Changes

*''Died: [[1684]]/8/28''

*''Died: [[1684]]/8/28''

*''Posts: [[Wakadoshiyori]], [[Roju|Rôjû]], [[Tairo|Tairô]]''

*''Posts: [[Wakadoshiyori]], [[Roju|Rôjû]], [[Tairo|Tairô]]''

*Japanese: 堀田正俊 (''Hotta Masatoshi'')

*Japanese: [[堀田]]正俊 (''Hotta Masatoshi'')

Hotta Masatoshi served as ''[[roju|rôjû]]'' (chief advisor) to [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Ietsuna]] from 1679-80, and as ''[[Tairo|Tairô]]'' (head of the ''rôjû'' council) under [[Tokugawa Tsunayoshi]] from [[1681]]/12/11 until his death on [[1684]]/8/28.

Hotta Masatoshi served as ''[[roju|rôjû]]'' (chief advisor) to [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Ietsuna]] from 1679-80, and as ''[[Tairo|Tairô]]'' (head of the ''rôjû'' council) under [[Tokugawa Tsunayoshi]] from [[1681]]/12/11 until his death on [[1684]]/8/28.

==Life and Career==

==Life and Career==

His father was [[Hotta Masamori]], ''Tairô'' under the previous shogun, [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]], who committed ''[[seppuku]]'' upon Iemitsu's death in 1651. Masatoshi was then adopted by Iemitsu's nurse, [[Kasuga no Tsubone]].

Masatoshi was the third son of [[Hotta Masamori]], ''Tairô'' under the previous shogun, [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]], who committed ''[[seppuku]]'' upon Iemitsu's death in [[1651]]. Masatoshi was then adopted by Iemitsu's nurse, [[Kasuga no Tsubone]], at the order of the late Iemitsu.

He served as personal secretary to the next shogun, Tokugawa Ietsuna, for a time, before being appointed ''[[wakadoshiyori]]'' (junior councillor) in 1670. Ietsuna was already quite ill when Masatoshi was appointed ''rôjû'' in 1679, and died the following summer. At this time, another ''rôjû'', [[Sakai Tadakiyo]], in a bid for personal power, proposed that the next shogun be selected from the princely houses. He sought to be regent to this new shogun, who would be made a puppet ruler. However, Masatoshi, said to have been infuriated, voiced strong opposition to this scheme; Tadakiyo resigned his post shortly afterwards, and Ietsuna's brother [[Tokugawa Tsunayoshi]] was installed as the new shogun.

He served as lord of [[Annaka han]] in [[Kozuke province|Kôzuke province]], and personal secretary to the next shogun, Tokugawa Ietsuna, for a time, before being appointed ''[[wakadoshiyori]]'' (junior councillor) in [[1670]]. He then served as lord of [[Koga han]] in [[Shimousa province]] for a brief period; Shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna was already quite ill when Masatoshi was appointed ''rôjû'' in [[1679]], and died the following summer. At this time, another ''rôjû'', [[Sakai Tadakiyo]], in a bid for personal power, proposed that the next shogun be selected from the princely houses. He sought to be regent to this new shogun, who would be made a puppet ruler. However, Masatoshi, said to have been infuriated, voiced strong opposition to this scheme; Tadakiyo resigned his post shortly afterwards, and Ietsuna's brother [[Tokugawa Tsunayoshi]] was installed as the new shogun.

Masatoshi became ''Tairô'' soon afterwards, and was granted a domain worth 13,000 ''[[koku]]'' by Tsunayoshi. He was killed several years later, in 1684. The motives of the culprit, Masatoshi's cousin [[Inaba Masayasu]], are unknown. Following Masatoshi's death, Tsunayoshi took the opportunity to reorganize the shogunate's offices so as to weaken the ''rôjû'' and grant additional powers to the ''[[Soba-yonin|Soba-yônin]]'' (Chamberlains). Masatoshi was not succeeded as ''Tairô'', and much of his power came to be wielded by the shogun himself.

Masatoshi became ''Tairô'' soon afterwards, and was granted a domain worth 13,000 ''[[koku]]'' by Tsunayoshi. He was killed several years later, in 1684. The motives of the culprit, Masatoshi's cousin [[Inaba Masayasu]], are unknown. Following Masatoshi's death, Tsunayoshi took the opportunity to reorganize the shogunate's offices so as to weaken the ''rôjû'' and grant additional powers to the ''[[Soba-yonin|Soba-yônin]]'' (Chamberlains). Masatoshi was not succeeded as ''Tairô'', and much of his power came to be wielded by the shogun himself.

==References==

==References==

*Frederic, Louis (2002). "Hotta Masatoshi." <u>Japan Encyclopedia</u>. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.

*Frederic, Louis (2002). "Hotta Masatoshi." <u>Japan Encyclopedia</u>. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.

*Sansom, George (1963). "A History of Japan: 1615-1867." Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.

*Sansom, George (1963). "A History of Japan: 1615-1867." Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.

[[Category:Edo Period]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Samurai]]