Background
Hosokawa Gracia was born in 1562 in Japan.
細川ガラシャ
Hosokawa Gracia was born in 1562 in Japan.
At the time of the great battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Ishida Mitsunari, hoping to sway the loyalty of the followers of the Toyotomi family who had gone over to the side of Tokugawa Ieyasu, attempted to have their wives and children seized and taken as hostages to Osaka Castle.
Gracia, knowing that her husband had joined the Tokugawa forces and fearful that he would be swayed by concern for her safety, refused to be taken as a hostage but instead had herself beheaded by the chief retainer of the fief, Ogasawara Shbsai. Such a step was necessary because suicide would have violated the precepts of her faith.
Through her husband, she became acquainted with the famous Christian daimyo Takayama Ukon and adopted his faith, receiving baptism in 1687 and taking the Christian name Gracia.
Tadaoki was not pleased at his wife’s deepening religious devotion, but he was frequently away on military campaigns or other business, at which time she would attend church.
As the daughter of a traitor, she was viewed with suspicion, and her marriage was dissolved. Later, at the suggestion of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Toyotomi Hideyoshi gave permission for the marriage ties to be resumed.