Oda Nobutada

Oda Nobutada (Japanese: Oda Nobutada; 織田 信忠, 1557 – June 21, 1582) was a Japanese politician and commander of the Sengoku period. Head of the samurai Oda family (1577–1582). He was the eldest son of Oda Nobunaga.

Oda Nobutada Biography

Oda Nobutada was born in 1557 to Oda Nobunaga, the ruler of Owari Province. In 1572, he took part in the fighting for the first time, attacking the positions of Azai Nagamasa in the northern part of Omi Province.

In 1574, Nobutada was one of the commanders of his father's army in the suppression of Buddhist rebels from Nagashima, and in 1575 he commanded one of the detachments during the victorious Battle of Nagashino.

For his services, he received from the Imperial Court the honorary titles of Dewa-no-suke and Akitajo-no-suke.

In December 1575, Nobutada received from his father the supremacy of the Oda family, became the master of gifu castle and the ruler of the provinces of Owari and Mino. In 1577, he participated in a campaign against the Saiga Party in Kii Province, and also suppressed the rebellion of Matsunaga Hisahide in Yamato Province.

In the same year, Nobutada was awarded the third rank of official and the title of General of the Imperial Guard.

From 1578 to 1580, Nobutada commanded troops in a campaign in Harima Province, battles with Buddhist sectarians of the Ishiyama Hongan-ji Monastery in Osaka, and the storming of the rebellious warlord Araki Murashige's Arioka Castle. In 1582, he commanded the vanguard in a punitive campaign against Takeda Katsuyori, ruler of the eastern Japanese province of Kai.

After the destruction of Takeda, Nobutada burned Alive Kaisen Joki, the abbot of Erin-ji Monastery, for hiding his enemies.

In June 1582, in preparation for the campaign against the Western Japanese Mori family, Nobutada was surrounded by the capital's Myokaku-ji Monastery.

When an army of rebels led by Akechi Mitsuhide attacked his father's headquarters at Honno-ji Monastery, he retreated to Nijo Castle, where he defended himself for several hours against enemy attacks.

Not having enough troops to continue the defense, Nobutada was forced to make seppuku to avoid being captured. After his death, the leadership of the Oda family was inherited by his infant son Oda Hidenobu, who later converted to Christianity.