Oda Nobunaga (born 1534, Owari Province, Japan – committed seppuku June 21, 1582, Kyoto)
Promoted Christianity for political advantage—supported Jesuit missionaries, built churches in Kyoto and Azuchi, and employed the African-born samurai Yasuke |
Oda Nobunaga (born 1534, Owari Province, Japan – committed seppuku June 21, 1582, Kyoto) was a transformative Japanese warlord who ended the Ashikaga (Muromachi) shogunate and unified roughly half of Japan’s provinces en.wikipedia.org+11britannica.com+11britannica.com+11.
🚩 Early Rise & Unification
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Succeeded his father in 1551 and secured control of Owari by 1560, defeating Imagawa Yoshimoto en.wikipedia.org+4britannica.com+4kids.britannica.com+4.
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Formed a strategic alliance with Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1562 kids.britannica.com+4britannica.com+4en.wikipedia.org+4.
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Marching on Kyoto in 1568, he backed Ashikaga Yoshiaki as shogun—and deposed him in 1573, bringing the Ashikaga era to an end en.wikipedia.org+7britannica.com+7kids.britannica.com+7.
Military Innovations & Campaigns
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In 1549, outfitted 500 soldiers with matchlock muskets—the first use of firearms in Japanese warfare britannica.com+1britannica.com+1.
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At Nagashino in 1575, showcased revolutionized tactics with rotating musketeer volleys, helping crush the Takeda cavalry britannica.com+2britannica.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2.
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Conducted campaigns against militant Buddhist sects, destroying Enryaku-ji on Mt. Hiei in 1571 and seizing Ishiyama Hongan-ji by 1580, diminishing temple political power britannica.com+4britannica.com+4en.wikipedia.org+4.
Political & Cultural Reforms
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Abolished tolls and guild fees to boost commerce and strengthen his economic base britannica.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
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Promoted Christianity for political advantage—supported Jesuit missionaries, built churches in Kyoto and Azuchi, and employed the African-born samurai Yasuke britannica.com+1britannica.com+1.
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Served as patron of the tea ceremony and initiated the culturally vibrant Azuchi‑Momoyama period (1573–1600), marked by castle-building, arts, and luxury britannica.com+1britannica.com+1.
Final Days
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By 1582, controlled central Japan and was campaigning westward.
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Betrayed by his retainer Akechi Mitsuhide at Honnō-ji (June 21, 1582), he was seriously wounded and committed seppuku kids.britannica.com+1britannica.com+1britannica.com+5britannica.com+5en.wikipedia.org+5.
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Though he died before completing Japan’s unification, his groundwork set the stage for Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu to finish the job by the 1590s britannica.com+2britannica.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2.
Quick Facts
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Names: Born Kichihōshi, later also called Saburō britannica.com+14britannica.com+14britannica.com+14
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Era: Pioneered the Azuchi‑Momoyama cultural period in mid‑late 1500s britannica.com+1britannica.com+1
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Historical role: With Hideyoshi and Ieyasu, one of the “Three Unifiers” of Japan en.wikipedia.org+9britannica.com+9kids.britannica.com+9
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