Nobunaga's Skulls of Gold
Did Nobunaga really drink sake from the skulls of the Azai?
Azai Nagamasa was born to Azai Hisamasa in Odani Castle in 1545. In 1564, the then 19-year-old Nagamasa was married to the powerful and rising warlord Oda Nobunaga’s younger sister, Oichi. It was a marriage of political convenience, orchestrated by Nobunaga, who saw it as a way of gaining free access to Kyoto and surrounding districts, as well as being able to manipulate control of Omi without having to fight for the land. It should also have strengthened ties between the two clans, however in 1570, the situation took a turn for the worse, when Nobunaga waged war on the Asakura clan of Echizen (now Fukui Prefecture). This tore the Azai clan in two, as the Azai and the Asakura had long been allies. Many in the Azai camp wanted to assist their former allies, while others suggested supporting the stronger Oda clan. Eventually the Azai chose to maintain their decades old alliance, which forced Nobunaga troops to retreat to Kyoto.