Asano Nagaakira

Asano Nagaakira was born in 1586 in the family of Asano Nagamas , a vassal of Toyotomi Hideyoshi . In 1594, Nagaakira himself became a vassal of Toyotomi, receiving a salary of 3 thousand koku. Six years later, at the Battle of Sekigahar, he joined Tokugawa Ieyasu . After the death of Yoshinagi , Nagaakira became the Wakayama daimyo.

In 1615, he married Furuhime, the third daughter of Ieyasu Tokugawa.

In 1619, he was granted the principality of Hiroshima in Aki province with an income of 426 thousand koku, which became the possession of the Asano clan for many generations ^[1] .

Osaka Campaign

During the siege of Osaka , Nagaakira commanded part of the Tokugawa army. Some supporters of Toyotomi Hideyori decided to attack Asano's headquarters - Wakayama Castle. The attackers were led by Ono Harunaga , Hanawa Naoyuki and Okabe Noritsuna . The main part of Asano’s troops at that time besieged Osaka, but there were few attackers, moreover, they were deprived of the opportunity to receive reinforcements - and Nagaakira decided to give battle near the castle. In the Battle of Kashiya , Hideyori's supporters were defeated. Okabe and Hanawa were killed in battle, and Ono retreated back to Osaka. Nagaakira also participated in the decisive battle of the campaign - the battle of Tennoji , where he commanded the rear guard of the Tokugawa army. It is believed that throughout the entire campaign Osaka Nagaakira personally took 44 enemy heads.

• Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook . London: Cassell & Co.