Akechi clan
The Akechi clan (明智氏, Akechi-shi) is a branch of the Toki clan, which is descended from the Seiwa Genji. The Akechi clan thrived around the later part of the Sengoku period of the 16th century. The Akechi became the head, soryo of the Toki after the Toki fell to the Saitō clan in 1540. The Akechi refused to be under Saitō Yoshitatsu who attacked Nagayama castle. Akechi Mitsuhide then served shoguns Ashikaga Yoshiteru and Ashikaga Yoshiaki. After introducing Ashikaga Yoshiaki to Oda Nobunaga, Mitsuhide became a powerful general under Oda Nobunaga. However, after 1582, Mitsuhide trapped Nobunaga at Honnō-ji and forced him to commit suicide. The Akechi then gained power due to the collapse of the Oda clan. Later that same year, Akechi Mitsuhide was slain at the Battle of Yamazaki, twelve days after the Incident at Honnō-ji. The Akechi clan then fell from prominence.
| Akechi 明智 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Home province | Mino |
| Parent house | Toki clan |
| Titles | Various |
| Final ruler | Akechi Mitsuhide |
| Ruled until | 1582, Battle of Yamazaki |
Important figures
- Akechi Mitsutsugu, grandfather of Akechi Mitsuhide. Mitsutsugu was father of Omi-no-kata, Saito Dosan wife.
- Akechi Mitsutsuna (died 1538), senior retainer under the Toki clan throughout the latter Sengoku period of feudal Japan
- Akechi Mitsuhide (c. 1520–1582), samurai who lived during the Sengoku period of Feudal Japan. Renowned for his betrayal and murder of Oda Nobunaga.
- Akechi Hidemitsu (died 1582), retainer beneath the clan of Akechi during the Azuchi-Momoyama period of Feudal Japan
- Akechi Mitsutada (died 1582), Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period who served the Akechi clan
- Akechi Mitsuyoshi (died 1582), Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period, son of Akechi Mitsuhide
- Hosokawa Gracia (1563–1600), daughter of Akechi Mitsuhide and a famous samurai convert to Christianity. Hosokawa Tadaoki's wife.
Family tree
| Minamoto no Yorimitsu | Eight generation | Toki Yorisada | Toki Yorimoto | Akechi Yorishige | Fifth generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mitsutsugu | Yoriaki | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mitsutsuna | Mitsuyasu | Mitsuhisa | Mitsushige | Omi no Kata | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mitsuhide | Akechi Nobutaka | Akechi Yasuhide | Mitsuharu | Mitsutada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Akechi Mitsuyoshi | Tsutsui Sadayori | Hidemitsu's wife | Mitsutada's wife | Hosokawa Gracia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
- 大野, 信長 (2016), 【新装版】戦国武将100 家紋・旗・馬印FILE, 学研plus, p. 16.
- Usually the colors of Japanese crests were not determined. However, this crest 水色桔梗 a.k.a. "Light blue bellflower" was an exception derived from the tradition of Toki clan.