Akechi Mitsuharu

Background

Akechi Mitsuharu was born in 1537 in Japan. Mitsuharu was also known and referred to as "Mitsutoshi," and was the cousin of the famed Akechi Mitsuhide.

Career

Spearheaded the forces of Mitsuhide which rebelled against Nobunaga Oda at the Hon-noji Temple in 1582. Nobunaga was killed in the battle. Mitsuharu to protect his name from criticism by posterity, secretly had the head of Nobunaga buried with due ceremony conducted by Priest Saiyo. Commanded Nobunaga’s remnant troops at Azuchi and fought the vanguard of the forces of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Nobunaga’s chief aide, as Otsu. His forces defeated by Hideyoshi’s, he crossed Lake Biwa on horseback to the Sakamoto Jusangendo Temple. There he tethered his horse to a pillar of the temple, with a piece of paper attached to the mane of his steed, on which he wrote: "This is the horse on which Samanosuke crossed Lake Biwa". Soon afterwards, Mitsuharu's castel was besieged by the forces of Hidemasa Hori, warrior serving Hideyoshi, and he killed his family and himself with his own sword, after setting his castle afire.

Connections

Father:

Mitsuyasu

Cousine:

Mitsuhide Akechi