Kazumasu Takigawa

Japanese: 滝川一益 - たきがわ・かずます

Year of death: September 9, 1586 (October 21, 1586)
Year of birth: 1525
A military commander during the Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. Son of Takigawa Kazukatsu of Omi. Commonly known as Hikoemon and Sakon no Shogen, he was also known by the court name Iyo no Kami. He served Oda Nobunaga and played an active role in the attacks on Ise and Iga, and distinguished himself in the battle against the Kitabatake clan, the governor of Ise Province, under Oda Nobuo. In 1569, he was awarded five districts in northern Ise for his contribution to the attack on Okawachi Castle. He later played a central role in the Oda forces in the battle against the Ikko Ikki in Ise-Nagashima, and after annihilating the rebellion, he became the lord of Nagashima Castle. He also played an active role as a naval commander, as he had the Ise navy under his command. For his contributions in the attack on Takeda Katsuyori in 1582, he was awarded the Saku and Ogata districts of Kozuke and Shinano provinces, became the lord of Umabashi Castle, and was also appointed as the Kanto Kanrei. At that time, he was not given the Juko Konasu (tea caddy) that he had expected as a reward from Nobunaga, and he famously wrote a letter to his fellow tea enthusiasts saying, "My blessings from the tea ceremony have run out." Shortly after, the Honnoji Incident occurred and Nobunaga was killed. Hojo Ujimasa and Ujinao, who had been on Nobunaga's side until then, began to move to retake Kozuke, and a battle broke out between the two armies at the Kannagawa River, which flows along the border between Musashi and Kozuke. Kazumasu was completely defeated and fled back to his home territory of Ise Nagashima. Ultimately, this act determined the rest of Kazumasu's life. Kazumasu was unable to attend the Kiyosu Conference to decide Nobunaga's successor, and instead joined forces with Shibata Katsuie, who was in conflict with Toyotomi Hideyoshi at the conference. However, after Katsuie was defeated in the Battle of Shizugatake and Oda Nobutaka was forced to commit suicide, Kazumasu surrendered by handing over the five northern Ise counties to Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi gave Kazumasu's son 12,000 koku at one time and made him head of the family.

(Tetsuo Owada)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：天正14.9.9(1586.10.21)
生年：大永5(1525)
戦国・安土桃山時代の武将。近江の滝川一勝の子。通称は彦右衛門,左近将監で,受領名伊予守を称したこともある。織田信長に仕え,伊勢・伊賀攻めに活躍,織田信雄のもとで伊勢国司北畠氏との戦に戦功をあげ,永禄12(1569)年には大河内城攻撃の功によって北伊勢5郡を与えられている。その後,伊勢長島一向一揆との戦においても織田軍の中心となり,一揆を全滅させたあと長島城主となった。伊勢水軍を配下に置いたため水軍の将としても活躍する。天正10(1582)年の武田勝頼攻めのときの功により,上野国と信濃国のうち佐久郡,小県郡を与えられ,厩橋城の城主となり,同時に関東管領を命ぜられる。そのとき,信長から褒美としてもらえると期待していた珠光小茄子(茶入れ)がもらえず,「茶の湯の冥加もつき果てた」と茶の湯仲間に手紙で伝えたことは有名。その直後,本能寺の変がおこり信長が殺されると,それまで信長サイドで動いていた北条氏政・氏直父子が上野の奪回に動き出し,武蔵・上野の国境を流れる神流川で両軍の戦いがおこり,一益は完敗して本領の伊勢長島に逃げ帰った。結果的にはこの行為がその後の一益の一生を決めたことになる。信長の後継者を決める清洲会議に一益は出席できず,この席上豊臣秀吉と対立した柴田勝家と共同行動をとることになったが,勝家が賤ケ岳の戦で敗れ,織田信孝も自刃させられたあと,北伊勢5郡を秀吉に差し出して降伏。秀吉は一益の子一時に1万2000石を与えて家督を継がせている。

(小和田哲男)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

<<: Takikawa Incident

>>: Takikawa [city] - Takikawa