Niwa Nagashige
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese daimyo
who served the Oda clan
. Nagashige was the eldest son of Niwa Nagahide
and married an adopted daughter of Oda Nobunaga
. He took part in his first campaign in 1583, assisting his father in the battles against Shibata Katsuie
. In the Battle of Nagakute
, at the age of thirteen, Nagashige led a troop of Niwa clan
in the place of his father, who was ill.
In 1585, upon Nagahide's death, Nagashige received his father's fief of 1,230,000 koku
(spanning Echizen
, Wakasa
, and parts of Kaga
). This is believed to have been Hideyoshi's effort to reduce the Niwa clan's strength.
In 1600, at the Battle of Sekigahara
, Nagashige took part in Ishida Mitsunari
's force and fought against Maeda Toshinaga
of Kaga; he consequently had his holdings briefly confiscated. His daimyo status was restored in 1603, when the Tokugawa family granted him 10,000 koku
at Futsuto, in Hitachi Province
. At the siege of Osaka
from 1614 to 1615, Nagashige fought on Tokugawa Ieyasu
's side. For his service in battle, he had his stipend increased; his fief was transferred to the Edosaki Domain (20,000 koku
). Nagashige was promoted again in 1622 with a move to the Tanakura Domain and a stipend increase to 50,000 koku
. His rise culminated in 1627, when he was granted the Shirakawa Domain
(worth 100,700 koku
) and built Shirakawa Castle.
Nagashige's successor was his son, Mitsushige.
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
who served the Oda clan
Oda clan
The was a family of Japanese daimyo who were to become an important political force in the unification of Japan in the mid-16th century. Though they had the climax of their fame under Oda Nobunaga and fell from the spotlight soon after, several branches of the family would continue on as daimyo...
. Nagashige was the eldest son of Niwa Nagahide
Niwa Nagahide
, also known as Gorōzaemon , was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku through Azuchi-Momoyama periods of the 16th century. He served as a retainer to the Oda clan, and was eventually a daimyo in his own right....
and married an adopted daughter of Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
. He took part in his first campaign in 1583, assisting his father in the battles against Shibata Katsuie
Shibata Katsuie
or was a Japanese military commander during the Sengoku Period who served Oda Nobunaga.-Biography:Katsuie was born in the Shibata family, a branch of the Shiba clan . Note the differences between , , and the .Katsuie was the retainer of Oda Nobukatsu...
. In the Battle of Nagakute
Battle of Komaki and Nagakute
The consisted of two battles in 1584 between the forces of Hashiba Hideyoshi and the forces of Oda Nobukatsu and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Hideyoshi and Ieyasu had both served Oda Nobunaga and had not previously come into conflict; this would in fact be their only period of enmity...
, at the age of thirteen, Nagashige led a troop of Niwa clan
Niwa clan
The ' was a Japanese samurai clan which rose to prominence in the Sengoku period. Its members claimed descent from the medieval Kodama family. Famous clan members included Oda Nobunaga's senior retainer Niwa Nagahide, as well as Nagahide's 19th century descendants Niwa Nagatomi, Niwa Nagakuni, and...
in the place of his father, who was ill.
In 1585, upon Nagahide's death, Nagashige received his father's fief of 1,230,000 koku
Koku
The is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
(spanning Echizen
Echizen Province
was an old province of Japan, which is today the northern part of Fukui Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Etchū and Echigo Provinces.Echizen is famous for washi . A text dated AD 774 mentions the washi made in this area. Echizen-produced Washi is still the most commonly sold traditional...
, Wakasa
Wakasa Province
was an old province of Japan in the area that is today southern Fukui Prefecture. It is also known as or .The province's ancient capital was at Obama, which continued to be the main castle town through the Edo period.-Neighboring Provinces:...
, and parts of Kaga
Kaga Province
was an old province in the area that is today the southern part of Ishikawa Prefecture. It was sometimes called .Ruled by the Maeda clan, the capital of Kaga was Kanazawa. Kaga bordered on Echizen, Etchū, Hida, and Noto Provinces...
). This is believed to have been Hideyoshi's effort to reduce the Niwa clan's strength.
In 1600, at the Battle of Sekigahara
Battle of Sekigahara
The , popularly known as the , was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 which cleared the path to the Shogunate for Tokugawa Ieyasu...
, Nagashige took part in Ishida Mitsunari
Ishida Mitsunari
Ishida Mitsunari was a samurai who led the Western army in the Battle of Sekigahara following the Azuchi-Momoyama period of the 17th century. Also known by his court title, Jibunoshō...
's force and fought against Maeda Toshinaga
Maeda Toshinaga
' was a Japanese daimyo who was the second head of the Kaga Domain. He was the eldest son of Maeda Toshiie and married one of Oda Nobunaga's daughters, Ei-hime....
of Kaga; he consequently had his holdings briefly confiscated. His daimyo status was restored in 1603, when the Tokugawa family granted him 10,000 koku
Koku
The is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
at Futsuto, in Hitachi Province
Hitachi Province
was an old province of Japan in the area of Ibaraki Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Hitachi Province bordered on Iwashiro, Iwaki, Shimousa, and Shimotsuke Provinces....
. At the siege of Osaka
Siege of Osaka
The was a series of battles undertaken by the Tokugawa shogunate against the Toyotomi clan, and ending in that clan's destruction. Divided into two stages , and lasting from 1614 to 1615, the siege put an end to the last major armed opposition to the shogunate's establishment...
from 1614 to 1615, Nagashige fought on Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
's side. For his service in battle, he had his stipend increased; his fief was transferred to the Edosaki Domain (20,000 koku
Koku
The is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
). Nagashige was promoted again in 1622 with a move to the Tanakura Domain and a stipend increase to 50,000 koku
Koku
The is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
. His rise culminated in 1627, when he was granted the Shirakawa Domain
Shirakawa Domain
The ' was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, located in Mutsu Province. Its most famous ruler was Matsudaira Sadanobu, the architect of the Kansei Reforms.Shirakawa was also the scene of one of the battles of the Boshin War.-List of lords:...
(worth 100,700 koku
Koku
The is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...
) and built Shirakawa Castle.
Nagashige's successor was his son, Mitsushige.