| Matsudaira Hirotada | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 June 1526 |
| Died | 3 April 1549 (aged 22) |
Matsudaira Hirotada (松平 広忠, June 9, 1526 – April 3, 1549) was the lord of Okazaki Castle in Mikawa province, Japan during the Sengoku Period of the 16th century. He is best known for being the father of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Hirotada was the son of Matsudaira Kiyoyasu (7th head of Mikawa Matsudaira clan) and an unknown lady, probably the daughter of Aoki Kaga no Kami Norimune. He was known in his childhood as Senshōmaru, Senchiyo, and Jirōzaburō.
Following his father's assassination in 1536, Hirotada was under the protection of a loyal retainer, Abe Sadayoshi. He allied with the Imagawa, an with their help was installed at Okazaki castle.[1]
The alliance with the Imagawa brought him into conflict with the Oda clan. In 1540, Oda Nobuhide attacked and took Anjo castle which was held by the Matsudaira family. He was assisted by Mizuno Tadamasa. Oda's son Nobuhiro was installed as the lord of the castle.
In 1541, Hirotada married Dai-no-kata, his step-sibling and daughter of Mizuno Tadamasa. Ieyasu was born to them a year later.
He joined Imagawa Yoshimoto to fight Oda Nobuhide at the First Battle of Azukizaka in 1542. They were defeated. His uncle, Matsudaira Nobutaka, rebelled against him in 1543, and joined Oda Nobuhide.[1]
Hirotada had a falling out with his father-in-law Mizuno Tadamasa in 1544, and divorced Dai-no-kata. He then married the daughter of Toda Yasumitsu. They had a son Iemoto, and three daughters.
In 1548, hard-pressed by Oda Nobuhide, Hirotada needed help from the Imagawa, and was compelled to send his son Ieyasu as a hostage to Sumpu in Suruga province. The child was however intercepted on the way by the Oda, and kept at Nagoya for a number of years.[1]
Hirotada then attempted to take back Anjo castle, but was defeated.
An attempt by made on his life by Iwamatsu Hachiya, but he survived.
Later in 1548, the Imagawa and Matsudaira defeated Oda at the Second Battle of Azukizaka.
However, Hirotada became ill and died the following year.
He was postumously conferred the rank of Dainagon by Ieyasu in 1612.[1]