Akechi Mitsuhide The strange betrayal of Honnoji by Gekokujo was commonplace in the Warring States period of Gekokujo. That said, various theories have emerged as the biggest mystery in Japanese history about this betrayal of Akechi Mitsuhide.
History is something that can be rewritten in the way of those in power at that time, so not all the remaining literature is.
Route to Akechi Mitsuhide's Honnoji Temple
In the program broadcast on NHK in 2007, Akechi Mitsuhide's Ijo / Kameyama Castle From passing the castle, crossing the old pass, entering Kyoto, crossing the Katsura River, Honnoji It is said that we arrived at various historical materials [ established theory ].
If you go by this route, it will be about 20 km from Kameyama Castle to Honnoji Temple.
Considering that Akechi Mitsuhide left Kameyama Castle at 8:00 pm on June 1st and the Honnoji Incident happened at 2:00 am on June 2nd, it was calculated that he had to arrive at Honnoji Temple in 6 hours. increase.
So, considering the environment at that time, we would like to consider the 20km road ...
As for the tōseigusoku, iron plates were often used to protect against new weapons and guns, and weighed about 30 kg.
While wearing such equipment, it is thought that about 3 to 4 infantrymen will climb side by side, lining up the old slopes of the pitched pitches vertically one by one with horses. When I entered Kyoto, I had to cross the Katsura River, but I had to cross the river by horse, on foot, or through a bridge far upstream.
Considering the fixed time of 6 hours, there is no choice but to cross the Katsura River on horseback or on foot.
However, the book of Kuge Yamashina Gonkyo [ Sir Gonkyo ] According to this, it has been raining since the day before on June 1, and of course the Katsura River is flooding, so it is not easy to cross the river whether on horseback or on foot.
Therefore, it seems that we have no choice but to bypass the bridge far away.
Then, in order to reach Honnoji in 6 hours, you have to march at 3 to 4 km / h.
By the way, imagine that 3 km / h is a slow speed that you can walk around while enjoying conversation, and that a businessman heading to your destination quickly is about 5 km / h.
The physical abilities of the people at that time are unknown, but the rain has made the old Sakatoge muddy and the infantry are not very good, but I think it is impossible to overcome them quickly. Applying current wisdom, tens of thousands of soldiers would put a weight of 30km on a bad road and put out more than 3km / h, and 20km would be tough in 6 hours.
Akechi Mitsuhide wasn't there when he defeated Nobunaga at Honnoji! ??
According to this consideration, Akechi Mitsuhide was not at the scene when Nobunaga was attacked by the Honnoji Incident. However, as a result, it is true that Nobunaga was shot at the Honnoji Incident, so it means that someone other than Akechi Mitsuhide defeated Nobunaga.
Here, what comes up is [ Jesuit mastermind theory ] Will be influential.
Jesuit missionary Luis Frois According to Japanese history,
Nobunaga got out of the toilet and was purifying his hands from behind, and immediately after hitting his back with a bow and arrow, Nobunaga called the kosho and shook the naginata and responded, but the ball released by the gun corps was on his left shoulder. Hit.
And Nobunaga closed the shoji and set fire to commit suicide.
The detailed depiction is as if you were near the site.
More than 10,000 people ( There is also a theory of 20,000 to 30,000 people I think it is impossible for anyone other than the parties to write such details while the soldiers of) are moving.
Why did the Jesuits defeat Nobunaga?
Nobunaga should have had good relations with the Jesuits, such as allowing the Jesuits to carry out missionary activities and wearing a cloak of Nanban himself.
So why did the Jesuits defeat Nobunaga?
The reason Nobunaga got angry with the Jesuits was that [ Nobunaga became so arrogant and robbed him of what was to be attributed only to Deus, the creator of the world, so his soul was buried in hell. ] And is considered to be a record of Frois.
[ Arrogant like this ] Is that there is a rock called Bonzan on the top of the mausoleum that remains in the Azuchi castle ruins, and Nobunaga has been [ I think this stone is a god, I think it is a god ] And beyond the emperor and god, he is said to have commanded himself to be the only god.
For the Jesuits, God is Deus However, he was disliked that he was not Nobunaga.
Looking back on the religious wars of world history, it is a clear fact that we can never forgive the denial of the gods enshrined in our religion.
In addition, Honnoji is Rokkaku-dori in the north, Nishinotoin-dori in the east, Takoyakushi-dori in the south, and Aburanokoji-dori in the west . It was said to be 120 meters square surrounded by, but Nobunaga stayed in a small building on the corner of Tohoku . So, it's more like a house than a temple There was something.
According to the results of a strange investigation of Honnoji, it is known that even if there are things of Nobunaga and his aides, it is about 40 people at most. From this result, it can be said that it is impossible to say that the scale of 100 people so far.
Needless to say, the Jesuits traded the raw material for gunpowder and niter in the Nanban trade, and had sufficient financial resources. Procurement of weapons such as bows and arrows and guns was a handy thing. The main mountain of the Jesuits [ Nanbanji ] Is also the basis of this theory that it is only 300m away from Honnoji Temple.
Akechi Mitsuhide did not directly defeat Nobunaga
If Mitsuhide's lateness is the true story, it will be someone other than Mitsuhide who defeated Nobunaga at Honnoji.
Up until now, I have considered the Jesuits, but I would like to explore other possibilities as well.
Akechi Mitsuhide's army was standing in the Nijo Imperial Palace after attacking Honnoji Temple Oda Nobutada I am defeating. This depiction is based on Frois's [ Japanese Annual Report ], And there is a testimony that Harutoyo Kajuji, a public house, spoke with a familiar Mitsuhide vassal, Inoue, and it is said that Mitsuhide was in charge of the attack on Nijo Castle.
Considering the fact of the attack on Oda Nobutada, it can be seen that Mitsuhide did not just visit Honnoji, but was clearly hostile to Honnoji. Akechi Mitsuhide's soldier The testimony that he left Kameyama Castle and slaughtered at Honnoji Temple is also recorded.
This soldier of Akechi Mitsuhide is a miso, and although he is called a soldier, he is not said to be Mitsuhide himself, but I think that the separate corps attacked Nobunaga first, and then Akechi Mitsuhide arrived at Honnoji. In addition, Mitsuhide himself confessed to Kanemi Yoshida, the messenger of the imperial court, that he had done this rebellion, so it can be seen that Akechi Mitsuhide clearly headed for Nobunaga with hostility.
From the descriptions in these documents, it is considered that Akechi Mitsuhide attacked Honnoji Temple with a separate corps and defeated Nobunaga Oda, and then Mitsuhide arrived and took command himself to defeat Nobutada of Nijo Castle. Therefore, although there is no doubt that Nobunaga was defeated, it means that the perpetrator is not Mitsuhide himself.
Finally ...
There are various theories about the Honnoji Incident, but none of them seem to be definitive evidence, even if there is evidence based on circumstantial evidence. As a result, Akechi Mitsuhide defeated Nobunaga Oda and became as historical as it was, but even if Mitsuhide did not rebel, it seems that someone was doing Nobunaga.
At that time, Nobunaga had a lot of distrust in other daimyo families, vassals, and the imperial court, and it seems that it was a situation where it could explode at any time.