Changes

Naosuke's adoptive mother was known as Yôkyô-in. His wife was named Masako. Naosuke had several concubines, and several children, including [[Ii Yachiyo|Yachiyo]] (a daughter by the concubine Shizu) and Yoshimaro (a son by another concubine, Sato).<ref name=corbett133/>

Naosuke's adoptive mother was known as Yôkyô-in. His wife was named Masako. Naosuke had several concubines, and several children, including [[Ii Yachiyo|Yachiyo]] (a daughter by the concubine Shizu) and Yoshimaro (a son by another concubine, Sato).<ref name=corbett133/>

In [[1846]], he was named heir apparent to the Ii household, and four years later, at the age of 36, Naosuke became head of the Ii family and lord of [[Hikone han]]. He was named Tairô in [[1858]], and was a strong supporter of [[Hotta Masayoshi|Hotta Masayoshi's]] having negotiated and agreed to the Treaty of Amity and Commerce ([[Harris Treaty]]).

In [[1846]], he was named heir apparent to the Ii household, and four years later, at the age of 36, Naosuke became head of the Ii family and lord of [[Hikone han]]. He was named Tairô on [[1858]]/4/23,<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 549.</ref> and was a strong supporter of [[Hotta Masayoshi|Hotta Masayoshi's]] having negotiated and agreed to the Treaty of Amity and Commerce ([[Harris Treaty]]).

Among his many activities as Tairô, in addition to the Ansei Purges, Naosuke suggested the succession of [[Tokugawa Iemochi]] to the position of shogun following the death of [[Tokugawa Iesada]], and restored [[Manabe Akikatsu]] to the ''[[roju|rôjû]]'' after disagreements with [[Mizuno Tadakuni]] forced Akikatsu to retire from the position.

Among his many activities as Tairô, in addition to the Ansei Purges, Naosuke pushed for [[Tokugawa Iemochi]], lord of [[Wakayama han]], to be named successor to the critically ill Shogun [[Tokugawa Iesada]] over [[Tokugawa Yoshinobu]], head of the [[Hitotsubashi family]], and restored [[Manabe Akikatsu]] to the ''[[roju|rôjû]]'' after dismissing Hotta Masayoshi from the position.

==Death==

==Death==

Naosuke was killed by [[Mito han]] loyalists outside the Sakuradamon (Sakurada Gate) of [[Edo castle]] on [[1860]]/3/3, in what is known as the ''Sakuradamongai no hen'' or [[Sakuradamongai Incident]]. Following his death, in accordance with common practice after the death of a lord, heirloom swords and other treasured possessions of Naosuke's were distributed to certain prominent lords (including close relatives), as "reminders" or "relics" of the late lord.<ref>Mori Yoshikazu 母利美和, "Buke girei to tachi" 武家儀礼と太刀, ''Gekkan bunkazai'' (1989/8), 35-36. Lords who received swords from the Ii at that time included the shogun, as well as ''[[Roju|Rôjû]]'' [[Ando Nobumasa|Andô Nobumasa]] (lord of [[Iwakidaira han|Iwakidaira]]), [[Nakagawa Hisataka]] (relative, lord of [[Oka han|Oka]]), [[Sakakibara Masakiyo]] (relative, lord of [[Takada han]]), former ''[[kanpaku]]'' [[Kujo Hisatada|Kujô Hisatada]], [[Naito Nobuchika|Naitô Kii-no-kami Nobuchika]] (son of [[Ii Naonaka]], lord of [[Nobeoka han|Nobeoka]]), Ii Hyôbu-dayû (branch family, lord of [[Yoita han]]), and [[Matsudaira Yoritoshi]] (son-in-law, lord of [[Takamatsu han|Takamatsu]]).</ref>

Naosuke was killed by [[Mito han]] loyalists outside the Sakuradamon (Sakurada Gate) of [[Edo castle]] on [[1860]]/3/3, in what is known as the ''Sakuradamongai no hen'' or [[Sakuradamongai Incident]]. Following his death, in accordance with common practice after the death of a lord, heirloom swords and other treasured possessions of Naosuke's were distributed to certain prominent lords (including close relatives), as "reminders" or "relics" of the late lord.<ref>Mori Yoshikazu 母利美和, "Buke girei to tachi" 武家儀礼と太刀, ''Gekkan bunkazai'' (1989/8), 35-36. Lords who received swords from the Ii at that time included the shogun, as well as ''[[Roju|Rôjû]]'' [[Ando Nobumasa|Andô Nobumasa]] (lord of [[Iwakidaira han|Iwakidaira]]), [[Nakagawa Hisataka]] (relative, lord of [[Oka han|Oka]]), [[Sakakibara Masakiyo]] (relative, lord of [[Takada han]]), former ''[[kanpaku]]'' [[Kujo Hisatada|Kujô Hisatada]], [[Naito Nobuchika|Naitô Kii-no-kami Nobuchika]] (son of [[Ii Naonaka]], lord of [[Nobeoka han|Nobeoka]]), Ii Hyôbu-dayû (branch family, lord of [[Yoita han]]), and [[Matsudaira Yoritoshi]] (son-in-law, lord of [[Takamatsu han|Takamatsu]]).</ref>

==Legacy==

==Legacy==

Former retainers of Hikone domain proposed that a statue of Naosuke be erected in [[1881]], but the [[Meiji government]] had declared Naosuke a "traitor to the Court," and was squarely opposed to celebrating him in such a fashion. By [[1909]], however, attitudes had changed, and the government was now supportive of celebrating figures such as Naosuke who helped "open" up Japan; a statue was erected of him in [[Yokohama]] in what is now known as Kamon-yama Park, after Naosuke's honorary title ''Kamon-no-kami''.<ref>Sven Saaler, "Public Statuary and Nationalism in Modern and Contemporary Japan," ''Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus'' 15:20:3 (Oct 15, 2017), 1-2.</ref>

Former retainers of Hikone domain proposed that a statue of Naosuke be erected in [[1881]], but the [[Meiji government]] had declared Naosuke a "traitor to the Court," and was squarely opposed to celebrating him in such a fashion. By [[1909]], however, attitudes had changed, and the government was now supportive of celebrating figures such as Naosuke who helped "open" up Japan; a statue was erected of him in [[Yokohama]] in what is now known as Kamon-yama Park, after Naosuke's honorary title ''Kamon-no-kami''.<ref>Sven Saaler, "Public Statuary and Nationalism in Modern and Contemporary Japan," ''Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus'' 15:20:3 (Oct 15, 2017), 1-2.</ref>

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