Honda Tadakatsu
A samurai who never suffered a single wound in 57 campaigns, praised by Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu.
Honda Tadakatsu (March 17, 1548 – December 3, 1610), also called Honda Heihachirō, was a Japanese samurai, general, and daimyo of the late Sengoku through early Edo periods, who served Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was one of the Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings along with Ii Naomasa, Sakakibara Yasumasa, and Sakai Tadatsugu. It was reported that he never suffered a single wound despite participating in a total of 57 military campaigns throughout his life. For his fighting prowess he earned praise from Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu himself.
Quick Facts
- Rank
- Buke Shitsuyaku
- Born
- March 17, 1548
- Birthplace
- Mikawa Province, Japan
- Died
- December 3, 1610 (aged 62)
- Place of death
- Edo, Japan
- Father
- Honda Tadataka
- Children
- Komatsuhime
- Honda Tadamasa
- Honda Tadatomo
- Relations
- Sanada Nobuyuki (son-in-law)
Lore & Background
Honda Tadakatsu was born in 1548 in Kuramae, Nukata, Mikawa Province, the eldest son of Honda Tadataka. The Honda clan was one of the oldest Anjō fudai families serving Tokugawa Ieyasu since he was in Anjō. Tadakatsu participated in his first battle in 1560 at the Battle of Washizu Fort, accompanying his father. At age 14 in 1561, he recorded his first kill in battle — when his uncle killed an enemy samurai and asked Tadakatsu to take the head as a trophy, Tadakatsu refused, charging into enemy ranks to make his own kill. He became head of the core branch of the Honda clan. During the Ikkō-ikki rebellion, he abandoned his Jōdo Shinshū faith for Jōdo-shū to stay loyal to Ieyasu, joining Ina Tadatsugu, Sakai Tadatsugu, Mizuno Sanzaemon, Torii Mototada, Ōkubo Tadakatsu, and Ishikawa Tadanari to suppress the rebels. In June 1564, he was chosen over Hachiya Sadatsugu to lead the attack on Yoshida Castle, forcing its surrender. In 1566, at age 19, he was promoted to Hatamoto and given command of 54 cavalry soldiers.
Reader's Guide
Honda Tadakatsu's allegiance is absolute to Tokugawa Ieyasu, whom he served from his youth. His motivation stems from the samurai code of bushido, prioritizing honor and service over personal gain or safety. Throughout his life, he participated in 57 military campaigns and never suffered a single wound. Key relationships include his bond with Ieyasu, built on decades of shared campaigns from the Battle of Washizu Fort in 1560 through the aftermath of the Honnō-ji Incident in 1582. He fought alongside Sakakibara Yasumasa, Ii Naomasa, and Sakai Tadatsugu as one of the Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings. His evolution represents the consolidation of military power that allowed Ieyasu to eventually dominate Japan.
Did You Know?
- At the Battle of Anegawa in 1570, he charged alone against a 10,000-strong Asakura army, panicking Ieyasu into leading a counterattack to save him.
- At the Battle of Nagashino in 1575, his musketeers killed Yamagata Masakage, and Tadakatsu personally engaged Naitō Masatoyo's soldiers on the frontline with his spear.
- After the Honnō-ji Incident in 1582, he fought off Ochimusha-gari outlaws during Ieyasu's dangerous journey from Sakai back to Mikawa.
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