Matsudaira Mochiaki

Matsudaira Mochiaki (松平 茂昭, 17 September 1836 – 25 July 1890) was a Bakumatsu period daimyō under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. He was the 7th daimyō of Itoigawa Domain in Echigo Province and later the 17th (and final) daimyō of Fukui Domain in Echizen Province.[1]

Matsudaira Mochiaki
松平 茂昭
Matsudaira Mochiaki
Born	(1836-09-17)September 17, 1836
Died	July 25, 1890(1890-07-25) (aged 53)
Nationality	Japanese
Other names
7th Daimyō of Itoigawa Domain
In office 1857–1858
Preceded by	Matsudaira Naoharu
Succeeded by	Matsudaira Naoyasu
17th Daimyō of Fukui Domain
In office 1858–1871
Preceded by	Matsudaira Yoshinaga
Succeeded by	-abolished-
Spouse(s)	Takatsukasa Kayo, later Kuga Yukiko
Parent(s)	Matsudaira Naoharu (father)

In this Japanese name, the family name is Matsudaira.

Biography

Mochiaki was the fourth son of Matsudaira Naoharu of Itoigawa. He was received in formal audience by Shōgun Tokugawa Ieyoshi in 1852. His childhood name was Yuanosuke (鑜之助). He underwent his genpuku ceremony in 1853, becoming Matsudaira Naokiyo (直廉). On the retirement of his father in 1857, he became daimyō of Itoigawa. At that time, his courtesy title was Hyūga-no-kami and his court rank was Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.

In 1858, Matsudaira Yoshinaga (better known as Matsudaira Shungaku]] was forced into retirement during the Ansei Purge, and Naokiyo was transferred to Fukui Domain and was adopted as Yoshinaga's successor.[1] His courtesy title became Echizen-no-kami, and also Sakon'e-no-chūjō, and his court rank was increased to Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade. Also, Shōgun Tokugawa Iemochi granted him a kanji from his name, which then became Matsudaira Mochiaki. Uni 1864, his court rank became Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade.

However, he most mostly a figurehead within Fukui Domain, as the retired Matsudaira Yoshinaga continued to exert much influence, and all of the powerful retainers of the domain, including Yuri Kimimasa, Yokoi Shōnan, etc. continued to be loyal to their former lord.

During the First Chōshū expedition, he served as deputy commander under the overall command of Tokugawa Yoshikatsu.

In June 1869, he defected to the side of the new Meiji government and was appointed imperial governor of Fukui, a post which he held to the abolition of the han system in 1871. In 1884, he became a Count (hakushaku) in the kazoku peerage system. He was awarded the Fourth class of the Order of the Rising Sun in 1885. In 1889, he inherited the title of Marquis (koshaku) from his adopted father.[2]

He died in 1890. His son, Matsudaira Yasutaka (1867–1930) served as a member of the House of Peers of the Diet of Japan and was author of a number of works on agricultural science, having studied for several years in England.

Family

• Father: Matsudaira Naoharu (1810–1878)
• Wives:
  • Yuki-hime, daughter of Kuga Takemichi
  • Ikuhime, daughter of Hirohashi Tanetatsu
• Children:
  • Matsudaira Yasutaka
  • Matsudaira Nagayori
  • Takeya Harumitsu
  • Fujinami Shigeuji
  • Kiyohime, married Nabeshima Naoyasu
  • Keihime, married Kato Yasumichi
  • Akihime, married Toda Yasukei

External links

• "Fukui" at Edo 300 (in Japanese)
• 越前松平氏 (Echizen Matsudaira) at ReichsArchiv.jp (in Japanese)

Notes

1. Burks, Ardath W. (1985). The Modernizers: overseas students, foreign employees, and Meiji Japan, p. 61; excerpt Matsudaira Yoshinaga "abdicated the lordship of Fukui to his remote relative Mochiaki (daimyō 1858–1871)"
2. "Summary of the News," The Japan Weekly Mail, Vol. IX, No, 3 (January 21, 1888), P. 46, 1st column; excerpt, "Counts Matsudaira Mochiaki, Nakanomikado Tsuneakira, and Saga Kinto have been promoted to the rank of Marquis, in recognition of services rendered by their fathers to the Government"; retrieved 2013-4-9.

Preceded by Matsudaira Naoharu	7th Daimyō of Itoigawa 1857–1858	Succeeded by Matsudaira Naoyasu
Preceded by Matsudaira Yoshinaga	17th Daimyō of Fukui 1858–1871	Succeeded by domain is abolished