The Akechi family had a central vassal called the Akechi five chief retainers.
One of them is Saito Toshimitsu There is. Honnoji Incident Battle of Yamazaki with Hideyoshi later He was a military commander who was said to have been a pioneer, a senior vassal trusted by Akechi Mitsuhide, and one of those who confided his plans for rebellion on the eve of the Honnoji Incident.
In addition, Toshimitsu is Chosokabe Motochika It is said that they have a relative relationship with each other, and it is said that one of them is also included in the recent Chosokabe theory of the Honnoji Incident.
This time, I would like to write about Toshimitsu Saito, who will be deeply involved in the Honnoji Incident.
Birth of Toshimitsu Saito
Toshimitsu Saito was 1534-37 Around the time, Mino's Shirakashi castle owner, Toshiken Saito I was born as the second son of.
This Saito family is a Saito family that is a separate family from Dosan, and is the bloodline of the original Saito family of Mino Saito, and Dosan took over this Saito family and ruled Mino.
Akechi Mitsuhide's aunt is Saito Toshimitsu It seems that the Akechi family and the Saito family had a strong bond as relatives by marrying their father. However, his father, Yoritatsu, is Mitsumasa Ishitani . Married to the daughter of the prestigious Ishitani family, and served the Shogun Ashikaga family.
This daughter of Mitsumasa Ishitani was introduced to Chosokabe Motochika in Shikoku as a regular room in 1563. In this way, the Saito family and the Chosokabe family became relatives.
Connection between Akechi Mitsuhide and Saito Toshimitsu
According to one theory, Toshimitsu's mother is Mitsuhide's sister, and it is believed that she had a relationship with her uncle and nephew. In addition, Toshimitsu's father Akechi Mitsutsugu It is said that Mitsuhide and Toshimitsu have cousins with their daughter. It will be said.
I don't know which theory, but it is believed that there was a close relationship between Toshimitsu and Mitsuhide. However, since these theories are based on genealogy created in posterity, there is no definite proof.
Biography of Toshimitsu Saito
Akechi Mitsuhide Saito Toshimitsu However, the period of being a vassal of Mitsuhide was unexpectedly short, and it was around 1578 that there was a record as a vassal of Mitsuhide.
Toshimitsu first served the Miyoshi clan warlord Shigeharu Matsuyama (Shinsuke ). ), But there is no further information because there is no detailed historical material.
The next person to serve was Mino's Saito Yoshitatsu . Inaba Yoshimichi was.
Taiga drama [ Kirin ga Kuru ] However, I think that the depiction that Akechi Mitsuhide and Inaba Yoshimichi have a bad relationship is drawn.
Toshimitsu is the same Mr. Saito With that said, Dosan's daughter was welcomed as a regular room, and although it was Yoshitatsu and his in-law, it was a relationship between his brothers. Similarly, Ichitetsu's daughter was also welcomed as a concubine, but it seems that she was not treated well in the house and had a bad relationship with Ichitetsu.
This Ichitetsu daughter is Toshimune Saito, Sansei And fortune Was born, and Fuku became the adopted daughter of Shigemichi Inaba, and later Kasuga Bureau . As the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu's nanny As a result, he wielded power in the depths.
Time has passed, Inaba Yoshimichi Is Oda Nobunaga When I turn over to, Ichitetsu's power Was transferred to the Oda clan. Still, Toshimitsu's treatment did not improve, 1570 When he was 37 years old, he quarreled and broke up with his relatives Akechi Mitsuhide . It was used as the chief retainer of the Akechi family, who emerged as the leader of the Akechi family and lined up with Hidemitsu Akechi.
Since the records are ambiguous, it is not certain when he served the Akechi family, but since the records remain in 1578, it seems that he had a close relationship at this time.
However, it seems that there was a rush in the Oda family over the transfer of Toshimitsu Saito.
Toshimitsu left to escape from Ichitetsu and became a vassal of Mitsuhide, so he was forced to hold the vassal of Ichitetsu and became in trouble with Nobunaga Oda. There seem to be various theories, but it is said that Nobunaga slammed Mitsuhide in this matter.
The story goes back and forth, but the situation worsened when Toshimitsu, who became a vassal of the Akechi clan, tried to pull out the vassal of Ichitetsu, and Nobunaga also ordered the return of the vassal and Toshimitsu's seppuku. At this time, Toshimitsu's life was saved by Mitsuhide's plea, but Akechi Mitsuhide himself is said to have been struck by Nobunaga's preaching.
It is said that this case is said to be a strange grudge theory of Honnoji, and it is said that Toshimitsu Saito indirectly planned to defeat Nobunaga, but there are too many strange theories of Honnoji. I'm not sure.
It was a latecomer to serve Akechi Mitsuhide, but Tamba capture It was very important at that time, and Toshimitsu also lived up to his expectations. As a result, Toshimitsu Saito, who was treated the same as the Ichimonshu in the Akechi vassals and became the owner of Tamba and Kuroi Castle in 1580, has received 10,000 stones.
Relationship with Chosokabe, which is said to be the cause of the Honnoji Incident
Looking at the relationship between Akechi Mitsuhide / Saito Toshimitsu and Oda Nobunaga, it is Chosokabe Motochika that cannot be avoided. Dessert. At that time, the Oda clan was trying to deepen their relationship with Chosokabe Motochika, and the diplomatic window was Akechi Mitsuhide . was.
This is because the daughter of Toshimitsu Saito's brother is Chosokabe Motochika . It was because it was a regular room.
Initially, the Odas and Chosokabe had a good relationship, but 1582 Nobunaga changed his policy, Nobutaka Oda and Nagahide Niwa Will be dispatched to conquer Shikoku.
Honnoji Incident The reason is to avoid the Shikoku campaign It is also said that Nobunaga was defeated. In addition, the incident of trying to pull out the vassal of Inaba Yoshimichi mentioned above occurred at the same time, and 4 days after this incident. The Honnoji Incident happened in.
In recent years, a letter was discovered in which Toshimitsu Saito exchanged with Chosokabe Motochika, and Chosokabe Motochika, who was considered to be a thorough fight against Nobunaga Oda, intends to surrender to Nobunaga Oda after the Takeda clan is destroyed. It is believed that the Akechi family had been conducting diplomatic negotiations with Chosokabe Motochika because it was found that was shown in this letter.
However, Oda Nobunaga decided to attack Shikoku, and due to factors such as the Chosokabe problem and Toshimitsu's withdrawal problem, Mitsuhide's patience bag broke and he decided to defeat Nobunaga at Honnoji. think.
The Honnoji Incident and the end of Toshimitsu Saito
Akechi Mitsuhide Saito Toshimitsu, Fujita Administration, Shigetomo Akechi, Hidemitsu Akechi I confess to the senior vassals, but Toshimitsu and Akechi Hidemitsu for the reckless plan. It is said that he initially opposed it, but it is said that Rizo played a leading role because it was a unique opportunity to take the world.
And the fate of June 2, 1582 .. After defeating Nobunaga Oda at Honnoji, Sawayama Castle Enter Watch out for Shibata Katsuie However, it will be a decisive battle in Yamazaki's battle (June 13) with Hideyoshi Hashiba who made a big return from the Chugoku region at an unexpected speed.
In the war, Toshimitsu Saito set up on the east bank of the Enmeiji River as a pioneer, Tsuneoki Ikeda and Shigetomo Takayama . He was defeated even though he fought against him, and was arrested in Katata, Omi.
After that, he was beheaded at Rojogawara on June 17th at the behest of Hideyoshi Hashiba.
49 years old was.
Its neck is said to have been exposed to Honnoji along with the body of Akechi Mitsuhide.
After the Saito clan and Kasuga station
Toshimitsu Saito's brother, Yoritatsu Ishitani, relied on Chosokabe to become a vassal, but died when Hideyoshi Hashiba conquered Kyushu. Toshimitsu's eldest son and second son survived and were taken over by the shogunate at the recommendation of the Kasuga Bureau during the Edo period.
Lady Kasuga with the father of a traitor
When writing Toshimitsu Saito, the existence of Fuku (Lady Kasuga) is inevitable.
She became the nanny of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun of the Edo Shogunate, and was proud of her power in Ooku. Immediately after the Honnoji Incident, she lived a turbulent life.
Fuku was taken over by the Inaba family on her mother's side.
Her mother's relatives raised her at the Sanjo family, and she was able to wear calligraphy, kado, and kodo, which are the essences of the public family.
After that, she was a vassal of Hideaki Kobayakawa, Masanari Inaba . I got married to.
This Masanari Inaba was a meritorious person who led Ieyasu Tokugawa to victory by persuading Hideaki Kobayakawa to turn over to the East Army in the Battle of Sekigahara.
Due to Masanari's achievements in Sekigahara, her family of good fortune, and her high level of education, she will be appointed as the nanny of Hidetada's firstborn son. Masanari's firstborn, Masakatsu, was also picked up by Iemitsu's kosho, and in 1623 he was appointed to the old age and became the lord of the Odawara domain.
After that, with the cooperation of the shadow of the Kasuga Bureau, the Inaba family established its position as a prestigious person appointed to the old age until Tsunayoshi's generation.
Rōjū and Masakuni Inaba, who appeared at the end of the Edo period, were also born as the 16th Inaba family suzerain.