Matsudaira Hirotada

Matsudaira Hirotada (松平 広忠) was the lord of Okazaki Castle in Mikawa province, Japan during the Sengoku Period of the 16th century. He is best known for being the father of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Biography
Hirotada was the son of Matsudaira Kiyoyasu (7th head of Mikawa Matsudaira clan) and an unknown lady, probably the daughter of Aoki Kaga no Kami Norimune. He was known in his childhood as Senshōmaru, Senchiyo, and Jirōzaburō.

Following his father's assassination in 1536, Hirotada was under the protection of a loyal retainer, Abe Sadayoshi. He allied with the Imagawa, and with their help was installed at Okazaki castle. The alliance with the Imagawa brought him into conflict with the Oda clan. In 1540, Oda Nobuhide attacked and took Anjo castle, which was held by the Matsudaira family. He was assisted by Mizuno Tadamasa. Oda's son, Oda Nobuhiro, was installed as the lord of the castle.

In 1541, Hirotada married Dai-no-kata, his step-sister and daughter of Mizuno Tadamasa. A son, later known as Tokugawa Ieyasu, was born to them a year later. He joined Imagawa Yoshimoto to fight Oda Nobuhide at the First Battle of Azukizaka in 1542. They were defeated. His uncle, Matsudaira Nobutaka, rebelled in 1543, and joined Oda Nobuhide. Hirotada had a serious disagreement with his father-in-law, Mizuno Tadamasa, in 1544, and he divorced Dai-no-kata. He then married the daughter of Toda Yasumitsu. They had a son, who would later be known Iemoto, as well as three daughters.

In 1548, hard-pressed by Oda Nobuhide, Hirotada needed help from the Imagawa, and was compelled to send his son Ieyasu as a hostage to Sunpu Castle in Suruga province. The child was however intercepted on the way by the Oda, and kept at Nagoya for a number of years. Hirotada then attempted to take back Anjo castle, but was defeated. An attempt was made on his life by Iwamatsu Hachiya, but he survived.

Later in 1548, the Imagawa and Matsudaira defeated Oda at the Second Battle of Azukizaka. However, Hirotada became ill and died the following year.

He was posthumously conferred the rank of Dainagon by Ieyasu in 1612.