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Azai Hisamasa

Azai Hisamasa (浅井 久政 Azai Hisamasa) (1524 - September 23, 1573) was a son of Azai Sukemasa and the second head of Azai clan .

Hisamasa became the head of Azai clan on 1542 after his father died, but unlike his father, he was never a strong leader. Losing domains against Rokkaku clan , he instead became a Rokkaku retainer. Hisamasa's retainers had enough with Hisamasa and after his son Azai Nagamasa won the Battle of Norada against at least double the number of troop commanded by Rokkaku Yoshikata to win back independence, they forced Hisamasa into a retirement.

Yet, this retirement was not a complete and Hisamasa managed to hold some sway of the clan. This surfaced on 1570 after Oda Nobunaga who was allied with his son, Azai Nagamasa, attacked Asakura Yoshikage who had supported Hisamasa against enemies like the Rokkaku clan. Hating Nobunaga for his personalities, Hisamasa demanded that the Azai clan to pay back the support of Asakura clan and forced a war by breaking the alliance. It is believed that Nagamasa opposed him and believed that the alliance can somehow be mended over time since he refused to divorce his wife, Ichi, but he failed to gain enough support to overturn Hisamasa.

On 1573, Odani Castle was besieged by Nobunaga's force and facing a loss, Hisamasa committed a seppuku.

Last updated: 09-12-2005 02:39:13