Changes

* ''Other Names: Koretô Mitsuhide''

* ''Other Names: Koretô Mitsuhide''

* ''Japanese'': [[明智]] 光秀 ''(Akechi Mitsuhide)''

* ''Japanese'': [[明智]] 光秀 ''(Akechi Mitsuhide)''

==Background==

==Background==

[[Image:Akechi_mitsuhide.jpg||thumb|right|Akechi Mitsuhide.]]

[[Image:Akechi_mitsuhide.jpg||thumb|right|Akechi Mitsuhide.]]

[[Oda clan|Oda]] retainer and destroyer of [[Oda Nobunaga]]. The son of [[Akechi Mitsukuni]] (who had held [[Akechi castle]] in east [[Mino province]]), Mitsuhide first served the [[Saito clan|Saitô]] of Mino and later a certain [[Asakura Ujikage]] of [[Echizen province|Echizen]]. In [[1566]] Mitsuhide is supposed to have acted as a messenger for the 'wandering shôgun' Yoshiaki, and thereafter served Nobunaga. Mitsuhide proved himself a capable general and in 1571 was awarded Sakamoto-jo and two districts in [[Omi province|Ômi province]]. When Nobunaga went to war with the [[Mori clan|Môri clan]], Mitsuhide was assigned to lead the Oda contingent that would be marching along the northern coast of the Chugoku arm. He invaded [[Tamba province|Tamba]], where he subdued the [[Hatano clan|Hatano]], and Tango, where he clashed with the [[Isshiki clan|Isshiki]] family.  

The son of [[Akechi Mitsukuni]] (who had held [[Akechi castle]] in east [[Mino province]]), Mitsuhide first spent ten years as an unaffiliated warrior in [[Wakasa province]] around [[1557]] to [[1567]]. He served the [[Saito clan|Saitô]] of [[Mino province]] for a time, and later [[Asakura Ujikage]] of [[Echizen province|Echizen]]. In [[1566]] Mitsuhide is supposed to have acted as a messenger for the 'wandering shôgun' [[Ashikaga Yoshiaki]], and thereafter served Nobunaga. Mitsuhide proved himself a capable general and in [[1571]] was awarded [[Sakamoto castle]] and two districts in [[Omi province|Ômi province]]. When Nobunaga went to war with the [[Mori clan|Môri clan]], Mitsuhide was assigned to lead the Oda contingent that would be marching along the northern coast of the Chûgoku arm. He invaded [[Tamba province|Tamba]], where he subdued the [[Hatano clan|Hatano]], and Tango, where he clashed with the [[Isshiki clan|Isshiki]] family.  

==Conflict with Nobunaga==

==Conflict with Nobunaga==

In [[1578]] an unfortunate incident is said to have occurred involving the Hatano clan of Tamba. Eager to bring them over without further delay, Mitsuhide managed to convince [[Hatano Hideharu]] to submit. Unfortunately, Nobunaga later overturned Mitsuhide's promise of safe treatment and had Hideharu executed in [[1579]]. The Hatano responded, as one might expect, by accusing Mitsuhide of treachery, and, the story goes, somehow got ahold of his mother in Ômi and executed her in dreadful manner. Mitsuhide, needless to say, bore Nobunaga some ill will. This was enflamed by a series of public insults Nobunaga directed at Mitsuhide that drew even the attention of Western observers. Nonetheless, Mitsuhide was generally well regarded for his talents both on the battlefield and as an administrator.  

For years a fictional story involving the Hatano brothers was accepted as one of the primary reasons for turning Mitsuhide against Nobunaga. In [[1578]] an unfortunate incident is said to have occurred involving the Hatano clan of Tamba. Eager to bring them over without further delay, Mitsuhide managed to convince [[Hatano Hideharu]] to submit. Unfortunately, Nobunaga later overturned Mitsuhide's promise of safe treatment and had Hideharu executed in [[1579]]. The Hatano responded, as one might expect, by accusing Mitsuhide of treachery. As the story goes, they had received Mitsuhide's mother as a hostage and executed her in dreadful manner. Mitsuhide, needless to say, would have bore Nobunaga some ill will. However, the story has been traced to an Edo period play and there are letters showing that Mitsuhide's mother was still alive in [[1581]]. In addition, there are records of the Hatano brothers having been removed by their own troops. Somewhat better documented are a series of public insults Nobunaga directed at Mitsuhide that drew even the attention of Western observers. Nonetheless, Mitsuhide was generally well regarded for his talents both on the battlefield and as an administrator.

==The Honnoji Incident==

==The Honnoji Incident==

==Yamazaki==

==Yamazaki==

Unfortunately, Hideyoshi learned of the assassination before the Môri, and signed a peace treaty with that clan. This allowed him to force-march back east at a rapid pace, catching Mitsuhide off guard. Mitsuhide and Hideyoshi clashed at [[Battle of Yamazaki|Yamazaki]] and though the former fought bravely, his troops were defeated. Mitsuhide himself was killed while attempting to make his way to [[Sakamoto castle|Sakamoto]], which was held by his nephew, Hidemitsu ([[1560]]-[[1582]]). Soon afterwards, Sakamoto was reduced by [[Hori Hidemasa]] ([[1553]]-[[1590]]).  

Unfortunately, Hideyoshi learned of the assassination before the Môri, and signed a peace treaty with that clan. This allowed him to force-march back east at a rapid pace, catching Mitsuhide off guard. Mitsuhide and Hideyoshi clashed at [[Battle of Yamazaki|Yamazaki]] and though the former fought bravely, his troops were defeated. Mitsuhide himself was killed while attempting to make his way to [[Sakamoto castle|Sakamoto]], which was held by his nephew, Hidemitsu ([[1560]]-[[1582]]). According to some accounts, Mitsuhide killed himself, with his head being recovered by some of his retainers, who buried it at a site near [[Chion-in]] in Kyoto, where a small set of stones and plaques still mark the spot today.<ref>Plaque at site of Akechi Mitsuhide no tsuka, Kyoto.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/45695550105/sizes/l]</ref> Soon afterwards, Sakamoto was reduced by [[Hori Hidemasa]] ([[1553]]-[[1590]]).  

While Akechi would become one of the most famous men in Japanese history, if only for his treachery, the exact causes for his dramatic attack on Nobunaga, and what he hoped to accomplish once this was done, will most likely remain a mystery.

While Akechi would become one of the most famous men in Japanese history, if only for his treachery, the exact causes for his dramatic attack on Nobunaga, and what he hoped to accomplish once this was done, will most likely remain a mystery.

==Akechi Mitsuhide in Fiction==

==Akechi Mitsuhide in Fiction==

===Television===

===Television===

* ''Akechi Mistuhide'' (明智光秀) CX 2007

* ''Akechi Mistuhide'' (明智光秀) CX 2007

==Movie==

==Movie==

* ''Teki wa Honnôji ni ari'' (敵は本能寺にあり) 1960 Ôsone Tatsuo

* ''Teki wa Honnôji ni ari'' (敵は本能寺にあり) 1960 Ôsone Tatsuo