Matsudaira-Nobutsuna

Matsudaira Nobutsuna

Matsudaira Nobutsuna (松平 信綱, December 19, 1596-May 4, 1662) was an early Edo period daimyo, head of the Kawagoe estate. Initially serving Tokugawa Iemitsu as a page, he was renowned for his sagacity and appointed rōjū in 1633.

Nobutsuna led the shogunate forces to victory against the Shimabara rebellion. His court title is Izu no kami, which is the origin of his nickname, "Izu the Wise" (Chie Izu, 知恵伊豆).

Matsudaira Nobutsuna Biography

Nobutsuna was born in 1596, the son of Ōkōchi Hisatsuna, an important obligor of Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was adopted as the heir of his uncle, Matsudaira Masatsuna, in 1601.

After being introduced to Hidetada and Ieyasu, he was appointed page to Ieyasu's grandson, Iemitsu. He was much admired by Iemitsu and was renowned in the Tokugawa administration for his sagacity.

In the first years of his service, he was hatamoto. In 1623, he received the court title of Izu no kami. He became daimyo in 1633, and received the domain of Oshi for fief.

After the failure of Itakura Shigemasa to suppress the Shimabara rebellion in 1637-1638, Matsudaira Nobutsuna took command of the allied armies and laid siege to Hara castle, which led to a successful campaign.

In his last years, he joined the high ranking Tokugawa officials such as Hoshina Masayuki in their support of the very young 4th shogun, Ietsuna, then 10 years old.

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