Mr. Abe - Abeuji

One of the surnames of hereditary feudal lords and hatamoto in the Edo period. A hereditary vassal of the Tokugawa clan since its inception. After many domain changes, the head family became the lord of Fukuyama Domain in Bingo in 1710 (7th year of the Hoei period), and settled thereafter with a fief of 100,000 koku. Abe Masahiro, famous as the senior councilor who concluded the Treaty of Peace and Amity between the United States and Japan at the end of the Edo period, also came from this family. The Abe head family solidified their position as subordinate generals of the Tokugawa clan during the time of Masakatsu, who was active during the period when the Tokugawa clan ruled over five provinces: Suruga, Totomi, Mikawa, Kai, and Shinano. During this period, Masakatsu, along with Honda Masanobu and Okubo Tadachika, was in charge of managing the hatamoto and vassals living in the five provinces. His eldest son, Masatsugu, was the governor of Osaka Castle during the Shimabara Rebellion and was praised for his appropriate handling of the matter. His son, Shigetsugu, was one of the Rokuninshu (younger elders) and committed suicide to follow Iemitsu. In addition to the main family, there are the Abe clan of Tanagura Domain in Mutsu and the Abe clan of Sanuki Domain in Kazusa, descended from Tadaaki (the son of Tadakichi, the second son of Masakatsu), who became a senior councilor at the same time as Shigetsugu.

[Masuo Inorimoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸時代の譜代大名(ふだいだいみょう)、旗本の姓氏の一つ。徳川氏草創期以来の譜代家臣。宗家はたびたびの国替(くにがえ)のあと1710年（宝永7）備後(びんご)福山藩主となり、以後定着し10万石。幕末、日米和親条約を結んだ老中として有名な阿部正弘(まさひろ)もこの家の出身である。阿部宗家が徳川氏の部将の地位を固めたのは、駿河(するが)、遠江(とおとうみ)、三河(みかわ)、甲斐(かい)、信濃(しなの)の五か国領有期に活躍した正勝の代である。正勝はこの時期、本多正信、大久保忠隣(おおくぼただちか)らとともに、旗本や5か国に在住する家臣団を管掌する任にあたった。嫡子正次は島原の乱時の大坂城代で、適切な処置により賞せられた。その子重次(しげつぐ)は六人衆（若年寄）の一人で、家光に殉死する。宗家のほかには、重次と同時代に老中となった忠秋（正勝の二男忠吉の子）の系統の陸奥(むつ)棚倉(たなぐら)藩阿部氏と、上総(かずさ)佐貫(さぬき)藩阿部氏がある。

［煎本増夫］

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