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==The Oda of Owari, 1534-1559==

==The Oda of Owari, 1534-1559==

[[Image:Oda_nobunaga.jpg|thumb|right|Oda Nobunaga.]]

[[Image:Oda_nobunaga.jpg|thumb|right|Oda Nobunaga.]]

Nobunaga was born Oda Kipposhi, the second son of [[Oda Nobuhide]] ([[1508]]? –[[1549]]), a minor lord whose family once served the [[Shiba province|Shiba]] shugo. Nobuhide was a skilled warrior, and spent much of his time fighting the samurai of [[Mikawa province|Mikawa]] and [[Mino province|Mino]]. He also had enemies closer to home - the Oda were divided into two separate camps, with both vying for control of [[Owari province|Owari's]] eight districts. Nobuhide's branch, of which he was one of three elders, was based at [[Kiyosu castle]]. The rival branch was to the north, in [[Iwakura castle]].  

Nobunaga was born Oda Kipposhi, the second son of [[Oda Nobuhide]] ([[1508]]? –[[1549]]), a minor lord whose family once served the [[Shiba province|Shiba]] shugo. Nobuhide was a skilled warrior, and spent much of his time fighting the samurai of [[Mikawa province|Mikawa]] and [[Mino province|Mino]]. He also had enemies closer to home - the Oda were divided into two separate camps, with both vying for control of [[Owari province|Owari's]] eight districts. Nobuhide's branch, of which he was one of three elders, was based at [[Kiyosu castle]]. The rival branch was to the north, in [[Iwakura castle]].  

The progress of the next three years is hazy. By [[1551]], however, Nobunaga was the leader of his faction of the Oda and master of Kiyosu. His principal enemy (beyond his own family) was his father's nemesis, the Imagawa. Nobunaga's northern borders (not counting the area of Mino controlled by the Iwakura Oda) were more or less secured, at least: before his death, Nobuhide had arranged for the marriage of Nobunaga to [[Saito Dosan]]'s daughter. [[Saito Toshimasa]] (Dosan) ([[1494]]-[[1556]]) was a colorful figure, a former oil-merchant (if tradition is to be believed) who supplanted the Toki family of Mino.

The progress of the next three years is hazy. By [[1551]], however, Nobunaga was the leader of his faction of the Oda and master of Kiyosu. His principal enemy (beyond his own family) was his father's nemesis, the Imagawa. Nobunaga's northern borders (not counting the area of Mino controlled by the Iwakura Oda) were more or less secured, at least: before his death, Nobuhide had arranged for the marriage of Nobunaga to [[Saito Dosan]]'s daughter. [[Saito Toshimasa]] (Dosan) ([[1494]]-[[1556]]) was a colorful figure, a former oil-merchant (if tradition is to be believed) who supplanted the Toki family of Mino.

Pausing for a moment, we see the young Nobunaga. He is estimated to have stood between 5'3" and 5'6" tall, and was a clear speaker with a strong presence about him. He was considered a not unhandsome man, with a somewhat prominent nose and scarce beard. As a young man, Nobunaga was said to have been a brash and altogether rude fellow whose behavior often bordered on the disgraceful. Supposedly, he even acted out as his father's funeral was being conducted at the Bansyo-ji. This popular view of Nobunaga's early days is in part substantiated by the suicide of [[Hirate Kiyohide]] ([[1493]]-[[1553]]), one of Nobuhide's old retainers tasked with helping Nobunaga rule. Hirade committed what was called kanshi, or remonstration through suicide. The old samurai wrote up a letter urging Nobunaga to change his ways and then slit his belly. His death is said to have had a dramatic effect on Nobunaga. He did mend his ways, and in time built the Seisyu-ji in Owari to honor his loyal retainer.  

Pausing for a moment, we see the young Nobunaga. He is estimated to have stood about 5'8" tall, and was a clear speaker with a strong presence about him. He was considered a not unhandsome man, with a somewhat prominent nose and scarce beard. As a young man, Nobunaga was said to have been a brash and altogether rude fellow whose behavior often bordered on the disgraceful. Supposedly, he even acted out as his father's funeral was being conducted at the Bansyo-ji. This popular view of Nobunaga's early days is in part substantiated by the suicide of [[Hirate Kiyohide]] ([[1493]]-[[1553]]), one of Nobuhide's old retainers tasked with helping Nobunaga rule. Hirade committed what was called kanshi, or remonstration through suicide. The old samurai wrote up a letter urging Nobunaga to change his ways and then slit his belly. His death is said to have had a dramatic effect on Nobunaga. He did mend his ways, and in time built the Seisyu-ji in Owari to honor his loyal retainer.  

By [[1558]], Nobunaga had largely managed to unify his family, although he suffered the rebellion of two brothers in so doing. In 1556, Nobuhiro, his elder brother, had plotted with the new (and hostile) lord of Mino, [[Saito Yoshitatsu]], an act Nobunaga pardoned him for. The following year, his younger brother Nobuyuki conspired with [[Shibata Katsuie]] and [[Hayashi Michikatsu]] and, if the legend is true, Nobunaga's own mother. Nobunaga learned of the treason and had Nobuyuki killed. Shibata and Hayashi, on the other hand, were spared - perhaps sending a powerful message to any other members of the Oda family who were thinking treacherous thoughts.

By [[1558]], Nobunaga had largely managed to unify his family, although he suffered the rebellion of two brothers in so doing. In 1556, Nobuhiro, his elder brother, had plotted with the new (and hostile) lord of Mino, [[Saito Yoshitatsu]], an act Nobunaga pardoned him for. The following year, his younger brother Nobuyuki conspired with [[Shibata Katsuie]] and [[Hayashi Michikatsu]] and, if the legend is true, Nobunaga's own mother. Nobunaga learned of the treason and had Nobuyuki killed. Shibata and Hayashi, on the other hand, were spared - perhaps sending a powerful message to any other members of the Oda family who were thinking treacherous thoughts.

 

As just noted, Saito Yoshitatsu was the new lord of Mino, having killed Dosan at the [[Battle of Nagaragawa]] (1556), and he was no friend to the Oda. The Oda's forts in Mino were quickly reduced, and Nobunaga's attempts to make in-roads in that province were turned back. At the same time, Imagawa Yoshimoto was knocking on Owari's southeastern door, having all but absorbed Mikawa and the Matsudaira clan. Imagawa's army had lost some of it's potency with the death of [[Sessai Choro]] in [[1555]] but Yoshimoto could call on the services of a young and skillful ally – Matsudaira Motoyasu, a man whose fate would prove inter-twined with that of Nobunaga. In 1558, Motoyasu fought his first battle - at Nobunaga's expense. Oda had recently bribed [[Terabe castle]] away from the Matsudaira, and Motoyasu, with the Imagawa's blessing, took it back, defeating a relief force sent by Nobunaga. The next year, Imagawa did a little horse-trading of his own, and lured [[Otaka castle]] away from the Oda. Nobunaga was furious, and had the fort surrounded. Soon, the garrison began to run out of food, and to lead a relief effort, Imagawa sent Matsudaira Motoyasu. Using a crafty bit of diversion, Motoyasu successfully provisioned Otaka - much to Nobunaga's chagrin.

As just noted, Saito Yoshitatsu was the new lord of Mino, having killed Dosan at the [[Battle of Nagaragawa]] (1556), and he was no friend to the Oda. The Oda's forts in Mino were quickly reduced, and Nobunaga's attempts to make in-roads in that province were turned back. At the same time, Imagawa Yoshimoto was knocking on Owari's southeastern door, having all but absorbed Mikawa and the Matsudaira clan. Imagawa's army had lost some of it's potency with the death of [[Sessai Choro]] in [[1555]] but Yoshimoto could call on the services of a young and skillful ally – Matsudaira Motoyasu, a man whose fate would prove inter-twined with that of Nobunaga. In 1558, Motoyasu fought his first battle - at Nobunaga's expense. Oda had recently bribed [[Terabe castle]] away from the Matsudaira, and Motoyasu, with the Imagawa's blessing, took it back, defeating a relief force sent by Nobunaga. The next year, Imagawa did a little horse-trading of his own, and lured [[Otaka castle]] away from the Oda. Nobunaga was furious, and had the fort surrounded. Soon, the garrison began to run out of food, and to lead a relief effort, Imagawa sent Matsudaira Motoyasu. Using a crafty bit of diversion, Motoyasu successfully provisioned Otaka - much to Nobunaga's chagrin.