Niwa Nagahide

Site of Niwa Nagahide residence, Nagoya

Nagahide was born in what is now Nishi-ku, Nagoya, but then part of Aichi District, Owari Province. From his youth, Nagahide served Oda Nobunaga and became one of his senior retainers, He stayed by Nobunaga's side when his brother defied him during the Battle of Inō in 1555 and also Battle of Ukino 1558.

In 1560, Nagahide also had military service during the Battle of Okehazama, but he wasn't a part of the main strike force.

According to the Nobunaga Kōki, he served in the Battle of Inabayama 1567, He was part of Nobunaga's main division against Saitō Tatsuoki.

In 1568, During the Omi campaign, he contributed in the conquest of Battle of Kannonji castle and was a part of Nobunaga's personal formation. His participation made him favored by Nobunaga.

He also served in the Battle of Anegawa 1570 against Azai-Asakura clan, the Hongan-ji campaign 1570–1580, the Battle of Nagashino 1575 and the Battle of Tedorigawa 1577 under Shibata Katsuie against Uesugi Kenshin, also Nobunaga's Shikoku campaign.

When he wasn't in battle, he was aiding Nobunaga's conquests by taking care of political affairs and had responsibility for constructing the Azuchi Castle, which began in 1576 and completed in 1579.[2][3] One of the characters of his family name was said to have been granted for the Hashiba name for Hideyoshi. His participation made him favored by Nobunaga, among many of other deeds.[4] The extent of Nobunaga's trust can be seen by the fact that Nagahide married Nobunaga's niece, while his son was Niwa Nagashige. These services let Nagahide rule over the fief of Obama Domain in Wakasa Province, and Sawayama Castle in Ōmi Province.[2]

In 1581, in a military parade held at Kyoto before the eyes of the Emperor as well as foreign missionaries, Nagahide was given the honor of leading the procession. In the same year, he fought in second Tensho Iga War against Iga inhabitants.

In 1582, as Oda Nobutaka's second in command, Nagahide launched a campaign on Shikoku; but before he made any progress, Nobunaga died during an attack by Akechi Mitsuhide. Nagahide abandoned the campaign and turned back to joint Hashiba Hideyoshi avenge this by killing Mitsuhide at Battle of Yamazaki. Later, at the subsequent meeting in Kiyosu Castle where the future of the Oda clan was discussed, Nagahide supported Hideyoshi's position.

In 1583, Nagahide assisted Hideyoshi at the Battle of Shizugatake[5] and gained Echizen Province and Kaga Province to rule, worth over 1,230,000 koku. He thus became one of the most powerful retainers and daimyō.

Niwa Nagahide Banner and Battle Standard

Nagahide died of illness in 1585. There is a conflicting record that Nagahide had not died of an illness, but on seeing Hideyoshi gather more power and eclipsing the Oda clan Nagahide had so long served, he felt that he had not lived up for the good of Nobunaga and the Oda clan as a whole and committed suicide.

His son Niwa Nagashige later became lord of Shirakawa Castle in northern Japan, and by the time of Nagahide's grandson Niwa Mitsushige, the family's 100,000 koku landholding was moved to Nihonmatsu, where they remained for the duration of the Edo Period.

According to the Nobunaga Kōki, Nagahide was presented the treasured sword "Azamaru", initially held by Taira Kagekiyo. Another previous owner, Kageyama Kazukage, was blinded during the Siege of Ôgaki castle in 1547, and the next owner, Niwa Nagahide, began having eye trouble, and so the sword was believed to be cursed. Nagahide donated the sword to the Atsuta shrine, in order to be freed from the curse. After the donation, his eye troubles went away.

• Bio of Nagahide (in Japanese)
• Another bio of Nagahide (in Japanese)