Shibata Clan

The Shibata (Japanese 柴田氏, Shibata-shi) were a family of the Japanese sword nobility (Buke) from Owari Province (now Aichi Prefecture), descended from the Seiwa-Genji.

The Shibata lineage ended with the Civil War in the 16th century.

Shibata Clan Overview

• Katsuie (勝家; 1530-1583) was entrusted by Oda Nobunaga in 1570 with Chōkōji Castle (長興寺城) in Ōmi Province, which he had taken from the Sasaki. After campaigns against the Asai and the Asakura, Katsuie received Echizen and Kaga provinces in 1579 and settled in Kita-no-shō Castle (now Bug Fukui). In 1582 he attacked Noto Province, whereupon the three resident daimyō Yuza (遊佐), Miyake (三宅), and Nukui (貫井) Uesugi Kagekatsu (上杉 景勝; 1556-1623) asked for help. War broke out, and Katsuie's forces were defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi at the Battle of Shizugatake. Although Katsuie was able to retreat to his Kita-no-shō castle, he was besieged there by Hideyoshi, and Katsuie, seeing himself in a hopeless situation, set fire to the castle and took his own life-along with his wife and 30 subjects. Earlier, Katsuie had asked his wife to flee with their daughters. She refused, but entrusted the daughters to a faithful servant who led them safely outside. - The eldest of her daughters, Yodo-gimi, married Hideyoshi, the second Kyōgoku Takatsugu (京極 高次; 1560-1609), and the third the later Shōgun Tokugawa Hidetada.
• Katsutoyo (勝豊; died 1583), a son of Shibukawa Hachizaemon, was adopted by Katsuie and was entrusted by him with Nagahama (Ōmi) Castle in 1582. He was forced to surrender to Hideyoshi and died in Kyōto.
• Katsumasa (勝政; 1557-1583), a brother of Sakuma Morimasa, was adopted by Katsuie. He was killed in the battle of Shizugatake.
• Katsuhisa (勝久; 1568-1583), a nephew of Katsuie, was adopted by him. He fought with him in the Battle of Shizugatake and was able to escape to the mountains after the defeat. However, he was pursued and killed. This was the end of the Shibata line.