extra=October 16, 1535 – May 15, 1585, also known as ' (五郎左衛門), his other legal alias was ' (羽柴越前守), was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period through Azuchi-Momoyama periods of the 16th century. He served as senior retainer to the Oda clan, and was eventually a daimyō in his own right. Going on to fight in the Oda clan's major campaigns, including Mino Province Campaign 1567, Omi Campaign 1568, the Honganji Campaign from 1570 to 1580, and Iga Province Campaign 1581, he was named one of the administrators of Kyoto after Nobunaga entered that city in 1568.
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 Kannonji Castle castle and was a part of Nobunaga's personal formation. His participation made him favored by Nobunaga. He served in the Battle of Anegawa 1570 against the Azai-Asakura clan, and the Hongan-ji campaign from 1570–1580.
In February 1571, Nagahide entered Sawayama Castle after Isono Kazumasa moved out, and since then he was active as a castle general with Kawajiri Hidetaka. In September 1571, after Nobunaga ordered for the Tendai Temple affiliated with Enryaku-ji at Mt. Hiei to be burned down, Nagahide and Hidetaka burned down Saimyōji temple.
Nagahide also served in the Siege of Ichijodani Castle 1573, in the Battle of Nagashino 1575 against Takeda clan and the Battle of Tedorigawa 1577 under Shibata Katsuie against Uesugi Kenshin.
When he wasn't in battle, he was aiding Nobunaga's conquests by taking care of political affairs and had responsibility for constructing Azuchi Castle, which began in 1576 and was completed in 1579.
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 join Hashiba Hideyoshi in avenging Nobunaga's death by killing Mitsuhide at the 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 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.
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.
Death
Azamaru sword
External links
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