Matsudaira Tadanao (松平 忠直, July 16, 1595 – October 5, 1650) was a Japanese daimyo who ruled the Echizen-Fukui Domain (Kitanoshō Domain) in the early Edo period. Tadanao was born Matsudaira Senchiyo, the eldest son of Yūki Hideyasu, by his concubine Lady Nakagawa. As his father Hideyasu died in 1607, Senchiyo assumed headship in the same year, taking the name Tadanao. Four years later he married his cousin Katsuhime, the daughter of the 2nd shogun Hidetada. He led Echizen troops in battle at the Osaka Winter Campaign, but suffered a high casualty rate, for which he was scolded by his grandfather, the retired shogun Ieyasu. He took part in the next year's Summer Campaign, taking the head of Sanada Yukimura, and leading his forces at the very tip of the Tokugawa advance into Osaka Castle. However, he received no reward for his efforts, and his court rank remained at the comparatively low jusanmi-sangi (従三位参議; junior 3rd rank, councilor), though his father had been chūnagon (中納言; Middle Councilor). Tadanao was so upset at this that in 1621 he feigned illness and did not make his required trip to Edo; in 1622 he even plotted the death of his wife (who was saved at the last moment by one of her maids taking her place). He even led his own soldiers on rampages through the homes of retainers.
In 1623, the shogun Hidetada ordered his retirement. Tadanao also entered the Buddhist priesthood, taking the name Ippaku (一伯). He was exiled to the Funai Domain in Bungo Province, and died there in 1650 at age 56.
Tadanao's son Mitsunaga was transferred to the Echigo-Takada domain, briefly interrupting the line of the Echizen Matsudaira. However, Tadanao's brother Tadamasa was transferred to Fukui, and thus the line was resumed until the end of the Edo Period.
| Preceded by Yūki Hideyasu |
Daimyo of Fukui 1607-1623 |
Succeeded by Matsudaira Tadamasa |