Tsunanori Maeda

Japanese: 前田綱紀 - まえだ・つなのり

Year of death: May 9, 1724 (June 29, 1724)
Year of birth: November 16, 1643 (December 26, 1643)
A daimyo from the Edo period. The fifth lord of the Kaga (Kanazawa) domain. The eldest son of the fourth lord, Maeda Mitsutaka. His mother was Achihime, an adopted daughter of Tokugawa Iemitsu (daughter of Tokugawa Yorifusa of Mito). He inherited his fief at the age of three when his father died suddenly in 1645, but because he was still too young, his grandfather, Maeda Toshitsune, who was in retirement, became his guardian. His rule lasted for 79 years, but in the early days, his guardian, Maeda Toshitsune, personally ruled. He implemented the Kaisaku Shiho, which became the basic policy of agricultural policy in the Kaga domain from 1651, and completed it except for some parts in 1656. This fixed the tax rate for each village, made it a fixed rate exemption, and stabilized the domain's finances. He also carried out strict land surveys to thoroughly expose hidden fields and developed new fields to significantly increase annual taxes. He also abolished the local chigyo system for vassals and implemented the separation of soldiers and farmers, while strengthening the Tomura system and establishing a peripheral organization for controlling farmers. From 1658 (Manji 1), Tsunanori took direct control of the domain, and in 1693 (Genroku 6), he implemented the Kiritaka Law, which allowed farmers to buy and sell their fields, and was intent on establishing agricultural policy. In terms of the domain's organizational structure, in 1669 (Kanbun 9), he established the position of young nobility councilor, who was responsible for passing on orders from above, while reducing the power of the hereditary clan's senior vassals. In 1686 (Jōkyō 3), he reformed the domain's administrative structure, establishing a system in which the highest administrative organ of the domain was made up of elders, elder retainers, and young nobility councilors. In 1686, he then established a system of eight elders, and reorganized the ranks of the inner page groups, foot soldiers, and servants. In terms of the military system, he established the seven-group system, and appointed seven elders as samurai commanders of each group. Along with these efforts to establish the domain government, Tsunanori also maintained good relations with the shogunate, building the stone walls of the Edo Castle tower base after the Great Fire of Meireki in 1 Manji 1, serving as guard at Takayama Castle from 1692 to 1705 when the Kanamori clan of the Hida Takayama Domain was abolished, and from 1722 (Kyoho 7) he controlled 10,000 koku of land in the shogunate's territory in Noto Province as a fief. As a result, from 1729 onwards, he was given the privilege of being granted an audience with the shogun at the Hakushoin in Edo Castle, along with the other Gosanke families, on important occasions during the five seasons. He also enjoyed learning and collected ancient documents and old books, and wrote such works as "Soukajien" and "Kosekimonsho."

(Izumi Seiji)

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

Japanese:

没年：享保9.5.9(1724.6.29)
生年：寛永20.11.16(1643.12.26)
江戸時代の外様大名。加賀(金沢)藩第5代藩主。4代藩主前田光高の長男。母は徳川家光養女阿智姫(水戸徳川頼房の娘)。正保2(1645)年父の急死により3歳で襲封したが,幼少ゆえ祖父で隠居の前田利常が後見した。その治政は79年にわたるが,初期は後見の前田利常が親裁して,慶安4(1651)年から加賀藩農政の基本政策となる改作仕法を実施し,明暦2(1656)年に一部を除き完成させた。これにより一村の税率を固定し,定免化させて藩財政を安定させた。また厳しい検地により隠田摘発の徹底や新田開発により年貢の大幅増徴を図った。さらに家臣の地方知行制を廃止し,兵農分離を貫徹させる一方,十村制度を強化し,農民支配の末端組織を確立している。万治1(1658)年以降綱紀の親政となり,元禄6(1693)年には農民の田畑の売買を容認する切高仕法を実施するなど農政の確立に意を用いている。藩の職制の面では寛文9(1669)年には若年寄を設け,上意下達の任に当てる一方,譜代門閥重臣層の権勢をそぎ,貞享3(1686)年には藩政組織の改革を行い,藩政の最高執政機関を年寄,家老,若年寄で構成する体制とし,次いで元禄3年には年寄役八家の制の確立や奥小姓組,足軽,小者に至るまで再編成をしている。軍制面でも七手組の制を確立させ,年寄7人を各組の侍大将に据えている。このような藩政の確立への努力とともに綱紀は対幕府関係も良くしており,万治1年には明暦の大火後の江戸城天守台石垣の造営,元禄5年から8年まで飛騨高山藩金森氏改易により高山城在番を勤めたり,享保7(1722)年より能登国内の幕府領1万石を預地として支配した。この結果元禄2年以後,五節の佳事には御三家並に江戸城白書院で将軍に謁見できる待遇を得た。また学問を好み古文書,古書の収集を行い,自らも『桑華字苑』『古蹟文徴』などを著している。

(和泉清司)

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

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