Tokugawa Iesada
| Tokugawa Iesada | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 13th Tokugawa Shogun | |
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In office 1853–1858 |
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| Monarch | Emperor Kōmei |
| Preceded by | Tokugawa Ieyoshi |
| Succeeded by | Tokugawa Iemochi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 May 1824 |
| Died | 14 August 1858 (aged 34) |
| Spouse(s) | Princess Takatsukasa Atsuko Princess Ichijō Hideko Princess Atsu |
Tokugawa Iesada (徳川 家定?, May 6, 1824 – August 14, 1858) was the 13th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. He held office for five years from 1853 to 1858. He was physically weak and was therefore considered by later historians to have been unfit to be shogun. His reign marks the beginning of the Bakumatsu period.
Iesada died at 1858 and given buddhist name Onkyoin and buried in Kan'ei-ji.
Iesada was born in Edo Castle as the fourth son of the 12th Shogun Tokugawa Ieyoshi with his concubine,known as Honjuin. As most of Ieyoshi’s children died in infancy or before coming of age, Iesada was appointed heir at a very early age, but his interaction with people was very restricted in an effort to prevent contracting any illnesses. Some historians have theorized that he may have suffered from Cerebral palsy. He had suffered from smallpox in early childhood, which left his face pockmarked. On the death of Tokugawa Ienari in 1841, concerns were raised on the fitness of Iesada as heir, with Tokugawa Yoshinobu named as a potential successor. However, this was strongly opposed by the rōjū Abe Masahiro, Iesada remained heir.
Iesada became Shogun on the sudden death of his father, Tokugawa Ieyoshi at the height of the Black Ships episode. Already in poor health, he took no active role in political affairs, leaving negotiations with the Americans in the hand of Abe Masahiro. The Convention of Kanagawa was signed on March 31, 1854. Abe died shortly afterwards, and was replaced as rōjū by Hotta Masayoshi.
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