Every Real Historical Figure In Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes place in a complex era of Japanese history, and it isn’t shy about incorporating as many real-world figures as it can. From the unifying daimyo Oda Nobunaga to those responsible for overthrowing him, Naoe and Yasuke constantly cross paths with historical people who shaped the Sengoku period. Some don’t necessarily have large enough roles in the game or in history to merit discussion at length, but even those who do quickly add up.

Warning: The following article includes spoilers for the story of Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

In standard franchise tradition, Assassin’s Creed Shadows does attempt to provide some context for the characters within, and the main story beats alone help shed some light on the politics of the time. With an aggressive mix of fact and fiction, though, it can be hard to track who’s who and what’s real. To that end, an overview of the major historical figures found throughout the game can make both navigating the story and learning about Japanese history easier.

Yasuke Breaks Tradition As A Real Protagonist

Nobunaga’s Most Unlikely Samurai Retainer

As a figure from recorded history, Yasuke is an unusual Assassin’s Creed protagonist. Brought to Japan by the Jesuit Alessandro Valignano, Nobunaga took him into service as a retainer and gave him his new name. Records indicate that he did serve in close proximity to Nobunaga and that the daimyo enjoyed his company, although Shadows presumably exaggerates his role.

While Assassin’s Creed Shadows presents Yasuke’s name under the Jesuits as Diogo, it’s unknown what he was called prior to the name granted by Nobunaga.

Yasuke was indeed present at the Honnō-ji Incident, where Nobunaga was ambushed by his general Akechi Mitsuhide and ultimately committed hara-kiri. Yasuke lived through the incident but vanished from records shortly after, leaving some blank pages that the game takes the creative license to fill.

Oda Nobunaga Unified Japan At A Cost

A Powerful Daimyo Who Defined An Era

As Yasuke’s daimyo and an initial target of Naoe’s quest for revenge, Oda Nobunaga defines the early hours of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Starting in the 1560s, Nobunaga quested to unify Japan by warring with other daimyo, resulting in his ultimate overthrow of the shogunate in 1573.

Nobunaga’s complex historical reputation has shifted over time, but his major successes in unification and his various promotions of the arts grant him an image that extends beyond a bloody conquerer. As Assassin’s Creed Shadows depicts, Nobunaga was attacked by his general Akechi Mitsuhide in an ambush known as the Honnō-ji Incident, leading him to commit seppuku. Nobunaga’s son Nobukatsu also appears briefly in one of the game’s flashbacks.

Alessandro Valignano Brought Yasuke To Japan

A Leader Among The Jesuits

Alessandro Valignano was an Italian Jesuit who served as a major missionary figure in Asia, and his servant Yasuke caught Nobunaga’s attention and became his retainer. While the game depicts Valignano with a supercilious attitude, he was at least comparatively more interested in respecting Japanese culture and people than the Jesuit leader Francisco Cabral, as covered in a scholarly article by Jack B. Hoey III in the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Academic Journal.

Luis Frois Is A Major Source For Records Of Yasuke

The Reason We Know Yasuke Lived

Luís Fróis, a Portuguese Jesuit, is one of the best sources of information about Yasuke. He attended the initial meeting where Nobunaga meets Yasuke, and Assasssin’s Creed Shadows also reflects later encounters between Frois and Yasuke, which are supported by the fact that Frois wrote about Yasuke again some months after the Honnō-ji Incident.

Akechi Mitsuhide Betrayed Oda Nobunaga

A Short-Lived Reign

A former bodyguard of the unseated shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki, Akechi Mitsuhide became one of Nobunaga’s most significant generals during unification. In 1582, Mitsuhide turned against Nobunaga, trapping him in a temple where Nobunaga then committed seppuku. While he had the loyalty of many of his men, Mitsuhide’s actions made it hard for him to secure support from the Imperial Court and many other daimyo.

The volatility of his position resulted in Mitsuhide’s own death only weeks later, so the depiction of seasons passing during Mitsuhide’s reign in Assassin’s Creed Shadows should not be taken literally. Mitsuhide was unseated by Hashiba Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu and killed by a bandit leader when fleeing the battle — or by Naoe and Yasuke, if you prefer.

Hashiba Hideyoshi Took Power From Mitsuhide

The More Successful Succession

Also known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Hashiba Hideyoshi was the next to take power after Mitsuhide’s stint. With a significantly more stable tenure that lasted until his death in 1598, Hideyoshi is often referred to as the second “Great Unifier” after Nobunaga.

Hideyoshi’s legacy was later clouded by the Imjin War, a Japanese invasion of Korea that was both unwarranted and ultimately unsuccessful. He’s notable as a peasant by birth who rose to the top. Assassin’s Creed Shadows depicts his interest and ultimate success in avenging Nobunaga. In-game, Naoe and Yasuke naturally join the fight.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki Was The Unseated Shogun

The Last Of The Ashikaga Shogunate

The final shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate, Ashikaga Yoshiaki was unseated by Nobunaga after his own attempt to overthrow the powerful daimyo. Yoshiaki became a monk and lived out the rest of his life without regaining the position of shogun, although he continued to attempt resistance against Nobunaga and sought to reclaim power for decades.

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Yoshiaki first appears to watch a sumo match that Naoe and Yasuke are attending, although history places a much greater emphasis on Nobunaga’s love of sumo. He’s later revealed to be the ultimate leader of the Shinbakufu, which squares with his efforts to remove Nobunaga from power. A letter believed to have been written by Mitsuhide after the Honnō-ji Incident mentions communication between Mitsuhide and Yoshiaki promising cooperation between the two, as discussed in the Japanese newspaper The Mainichi.

Hattori Hanzo Was The Demon Samurai

A Key Supporter Of Tokugawa Ieyasu

Known as the Oni no Hanzo, Hattori Hanzo is one of the most prominent samurai in Japanese history. Hanzo was indeed linked to shinobi in Iga as the game suggests, although the connections between Hanzo and a splinter group of the Assassin Brotherhood are naturally fictionalized.

Hanzo served and protected Tokugawa Ieyasu, who took power after Hideyoshi’s death and became the first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate several years later. The game also fictionalizes Hanzo’s affection for Naoe’s mother, which leaves him bitter and vengeful for some time when she marries Naoe’s father instead.

Tokugawa Ieyasu Became The Shogun

A Supporter Of Nobunaga’s Son

In the wake of Nobunaga’s death, future shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu spent some years as a rival to Hideyoshi, supporting Nobunaga’s son Nobukatsu for succession. He ultimately surrendered after Nobukatsu gave up the fight, supporting Hideyoshi while maintaining some degree of autonomy as a uniquely powerful daimyo. Despite being one of the most significant figures of the time, Tokugawa Ieyasu doesn’t play a large role in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but he does show up in the game as one of Nobunaga’s generals.

Momochi Sandayu Trained Ishikawa Goemon

A Legendary Figure From Iga

Like Hattori Hanzo, Momochi Sandayu was associated with the shinobi of Iga, serving as an expert in the art. Among his pupils was Ishikawa Goemon, an iconic Robin Hood figure in Japanese history. While there was no love lost between Sandayu and Nobunaga, he wasn’t actually present at the Honnō-ji Incident, where the game depicts him telling losing a duel to Yasuke before telling the samurai of Naoe in vague terms. He did, however, appear to die relatively close to this time

Ukita Naoie Was One Of The Three Great Villains

More Duplicitous Than Most

Ukita Naoie is known as one of the Three Great Villains of the Sengoku Period, highlighting his ambition and betrayal of his father-in-law along with his own use of assassins. Assassin’s Creed Shadows includes him as a member of the Shinbakufu, so his in-game presence focuses on the circumstances leading to his death. In-game, Kuroda Kanbei helps Naoe and Yasuke eliminate Naoie.

In real life, Naoie died in Okayama Castle rather than Himeji Castle. The real incident occurred several months before Nobunaga’s death, and actual records simply indicate that Naoie simply took ill. His son, Ukita Hideie, inherited his domain and was ultimately adopted by Hideyoshi.

Kuroda Kanbei Was A Strategist

Kanbei Fought In Key Battles In 1582

Also known as Kuroda Yoshitaka, Kuroda Kanbei did make an important visit to an Ukita-held castle in 1582, but he was gathering allies for conquest in Nobunaga’s service rather than attempting to oust the already-deceased Naoie. He later fought at the Battle of Yamazaki and became a chief strategist for Hideyoshi, so his tactical maneuvers in-game make sense. In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, he uses Naoie’s son as leverage to back Naoie into a corner.

Konishi Yukinaga Led Japanese Invasions

A Key Figure In Dealing With The Ukita

Konishi Yukinaga is most known for his involvement in Japanese imperialism of the period, particularly Hideyoshi’s invasion of Korea. Before this more questionable service, however, Yukinaga helped bring the Ukita clan into Hideyoshi’s fold. Although his role in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is minor, he appropriately appears in the quest line focusing on Ukita Naoie.

Akechi Kagemitsu Is Roughly Akechi Hidemitsu

An Apparent Historical Approximation

Akechi Kagemitsu is presumably based on Akechi Hidemitsu, a retainer of Mitsuhide who married one of the general’s daughters. In-game, Kagemitsu is Mitsuhide’s nephew instead. Hidemitsu committed hara-kiri in 1582 after Hideyoshi defeated Mitsuhide at the Battle of Yamazaki, so Kagemitsu’s death in-game as a member of the Shinbakufu occurs within weeks of the real historical event.

Ise Sadaoki Controlled His Brother’s Clan

Not As Nefarious As The Game Would Suggest

Like Hidemitsu, Ise Sadaoki married one of Mitsuhide’s daughters. He took part in the Honnō-ji Incident, and, mirroring Hidemitsu once more, he died during the Battle of Yamazaki when Hideyoshi defeated Mitsuhide. In-game, Sadaoki plays a more specifically nefarious role as a member of the Shinbakufu, poisoning his brother Ise Sadatame to gain control of the Ise clan. Historically, Sadaoki did take control of the clan due to his brother’s illness, but there are no records of foul play.

Ota Gyuichi Chronicled Nobunaga’s Life

An Important Historical Scribe

Ōta Gyūichi is actually one of the most important sources of information for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as the samurai wrote a 16-volume work on Oda Nobunaga called the Shinchō Kōki. In an interview with Screen Rant, the game’s narrative director Brooke Davies cited this as something that served as a recurring inspiration when crafting the story. Gyūichi is honored in-game by appearing as the quest-giver who tasks Yasuke with collecting crests from various castles.

Lady Oichi Had An Unfortunate Position

Caught Between Her Brother And Husband

Lady Oichi was Oda Nobunaga’s younger sister and an important leader in her own right. Assassin’s Creed Shadows touches on her politically expedient marriage to Nobunaga’s rival Nagamasa, which failed to cement a lasting alliance when Nagamasa ultimately went to war with his wife’s brother.

Oichi later married Shibata Katsuie, who set himself against Hideyoshi to support other potential successors to Nobunaga. Oichi and Katsuie died together when besieged by Hideyoshi’s army in 1583. In-game, there’s an option to kill or spare her after identifying her as a member of the Shinbakufu, but she lives either way and plays a side role in Yasuke’s story.

Lady Nene Held Significant Influence

One Of Hideyoshi’s Closest Confidants

Lady Nene was the wife of Hideyoshi and one of his primary sources of both advice and connections. Assassin’s Creed Shadows plays on her acumen and influence, referring to her as the Lady of Whispers in a quest focused around the character. Years after Hideyoshi’s death, Nene established the temple of Kōdai-ji and became known as Kōdai-in.

Takeda Motoaki Lost His Birthright

The Wakasa Takeda Didn’t Fare Well

Takeda Motoaki was a member of the Wakasa cadet branch of the Takeda clan who sought control in a succession dispute. Nobunaga ultimately handed the province to his retainer Niwa Nagahide, so it’s unsurprising that Motoaki supported Mitsuhide after Nobunaga’s death. In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Motoaki attempts to reclaim the Nochiseyama Castle, his birthright, and acts as a member of the Shinbakufu. He did indeed die in 1582, although it was an act of hara-kiri after being captured.

Niwa Nagahide Did More Than Govern Wakasa

The Man Behind A Short-Lived Castle

In addition to managing the Wakasa Province, Niwa Nagahide was known for his work on Azuchi Castle, which was completed in 1579 and destroyed by Mitsuhide three years later. Nagahide joined Hideyoshi in the quest for vengeance against Mitsuhide after Nobunaga’s death. In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, he assists Naoe and Yasuke when they hunt down Takeda Motoaki.