What is your favorite person in Japanese history?
If that question is asked, Ryoma Sakamoto or Nobunaga Oda will generally be number one.
Speaking of Oda Nobunaga, he is famous for evaluating his subordinates on a pay-for-performance basis, regardless of his family or ideology.
This time, let's take a look at "Niwa Nagahide," a military commander who was particularly talented among the Oda Nobunaga vassals.
The loyal retainer of the Oda clan in both Bunbu and Budo
During the Warring States period, Mr. Shiba and Mr. Oda were intricately fighting for power around Nagoya.
Even at Oda Nobunaga's house, even though Oda Nobuhide himself nominated his third son Nobunaga as his successor, Katsuie Shibata and Katsuhisa Hayashi, who is a leading figure in Nobunaga's upbringing, took on his younger brother Nobunaga and fought. If so.
Nagahide Niwa began serving Nobunaga in 1550.
His father, Nobuhide, died in 1552, the battle between Nobunaga and Nobunaga was around 1556, and Nagahide Niwa had been serving Nobunaga consistently since Nobunaga was called Oda Nobunaga. For Nobunaga, it can be said that he is a confidant.
It is said that Mr. Niwa originally served Mr. Shiba, but he has served the Oda clan since the generation of Nagahide Niwa's father.
Nagahide Niwa is one year younger than Nobunaga Oda, and since he was 15 years old, he has been following Nobunaga as a recent lesson and has participated in most of the major battles.
He was on the side of Nobunaga during the battle with Nobunaga, and of course participated in the battle with Imagawa.
It was during the battle with Ryuoki Saito who was in Mino that he gave a merit that seems to be a merit, and in the subsequent battle with Mr. Rokkaku, he gradually increased his activity such as attacking Minowa Castle with Hideyoshi.
In the battle of Anegawa, which is the battle with Asai and Asakura, he succeeded in attacking Sawayama Castle, which is known for its robustness, and surrendering Kazumasa Isono by persuading him.
In 1573, Wakasa Province was given by Nobunaga, and became the first military commander to be given a country among Nobunaga's vassals. It can be said that it is an episode that shows how Nobunaga gave preferential treatment to Nagahide Niwa.
In 1576, he served as a general magistrate at Azuchi Castle Ruins, and carried out his duties without delay until completion, showing his high political ability.
After that, under Nobunaga, he will fight against various forces such as Ishiyama Hongan-ji, Takeda, and Ikko-ikki, and each of them will give a glimpse of the appearance of both Bunbu and Budo.
It is in the second place after the Shibata Katsuie in terms of the seating order of the Oda clan's elders, and both played an active role as two heroes.
After the Honnoji Incident
Nobunaga was supposed to take the world, but he was rebelled by Akechi Mitsuhide at the Honnoji Incident.
At that time, Nagahide Niwa went to subdue Mr. Chosokabe in Shikoku as a deputy general of Nobunaga's third son, Nobutaka Oda.
Upon hearing the news of Nobunaga's death, he joined Hideyoshi's army and defeated Akechi Mitsuhide at the Battle of Yamazaki.
After that, he faced the battle of Shizugatake, which is the decisive battle with Katsuie Shibata, on the side of Hideyoshi, and fought against Mr. Tokugawa in the battle of Komaki, which is the battle with Tokugawa.
Hideyoshi was given the two countries of Wakasa and Echizen, the Kaga Peninsula, to Nagahide Niwa, and became a lord of 1.23 million stones.
In 1585, the master died. He died of stones and was 51 years old.
At the end, there is an episode in which he wrote a letter to Hideyoshi, cut his belly, took out a stone, and sent it to Hideyoshi.
No one knows if that is true now.
Personal evaluation of Nagahide Niwa
Hideyoshi Hashiba's "feather" character is taken from Nagahide Niwa, and Nagahide Niwa has always been fond of Hideyoshi, and Hideyoshi himself said that he is now thanks to Nagahide Niwa. In fact, the existence of Nagahide Niwa, who is the second most powerful person after Katsuie Shibata, is great for Hideyoshi, and it can be said that he is a military commander who greatly contributed to the trade-in.
The members of the Oda clan, including the Shibata Katsuie, were disgusted by Hideyoshi, whose origin was unknown, but Nagahide Niwa was unusually favored by Hideyoshi.
He has a good-mannered personality, is faithful to political affairs, and serves Nobunaga Oda without any two hearts.
He did a definite job, though not flashy, and helped Nobunaga Oda expand his power, ending his life without any missteps.
It can be said that he was a military commander who had a certain ability in the Warring States period of pay for performance and in the Oda Nobunaga vassal corps.