Kotabe (2006),"小田部雄次" ISBN 978-4121018366。(In Japanese)