Ieyasu tokugawa biography of william adams
Was william adams a samurai.
Rise to Samurai
Adams and his shipmates had arrived in Bungo domain, subject to Catholic missionary activity for nearly 50 years.
Ieyasu tokugawa biography of william adams
The Jesuits had a strong presence, knew full well that the existence of Dutch, and English Protestants in Japan would be unlikely to work in their favour, and did their best to persuade the local authorities that the unexpected and unseasonal ship was a pirate vessel.
Piracy had been rampant in Japanese waters until recently, and the penalty was unambiguous: death.
Fortunately for Adams, and the rest of the crew, the authorities followed proper procedures, declined to listen to the Jesuits’ pleas for the death penalty, and reported the incident to the most powerful lord in the land, Tokugawa Ieyasu.
He ordered that the Englishman be taken to Osaka, where the great warlord interrogated him personally.
A Dutch 18th century depiction of William Adams meeting with Tokugawa Ieyasu.
(Credit: Wikimedia)
Ieyasu, who was soon to be appoin