Nitta Tadatsune

Nitta Tadatsune (仁田 忠常, 1167 - October 12, 1203) was a samurai warlord of the late Heian early Kamakura period. He served as a close retainer to shoguns Minamoto no Yoritomo and Yoriie. In The Tale of the Heike he is called Nitan no Tadatsune. He is also called Shirō, his azana.

In this Japanese name, the surname is Nitta.
Nitta Tadatsune
仁田忠常
Nitta Shirō Tadatsune Entering a Cave with a Torch by Yoshitoshi
Born1167
DiedOctober 12, 1203
(aged 37)
NationalityJapanese
Other namesShirō
Occupationsamurai warlord

Life

Nitta Tadatsune was born in 1167.[1][2] His parents are not known but his family is the Kanō clan (a branch of the Kudō clan), descending from the Nanke house of the powerful Fujiwara clan.[2]

Tadatsune was originally a resident of Nitta, Izu Province (present-day Kannami, Shizuoka Prefecture).[2][3]

In 1180, he joined Minamoto no Yoritomo's troops, and played an active part in the punitive expedition of the Taira clan in the West. He also participated in the conquest of Mutsu Province.[2] In March 1185, he moved to various parts of Chinzei (Saikaidō) serving Minamoto no Noriyori.[3]

In June 1193, during the grand hunting event, Fuji no Makigari, held by shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo, Tadatsune acted as an archer for Yoritomo.[2] When the Soga brothers began a massacre at the event, known as the Revenge of the Soga Brothers incident, Tadatsune shot Soga Sukenari dead.[2][3] According to legend, after killing Sukenari, Tadatsune jumped onto a wild boar.[4]

When Tadatsune fell ill, Yoritomo would personally attend him, signifying that he had a great deal of trust in Tadatsune. Tadatsune's wife, who was said to be a virgin, drowned on the way to the Mishima Shrine where she prayed for his husband's recovery.[2]

Tadatsune became a close retainer to Yoritomo's son, Minamoto no Yoriie. In 1203, Tadatsune killed Hiki Yoshikazu and wiped out the Hiki clan during the Hiki Yoshikazu Rebellion, ordered by Hōjō Tokimasa. Enraged by this, Yoriie ordered Tadatsune to assassinate the mastermind of the incident, Hōjō Tokimasa. Following this on October 12, 1203, Tadatsune was killed by Katō Kagekado on behalf of the Hōjō clan, caused by Hōjō Tadatoki's misunderstanding.[2][3] Tadatsune was aged 37 at the time of his death.[2]

Family
  • Father: Unknown
  • Mother: Unknown
  • Brothers:
    • Nitta Gorō Tadamasa
    • Nitta Tadatoki
  • Wife: Unknown

Television drama

See also

References
  1. Kōdansha Nihon jinmei daijiten. 上田正昭, Kōdansha. Shuppan Kenkyūjo, 講談社. 出版研究所. Tōkyō: Kōdansha. 2002. 仁田忠常. ISBN 4-06-210800-3. OCLC 50718841.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Asashi Nihon rekishi jinbutsu jiten. Asahi Shinbunsha, 朝日新聞社. Tōkyō: Asahi Shinbunsha. 1994. 仁田忠常. ISBN 4-02-340052-1. OCLC 33014222.CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. Gibney, Frank (1995). Buritanika kokusai dai hyakka jiten. TBS Britannica. 仁田忠常. OCLC 222505092.
  4. Nihon kokugo daijiten. Nihon Daijiten Kankōkai. Dainihan Henshū Iinkai, Shōgakkan. Kokugo Jiten Henshūbu, 日本大辞典刊行会. 第二版編集委員会., 小学館. 国語辞典編集部. (Dai 2-han ed.). Tōkyō: Shōgakkan. 2000–2002. 仁田忠常. ISBN 4-09-521001-X. OCLC 45967187.CS1 maint: date format (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
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