Akechi MITSUHIDE

Akechi Mitsuhide was a Japanese samurai who lived during the Sengoku period. He is best known for his role in the assassination of Oda Nobunaga, the most powerful daimyō of the time. Mitsuhide was born into a samurai family in the province of Omi. He began his career as a retainer of the Oda clan, and quickly rose through the ranks. He was eventually appointed as one of Nobunaga's chief generals. In 1582, Mitsuhide led an army against the Takeda clan, one of Nobunaga's rivals. The battle was a success, and the Takeda were defeated. However, Mitsuhide became increasingly dissatisfied with Nobunaga's rule. He believed that Nobunaga was becoming too powerful and tyrannical, and that he was a threat to the stability of Japan. In June of 1582, Mitsuhide launched a surprise attack on Nobunaga's castle at Azuchi. Nobunaga was killed in the attack, and Mitsuhide became the new ruler of the Oda clan. However, Mitsuhide's rule was short-lived. He was defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, another of Nobunaga's generals, in the Battle of Yama