Hisahide Matsunaga

Hisahide Matsunaga was a retainer of the Miyoshi clan and later the Oda clan. He was known as the first samurai who commited suicide with explosives after he rebelled against Nobunaga

Samurai Warriors
Hisahide only appears as a bodyguard of the Fire Ninja type in Samurai Warriors 2, and can be equipped by the player to help him/her during battles. He does not appear alongside other Miyoshi generals.

Kessen
In Kessen III, Matsunaga appears as an enemy who occasionally defies and belittles Nobunaga's ambition. He eventually gets defeated by Nobunaga and his officers Todo Takatora and Kani Saizo join Nobunaga.

Historical Information
Hisahide was a companion of Miyoshi Chokei since their childhood. He assisted Chokei in defeating Miyoshi Masanaga in 1549 and was his spokesman in Kyoto. In the 1550's Matsunaga was the Miyoshi's governor of the capital and kept himself close to shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru. Later, Matsunaga helped conquer Yamato province, where his performances made him an indepent daimyo by 1564.

This event led him to idea of underming his former masters. Three of Chokei's brothers and his own heir; Matsunaga Kazunari in 1561 and Matsunaga Jikkyu in 1562 passed away under mysterious circumstances and Atagi Fuyuyasu was murdered in 1564. Chokei's son Yoshioki also had an unnatural death, and it was rumored Matsunaga had poisoned him. This led to Hisahide becoming Chokei's heir when the latter died in 1564.

Actually, Chokei adopted Miyoshi Yoshitsugu as his heir after his son's death, and this man was under guardianship of the Miyoshi triumvate: Miyoshi Nagayuki, Miyoshi Masayasu and Iwanari Tomomichi. It was rumored the triumvate was working for Hisahide. Shogun Yoshiteru later attempted to get rid of the Miyoshi influence, however this would cost him his life: on June 17 1565 Matsunaga and the Miyoshi surrounded Yoshiteru's palace and Yoshiteru was forced to commit suicide. The infant Yoshihide was placed at the throne, which promted Yoshiteru's brother Yoshiaki to flee and seek out a patron. Meanwhile, the Matsunga and the Miyoshi started fighting. In 1566 the Matsunaga were defeated outside Sakai and Hisahide himself failed in attempts to reduce the Miyoshi's presence in Kwatchi. Shortly after, a truce was arranged and Matsunaga was allowed to leave Sakai, while fighting inland continued. During the conflict, Matsunaga was reputed to have burned down the Great Buddha Hall of the Todaiji, an action that showed Matsunag's villainous side.

In 1568 Yoshiaki secured the Oda clan, led by Nobunaga, under his services. In November 1568 Nobunaga marched on Kyoto. Matsunaga was afraid of the Oda forces and submitted to Nobunaga, and was allowed to keep his lands in Yamato. Nobunaga used Hisahide asa tool to battle the Miyoshi and to expand the Oda's influence in Yamato. Hisahide sent Nobunaga a renowned tea item known as Tsukumogami as a token of Nobunaga's sincerity, a gift Nobunaga, a tea enthusiast, highly appreciated. Hisahide was useful to the Oda in the following years in it's battles against the Asai, Asakura and the Miyoshi.

Hisahide began scheming against Nobunaga, with the Miyoshi. However, Hisahide soon was back on Nobunaga's side. He helped to ultimately the destroy the Miyoshi and helped in the Ishiyama Honganji campaign. In this battle, Hisahide rebelled again and left his position. He returned to Yamato, hoping that other Yamato daimyo would follow. This was not the case and Matsunaga was quickly surrounded by the Oda and Tsutsui in Shigi castle. Word cam that Nobunaga wanted to things from Hisahide: his head and a tea item known as Hiragumo, which Matsunaga smashed befor killing himself with explosives. His son Hisamichi was captured and executed in Kyoto.