Warlord Bessho Nagaharu

Killed His Family and Himself to Save Hundreds & End a Two Year Siege

Sengoku Daimyo, Bessho Nagaharu committed seppuku on this day, February 2, 1580, ending a two year siege, and saving the lives of countless men.

Bessho Nagaharu was born in modern day Hyogo Prefecture, the eldest son of the daimyo, Bessho Yasuharu in 1558. With the death of his father, he became head of the clan aged 13 in 1570, with his uncles, Yoshichika and Shigemune acting as his advisors and guardians. The Bessho clan allied themselves with Oda Nobunaga from an early stage, and Nagaharu had an audience with Nobunaga in July of 1575, and thereafter frequently visited Kyoto to greet Nobunaga.