Akechi Mitsuhide

Profession: Samurai

Biography: Akechi Mitsuhide was a Japanese samurai during the Sengoku period, best known for betraying the daimyō Oda Nobunaga and bringing about his death. Mitsuhide had previously been an important general in service of Nobunaga, aiding him in the many campaigns involved in the unification of Japan.

Mitsuhide started out as a bodyguard in the service of Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who Nobunaga would eventually place in power as shōgun. After a successful defence of his shōgun, Nobunaga invited Mitsuhide to join him. This was the beginning of their collaboration towards unification.

This collaboration ended with the betrayal at Honnō-ji in 1582, where Mitsuhide attacked Nobunaga when he was unprepared and forced him to commit seppuku. This event, known as the Honnō-ji Incident, has given rise to great speculation. Mitsuhide had no clear motives, nor are any recorded.

While Mitsuhide survived the event, and also soon brought a similar end to Nobunaga's eldest son, Nobutada, who also died by seppuku, this was not to last. Nobunaga's loyal servants, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, rushed to avenge Nobunaga.

Mitsuhide was killed while fleeing the Battle of Yamazaki by the bandit leader Nakamura Chōbei. The tale has it that Nakamura was in a village that Mitsuhide passed through, and that he killed him by thrusting his spear out of a bamboo grove.

Born: March 10, 1528
Birthplace: Tara Castle, Mino Province, Japan
Star Sign: Pisces

Died: July 2, 1582 (aged 54)
Cause of Death: Killed while fleeing the Battle of Yamazaki