Kyōgoku Tadataka



Kyōgoku Tadataka (京極 忠高) was a Japanese noble and the Daimyo and head of the Kyōgoku Clan (京極氏) of Japan during the Tokugawan power grab of the early 17th century.

Family Origins
Kyōgoku Tadataka was a member and head of the powerful Kyōgoku Clan who claimed their noble descent from Emperor Uda (868-897). He was the son of Kyōgoku Takatsugu and Ohatsu. His paternal grandfather was Kyōgoku Takayoshi. His maternal grandfather was Azai Nagamasa, a Daimyo of the Asai clan.

Biography
Kyōgoku Tadataka is best known for his participation in the Tokugawa clans 1615 military campaign for Osaka where he commanded 2,000 troops in service to the Tokugawas. During this campaign, he successfully led a flanking maneuver against the defenders of Osaka Castle in the Shigino area northeast of the castle together with Ishikawa Tadafusa and fellow clan member Kyōgoku Takatomo. This maneuver was instrumental in the Tokugawa victory.

Later from 1620 to 1629, Kyōgoku Tadataka is recorded as having spent ninety two thousand koku on the re-construction of Osaka Castle.

Marriage and Descendants
Kyōgoku Tadataka was married to the fourth daughter of Matsudaira Tadanao. In 1607, he married the fourth daughter of Tokugawa Hidetada, a marriage which did not produce any heirs. As such, the lands and assets of the family should have reverted to the ruling Shogun. However, the bakufu acted to continue his line by posthumously designating Kyōgoku Takakazu as an heir. Takakazu was Tadataka's nephew, the son of his brother Takamasa. Tadakazu was initially enfeoffed at Tatsuno (50,000 koku) in Harima province.