Honda Shigetsugu: Difference between revisions

Samurai of the Sengoku era; major samurai ally of the Tokugawa clan

Honda Shigetsugu (本多 重次) (1529 – August 9, 1596), also known as Honda Sakuzaemon (作左衛門), was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period through Azuchi-Momoyama Period, who served the Tokugawa clan. He served as one of Ieyasu’s “three magistrates” (san-bugyō).

Shigetsugu was ncknamed “Ogre Sakuza“ (鬼作左, Oni Sakuza) for his ferocity.

He was known as Hachizo, Sakujuro, or Saemon. Shigetsugu spouse was a daughter of Torii Tadayoshi, and his son was Honda Narishige who eventually became the lord of the Maruoka Domain of the Echizen Province.

In 1558, he participated in Ieyasu’s first battle at the Siege of Terabe Castle, where he distinguished himself. During the Ikko-Ikki Rebellion, he reaffirm his allegiance to Ieyasu, and fought in various places.

Shigetsugu also distinguished himself at Battle of Azukizaka (1564) suppressing the uprising Ikko sect followers in Mikawa Province.

In 1565, he was named one of Mikawa‘s San-bugyô, or Three Commissioners (along with Amano Yasukage and Koriki Kiyonaga). Shigetsugu was known for his fierceness, Yasukage for his balanced personality, and Kiyonaga for his compassion.^[3]

In 1569, during the Siege of Kakegawa Castle in Tōtōmi Province, Shigetsugu worked together with Watanabe Moritsuna, and other Tokugawa samurai fought in close combat, until they manage to breach the castle gate on the night of the 22nd.^[4]

In 1575, Shigetsugu fought at the Battle of Nagashino. He launched a single-handed attack on seven or eight enemy horsemen and killed two of them, despite getting injured in seven places himself.^[5]

Later, after the Conquest of Koshu in 1582, he became the magistrate of Suruga Province.

In 1584, he participated in the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute.

During the aftermath of the battle of Komaki-Nagakute, Honda Shigetsugu warned Ieyasu about the possibility that Hideyoshi Toyotomi cheating the hostage-exchange agreement by swapping his mother which was agreed to go to Tokugawa clan, with other court ladies.^[7] After the Interview with the Toyotomi, Shigetsugu was appointed along with Ii Naomasa and Ōkubo Tadayo in charge of Castle Okazaki.^[8]

At the Siege of Odawara (1590), he intercepted and beat back the naval warriors of Later Hōjō clan led by Kajiwara Kagemune.

Shigetsugu died in 1596 at the age of 68. It is said that he lost one eye and leg from his battle wounds, and he was missing several fingers.