Oda Nobunaga Falls: Japan's Power Vacuum Begins
Akechi Mitsuhide betrayed Oda Nobunaga at the Honno-ji temple in Kyoto on June 21, 1582, attacking with 13,000 troops while Nobunaga had only a small personal guard. Nobunaga reportedly fought with a bow until wounded by a spear thrust, then retreated into the burning temple and committed seppuku. His body was never found. Mitsuhide's motives remain Japan's greatest historical mystery, with theories ranging from personal grudges to secret backing by rival daimyo. Mitsuhide declared himself Shogun but held power for only 13 days before Toyotomi Hideyoshi, learning of the betrayal while fighting 100 miles away, marched his army back in record time and destroyed Mitsuhide at the Battle of Yamazaki. Hideyoshi then completed the unification of Japan that Nobunaga had begun.
June 21, 1582
444 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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