Maeda Toshiie (前田 利家; January 15, 1538 – April 27, 1599) was one of the leading generals of Oda Nobunaga following the Sengoku period of the 16th century extending to the Azuchi–Momoyama period.
Born~Died Jan 15, 1538 ~ Apr 27, 1599Last edited Oct 15, 2026, 2:34 PM
Maeda Toshiie (前田 利家; January 15, 1538 – April 27, 1599) was one of the leading generals of Oda Nobunaga following the Sengoku period of the 16th century extending to the Azuchi–Momoyama period. His preferred weapon was a yari, and Matazaemon (又左衛門) was his common name; he was therefore known as Yari no Mataza (槍の又左). He was a member of the so-called Echizen Sanninshu (Echizen Triumvir) along with Sassa Narimasa and Fuwa Mitsuharu. The highest rank from the court that he received is the Great Counselor Dainagon (大納言).
Early life
His father was Maeda Toshimasa and his wife was Maeda Matsu. His childhood name was "Inuchiyo" (犬千代). Toshiie was born in the village of Arako (present-day Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya).1 He was the fourth of seven brothers, of Maeda Toshimasa, who held Arako Castle. Toshiie served Oda Nobunaga from childhood (first as a page) and his loyalty was rewarded by being allowed to be the head of the Maeda clan, very unusual for a fourth son with no apparent failures among his elder brothers. Just like Nobunaga, Toshiie was also a delinquent; usually dressed in the outlandish style of a kabukimono, they committed delinquent and deviated behaviors together. It is believed he also became a friend to Kinoshita Tokichiro (later Toyotomi Hideyoshi) in their youth. Just as Hideyoshi was known as Saru, 猴 or "monkey," it is believed that Toshiie was called Inu, 犬 or "dog" by Nobunaga. Due to a long-standing belief that dogs and monkeys are never friendly to each other, Toshiie is often depicted as reserved and stern, in contrast to Hideyoshi's talkative and easy-going nature.
Military life
Toshiie began his career as a member of the akahoro-shū (赤母衣衆), the unit under 's personal command. He later became an infantry captain ( 足軽大将) in the Oda army. Later, he become the leader of Oda's (赤母衣衆, ), a military group that wore a red on their backs.
This page is based on “Maeda Toshiie” from English Wikipedia, (r1376271814) CC BY-SA 4.0 used under the license. The original authors are listed in its page history.
In 1552 - 1554, he took part in the war for the first time in the Battle of Kiyosu Castle which broke out between Nobunaga and Oda Nobutomo, of the Kiyosu Oda clan.
In 1558, he also took part in the Battle of Ukino which was a conflict with Oda Nobukata, a son of Oda Nobuyasu, of the Iwakura Oda clan. It is said that it was about the time of this battle that he began to be called by another name like "Yari no Matazaemon" or "Yari no Mataza".
In 1559, he killed Nobunaga’s dōbōshū (同朋衆) Jūami (十阿弥) from a quarrel that regarded the theft of his hairpin, made him dismissal by Nobunaga as a Ronin, and protected by Matsuoka (松岡) clan from Atsuta Shrine.
In 1561, he also secretly took part in the Battle of Moribe, he killed a Saitō’s soldiers and a general named Adachi Rokubei (足立六兵衛) who renowned for superhuman strength, this time he pardoned by Nobunaga and back to the position.
His father Toshimasa was died when he was a Ronin, and Maeda clan was succeeded by his elder brother Toshihisa (利久). But in 1569, Oda Nobunaga used Toshihisa frail health as a pretext and ordered him abdicate the power, Toshiie succeeded the head under Nobunaga’s order.
In 1580, he was granted the fief of Fuchu, and a han (Kaga Domain) spanning the Noto and Kaga Provinces.4 Despite its small size, Kaga was a highly productive province which would eventually develop into the wealthiest han in Edo period Japan, with a net worth of 1 million koku (百万石); thus, it was nicknamed Kaga Hyaku-man-goku (加賀百万石). Toshiie benefited from a core group of very capable senior vassals. Some, like Murai Nagayori and Okumura Nagatomi, were retainers of long standing with the Maeda.
In 1582, after Nobunaga's assassination at Honnō-ji (本能寺) by Akechi Mitsuhide and Mitsuhide's defeat by Hideyoshi, at the subsequent meeting in Kiyosu Castle where the future of the Oda clan was discussed, Toshiie supported Shibata Katsuie's claim.
In 1583, he battled Hideyoshi under Katsuie's command in the Battle of Shizugatake, but later during the battle, he switched sides to Hideyoshi.
In 1584, after Shibata's defeat, Toshiie become leading general for Hideyoshi in Komaki Nagakute Campaign and was forced to fight another of his friends, Sassa Narimasa at the Battle of Suemori Castle. Narimasa was greatly outnumbered and felled by Toshiie.
In 1587, following the major Maeda victory, Toshiie sheltered his fellow daimyo Dom Justo Takayama after Justo was expelled from his position as representative of Christians by the shogun's Bantenren order.5
In 1591, he helped suppress the Kunohe rebellion in many locations along with Tokugawa Ieyasu and many generals from northern Japan.
Later years
In 1598, upon Toyotomi Hideyoshi's death, Tokugawa Ieyasu proceeded with the "expansion of power through marriage alliances," which Hideyoshi had explicitly forbidden. Ishida Mitsunari and other magistrates relied on Toshiie, and tensions between the Tokugawa and Maeda clans reached a critical point. Many influential daimyo, including Mōri Terumoto, Uesugi Kagekatsu, Ukita Hideie, Katō Kiyomasa, and Hosokawa Tadaoki, supported Toshiie. As a result, Ieyasu apologized to Toshiie, and for the time being, the situation was defused.6
Death
Before dying in 1598, Hideyoshi named Toshiie to the council of Five Elders to support Toyotomi Hideyori until he was old enough to take control on his own.7 However, Toshiie himself was ailing, and could manage to support Hideyori for only a year before he died as well in 1599.
After death
Toshiie was succeeded by his son Toshinaga. Tokugawa Ieyasu saw this change of leadership as an opportunity and set a trap for Toshinaga. In 1599, Ieyasu announced that there was an assassination plot against him, and he identified Toshinaga as the mastermind. Toshinaga denied the allegations, but Ieyasu demanded, "If you are innocent, hand over your mother as a hostage." In the Maeda clan, there were two factions: one advocating for fighting against the Tokugawa and another advocating for submission. Intense debates took place, but ultimately, Toshinaga's mother, Matsu, persuaded everyone by saying, "For a samurai family, preserving the household is paramount. Do not destroy the family just for my sake." Toshinaga then sent Matsu as a hostage to the Tokugawa clan. From this point on, the Maeda clan effectively came under the umbrella of the Tokugawa clan and fought on the Tokugawa side in the Battle of Sekigahara (1600).8
Maeda Masa (given in marriage to Takabatake Sadayoshi)
Toshiie's wife, Maeda Matsu, was famous in her own right. Strong-willed from childhood, she was well-versed in the martial arts and was instrumental in Toshiie's rise to success. After her husband died, Matsu, then known by her Buddhist nun name of Hoshun-in, assured the safety of the Maeda clan after the year 1600 by voluntarily going as a hostage to Edo, capital of the new shōgun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, whom she loathed throughout her life as she watched him, her husband, and Hideyoshi compete for power.
Their sons all became daimyōs in their own right. Their daughters married into prestigious families; the eldest, Kō, married Maeda Nagatane, a distant relative of Toshiie who became a senior Kaga retainer; Ma'a, was a concubine of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and later married Marikouji Mitsurubo,7 Gō was adopted by Hideyoshi and became the wife of Ukita Hideie,79 and Chiyo, who was first wedded to Hosokawa Tadaoki's son Tadataka, later married Murai Nagayori's son Nagatsugu. Sho married Nakagawa Mitsushige. Toshi married Shinohara Sadahide. Fuku married Nakagawa Mitsutada.
Ōdenta sword
"Ōdenta (大典太)" or "Great Denta" or "The Best among Swords Forged by Denta". Along with "Onimaru" and "Futatsu-mei", the sword was considered to be one of the three regalia swords of the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan. Later it was passed down to Maeda Toshiie. A legend says the sword healed a daughter of Toshiie and another legend says birds never try to approach a warehouse where this sword is stored.
In popular culture
He is a playable character in video game Sengoku Basara 2 and an unplayable character in video game Sengoku Basara 4. He wields a trident and fire-based attacks. In anime, they were initially servants of Oda Nobunaga, later turned to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He is a playable character in the video game Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends and appears in every major samurai warriors title following his first appearance. He wields a single sword and twin spears.
Turnbull, Stephen (2005). Samurai Commanders (2). Osprey Publishing. pp. 23–27. ISBN 9781841767444. Retrieved 22 October 2014. ↩↩2
Owada, Tetsuo (14 June 2020). "織田信長(下)唯我独尊が招いた相次いだ謀反... 久秀、村重、そして光秀" [Nobunaga Oda (Part 2): A Series of Rebellions Caused by Self-Respect... Hisahide, Murashige, and Mitsuhide]. Otonanswer (in Japanese). Media Vague. Retrieved 7 August 2023. ↩
Owada, Tetsuo (25 October 2020). "前田利家 武勇と仁愛を兼備、秀吉を支えた「槍の又左」" [Maeda Toshiie - The "Mataza of the Spear" Who Supported Hideyoshi with His Combination of Bravery and Humanity]. Otonanswer (in Japanese). Media Vague. Retrieved 7 August 2023. ↩
Turnbull, Stephen (2000). The Samurai Sourcebook. London: Cassell & C0. p. 55,228. ISBN 1854095234. ↩
第2版,世界大百科事典内言及, 日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ),朝日日本歴史人物事典,ブリタニカ国際大百科事典 小項目事典,デジタル版 日本人名大辞典+Plus,旺文社日本史事典 三訂版,精選版 日本国語大辞典,百科事典マイペディア,デジタル大辞泉,デジタル大辞泉プラス,世界大百科事典 (7 February 2017). "高山右近とは". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-03-09. ↩
Maeda Toshiie (前田 利家; January 15, 1538 – April 27, 1599) was one of the leading generals of Oda Nobunaga following the Sengoku period of the 16th century extending to the Azuchi–Momoyama period. His preferred weapon was a yari, and Matazaemon (又左衛門) was his common name; he was therefore known as Yari no Mataza (槍の又左). He was a member of the so-called Echizen Sanninshu (Echizen Triumvir) along with Sassa Narimasa and Fuwa Mitsuharu. The highest rank from the court that he received is the Great Counselor Dainagon (大納言).
Early life
His father was Maeda Toshimasa and his wife was Maeda Matsu. His childhood name was "Inuchiyo" (犬千代). Toshiie was born in the village of Arako (present-day Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya).1 He was the fourth of seven brothers, of Maeda Toshimasa, who held Arako Castle. Toshiie served Oda Nobunaga from childhood (first as a page) and his loyalty was rewarded by being allowed to be the head of the Maeda clan, very unusual for a fourth son with no apparent failures among his elder brothers. Just like Nobunaga, Toshiie was also a delinquent; usually dressed in the outlandish style of a kabukimono, they committed delinquent and deviated behaviors together. It is believed he also became a friend to Kinoshita Tokichiro (later Toyotomi Hideyoshi) in their youth. Just as Hideyoshi was known as Saru, 猴 or "monkey," it is believed that Toshiie was called Inu, 犬 or "dog" by Nobunaga. Due to a long-standing belief that dogs and monkeys are never friendly to each other, Toshiie is often depicted as reserved and stern, in contrast to Hideyoshi's talkative and easy-going nature.
Military life
Toshiie began his career as a member of the akahoro-shū (赤母衣衆), the unit under Oda Nobunaga's personal command. He later became an infantry captain (ashigaru taishō 足軽大将) in the Oda army. Later, he become the leader of Oda's Akahoro-shū (赤母衣衆, lit. 'Red Mantle group'),23 a military group that wore a red Horo (cloak) on their backs.
In 1552 - 1554, he took part in the war for the first time in the Battle of Kiyosu Castle which broke out between Nobunaga and Oda Nobutomo, of the Kiyosu Oda clan.
In 1558, he also took part in the Battle of Ukino which was a conflict with Oda Nobukata, a son of Oda Nobuyasu, of the Iwakura Oda clan. It is said that it was about the time of this battle that he began to be called by another name like "Yari no Matazaemon" or "Yari no Mataza".
In 1559, he killed Nobunaga’s dōbōshū (同朋衆) Jūami (十阿弥) from a quarrel that regarded the theft of his hairpin, made him dismissal by Nobunaga as a Ronin, and protected by Matsuoka (松岡) clan from Atsuta Shrine.
In 1561, he also secretly took part in the Battle of Moribe, he killed a Saitō’s soldiers and a general named Adachi Rokubei (足立六兵衛) who renowned for superhuman strength, this time he pardoned by Nobunaga and back to the position.
His father Toshimasa was died when he was a Ronin, and Maeda clan was succeeded by his elder brother Toshihisa (利久). But in 1569, Oda Nobunaga used Toshihisa frail health as a pretext and ordered him abdicate the power, Toshiie succeeded the head under Nobunaga’s order.
In 1580, he was granted the fief of Fuchu, and a han (Kaga Domain) spanning the Noto and Kaga Provinces.4 Despite its small size, Kaga was a highly productive province which would eventually develop into the wealthiest han in Edo period Japan, with a net worth of 1 million koku (百万石); thus, it was nicknamed Kaga Hyaku-man-goku (加賀百万石). Toshiie benefited from a core group of very capable senior vassals. Some, like Murai Nagayori and Okumura Nagatomi, were retainers of long standing with the Maeda.
In 1582, after Nobunaga's assassination at Honnō-ji (本能寺) by Akechi Mitsuhide and Mitsuhide's defeat by Hideyoshi, at the subsequent meeting in Kiyosu Castle where the future of the Oda clan was discussed, Toshiie supported Shibata Katsuie's claim.
In 1583, he battled Hideyoshi under Katsuie's command in the Battle of Shizugatake, but later during the battle, he switched sides to Hideyoshi.
In 1584, after Shibata's defeat, Toshiie become leading general for Hideyoshi in Komaki Nagakute Campaign and was forced to fight another of his friends, Sassa Narimasa at the Battle of Suemori Castle. Narimasa was greatly outnumbered and felled by Toshiie.
In 1587, following the major Maeda victory, Toshiie sheltered his fellow daimyo Dom Justo Takayama after Justo was expelled from his position as representative of Christians by the shogun's Bantenren order.5
In 1591, he helped suppress the Kunohe rebellion in many locations along with Tokugawa Ieyasu and many generals from northern Japan.
Later years
In 1598, upon Toyotomi Hideyoshi's death, Tokugawa Ieyasu proceeded with the "expansion of power through marriage alliances," which Hideyoshi had explicitly forbidden. Ishida Mitsunari and other magistrates relied on Toshiie, and tensions between the Tokugawa and Maeda clans reached a critical point. Many influential daimyo, including Mōri Terumoto, Uesugi Kagekatsu, Ukita Hideie, Katō Kiyomasa, and Hosokawa Tadaoki, supported Toshiie. As a result, Ieyasu apologized to Toshiie, and for the time being, the situation was defused.6
Death
Before dying in 1598, Hideyoshi named Toshiie to the council of Five Elders to support Toyotomi Hideyori until he was old enough to take control on his own.7 However, Toshiie himself was ailing, and could manage to support Hideyori for only a year before he died as well in 1599.
After death
Toshiie was succeeded by his son Toshinaga. Tokugawa Ieyasu saw this change of leadership as an opportunity and set a trap for Toshinaga. In 1599, Ieyasu announced that there was an assassination plot against him, and he identified Toshinaga as the mastermind. Toshinaga denied the allegations, but Ieyasu demanded, "If you are innocent, hand over your mother as a hostage." In the Maeda clan, there were two factions: one advocating for fighting against the Tokugawa and another advocating for submission. Intense debates took place, but ultimately, Toshinaga's mother, Matsu, persuaded everyone by saying, "For a samurai family, preserving the household is paramount. Do not destroy the family just for my sake." Toshinaga then sent Matsu as a hostage to the Tokugawa clan. From this point on, the Maeda clan effectively came under the umbrella of the Tokugawa clan and fought on the Tokugawa side in the Battle of Sekigahara (1600).8
Maeda Masa (given in marriage to Takabatake Sadayoshi)
Toshiie's wife, Maeda Matsu, was famous in her own right. Strong-willed from childhood, she was well-versed in the martial arts and was instrumental in Toshiie's rise to success. After her husband died, Matsu, then known by her Buddhist nun name of Hoshun-in, assured the safety of the Maeda clan after the year 1600 by voluntarily going as a hostage to Edo, capital of the new shōgun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, whom she loathed throughout her life as she watched him, her husband, and Hideyoshi compete for power.
Their sons all became daimyōs in their own right. Their daughters married into prestigious families; the eldest, Kō, married Maeda Nagatane, a distant relative of Toshiie who became a senior Kaga retainer; Ma'a, was a concubine of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and later married Marikouji Mitsurubo,7 Gō was adopted by Hideyoshi and became the wife of Ukita Hideie,79 and Chiyo, who was first wedded to Hosokawa Tadaoki's son Tadataka, later married Murai Nagayori's son Nagatsugu. Sho married Nakagawa Mitsushige. Toshi married Shinohara Sadahide. Fuku married Nakagawa Mitsutada.
Ōdenta sword
"Ōdenta (大典太)" or "Great Denta" or "The Best among Swords Forged by Denta". Along with "Onimaru" and "Futatsu-mei", the sword was considered to be one of the three regalia swords of the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan. Later it was passed down to Maeda Toshiie. A legend says the sword healed a daughter of Toshiie and another legend says birds never try to approach a warehouse where this sword is stored.
In popular culture
He is a playable character in video game Sengoku Basara 2 and an unplayable character in video game Sengoku Basara 4. He wields a trident and fire-based attacks. In anime, they were initially servants of Oda Nobunaga, later turned to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He is a playable character in the video game Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends and appears in every major samurai warriors title following his first appearance. He wields a single sword and twin spears.
Turnbull, Stephen (2005). Samurai Commanders (2). Osprey Publishing. pp. 23–27. ISBN 9781841767444. Retrieved 22 October 2014. ↩↩2
Owada, Tetsuo (14 June 2020). "織田信長(下)唯我独尊が招いた相次いだ謀反... 久秀、村重、そして光秀" [Nobunaga Oda (Part 2): A Series of Rebellions Caused by Self-Respect... Hisahide, Murashige, and Mitsuhide]. Otonanswer (in Japanese). Media Vague. Retrieved 7 August 2023. ↩
Owada, Tetsuo (25 October 2020). "前田利家 武勇と仁愛を兼備、秀吉を支えた「槍の又左」" [Maeda Toshiie - The "Mataza of the Spear" Who Supported Hideyoshi with His Combination of Bravery and Humanity]. Otonanswer (in Japanese). Media Vague. Retrieved 7 August 2023. ↩
Turnbull, Stephen (2000). The Samurai Sourcebook. London: Cassell & C0. p. 55,228. ISBN 1854095234. ↩
第2版,世界大百科事典内言及, 日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ),朝日日本歴史人物事典,ブリタニカ国際大百科事典 小項目事典,デジタル版 日本人名大辞典+Plus,旺文社日本史事典 三訂版,精選版 日本国語大辞典,百科事典マイペディア,デジタル大辞泉,デジタル大辞泉プラス,世界大百科事典 (7 February 2017). "高山右近とは". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-03-09. ↩