Tokugawa Ietsuna

The 4th Shogun was Born on This Day, September 7, 1641

Born the eldest son of 3rd Shogun, Iemitsu, Tokugawa Ietsuna would become Shogun himself aged just 10 when his father died at age 47. There had been rumors regarding his legitimacy at birth, having been born to Iemitsu and his concubine, Lady Oraku, and later raised by his father’s concubine, Lady Oman, but Iemitsu had named Ietsuna his heir on the childs’ birth, cementing his place in history.

As a child, Ietsuna shared the same name as that of his great-grandfather, Tokugawa Ieyasu, being Takechiyo.According to the records the Takeno Shondan, when Ietsuna was a child, not long after becoming Shogun, he climbed up the tower keep of Edo Castle, but claimed he could not see well. His close adviser suggested that he wear spectacles, but Ietsuna replied: 'I am young, but I am Shogun. If the people knew that the Shogun was looking down on them from his tower keep wearing a pair of reading glasses, they would probably feel uncomfortable".