Oda Hidenobu: The life of Nobunaga's grandson under Hideyoshi

Following the Honno-ji Incident, Sanpōshi (later known as Oda Hidenobu) became the successor to the Oda clan at the age of three during the Kiyosu Conference. Although he was the legitimate grandson of Oda Nobunaga and son of Oda Nobutada, his early years were marked by political manipulation by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Under Hideyoshi’s protection, Hidenobu eventually became the lord of Gifu with a 130,000-koku fief at age 12. He received the name ‘Hidenobu’ from Hideyoshi, incorporating the character ‘Hide’ as a sign of favor. While he held a high social status and prestigious official ranks, he was kept under strict surveillance to ensure he did not seize actual political power from the Toyotomi regime.

Historical records, such as the ‘Kansei Choshu Kashu’, indicate that Hidenobu did not have a formal male heir with his primary wife, the daughter of Wada Magota.