Matsudaira Tadanao

Matsudaira Tadanao (松平 忠直, 16 July 1595 – 5 October 1650) was a Japanese daimyō in the early Edo period. He was the head of the Fukui Domain.

Early life

When Tadanao was born, his name was Matsudaira Senchiyo. He was the eldest son of Yūki Hideyasu, by his concubine Lady Nakagawa.

Mature years

When Hideyasu died in 1607, Tadanao became clan leader and head of his father's domain. Four years later he married his cousin Katsuhime, the daughter of the 2nd shogun Hidetada. He led Echizen troops in battle at the Osaka Winter Campaign, but suffered a high casualty rate, for which he was scolded by his grandfather, the retired shogun Ieyasu. He took part in the next year's Summer Campaign, taking the head of Sanada Yukimura, and leading his forces at the very tip of the Tokugawa advance into Osaka Castle. However, he received no reward for his efforts, and his court rank remained at the comparatively low jusanmi-sangi (従三位参議; junior 3rd rank, councilor), though his father had been chūnagon (中納言; Middle Councilor). Tadanao was so upset at this that in 1621 he feigned illness and did not make his required trip to Edo; in 1622 he even plotted the death of his wife (who was saved at the last moment by one of her maids taking her place). He even led his own soldiers on rampages through the homes of retainers.

In 1622, he was banished to Ogiwara in Bungo Province. Tadanao also entered the Buddhist priesthood, taking the name Ippaku (一伯). He died in 1650 at age 56.

Tadanao's son Mitsunaga was transferred to the Takada Domain in Echigo Province.

Tadanao's brother Tadamasa was transferred to Fukui, The clan continued to hold the fief until the end of the Edo period.