Маэда Тосииэ: Ода Нобунаганың батыры және Сенгоку кезеңінен кейінгі қолбасшысы

General of Oda Nobunaga following the Sengoku period

Maeda Toshiie (前田 利家) was one of the leading generals of Oda Nobunaga following the Sengoku period of the 16th century extending to the Azuchi–Momoyama period. His preferred weapon was a yari and he was known as "Yari no Mataza" (槍の又左), Matazaemon (又左衛門) being his common name. He was a member of the so called Echizen Sanninshu (Echizen Triumvir) along with Sassa Narimasa and Fuwa Mitsuharu. The highest rank from the court that he received is the Great Counselor Dainagon (大納言).

His father was Maeda Toshimasa and his wife was Maeda Matsu. His childhood name was "Inuchiyo" (犬千代). Toshiie was born in the village of Arako (present day Nakagawa ku, Nagoya), He was the fourth of seven brothers, of Maeda Toshimasa, who held Arako Castle. Toshiie served Oda Nobunaga from childhood (first as a page) and his loyalty was rewarded by being allowed to be the head of the Maeda clan, very unusual for a fourth son with no apparent failures among his elder brothers. Just like Nobunaga, Toshiie was also a delinquent, usually dressed in the outlandish style of a kabukimono, they committed delinquent and deviated behaviors together. It is believed he also became a friend to Kinoshita Tokichiro (later Toyotomi Hideyoshi) in their youth. Just as Hideyoshi was known as Saru, 猴 or "monkey," it is believed that Toshiie was called Inu, 犬 or "dog" by Nobunaga. Due to a long standing belief that dogs and monkeys are never friendly to each other, Toshiie is often depicted as reserved and stern, in contrast to Hideyoshi's talkative and easy going nature.

Toshiie began his career as a member of the akahoro shū (赤母衣衆), the unit under Oda Nobunaga's personal command. He later became an infantry captain (ashigaru taishō 足軽大将) in the Oda army. Later, he become the leader of Oda's ., a military group had a red Horo (cloak) on their backs. During his military career, Toshiie made the acquaintance of many important figures, such as Hashiba Hideyoshi, Despite its small size, Kaga was a highly productive province which would eventually develop into the wealthiest han in Edo period Japan, with a net worth of 1 million koku (百万石); thus, it was nicknamed Kaga Hyaku man goku (加賀百万石). Toshiie benefited from a core group of very capable senior vassals. Some, like Murai Nagayori and Okumura Nagatomi, were retainers of long standing with the Maeda. In 1582, after Nobunaga's assassination at Honnō ji (本能寺) by Akechi Mitsuhide and Mitsuhide's defeat by Hideyoshi, at the subsequent meeting in Kiyosu Castle where the future of the Oda clan was discussed, Toshiie supported Shibata Katsuie's claim. In 1583, he battled Hideyoshi under Katsuie's command in the Battle of Shizugatake, but later during the battle, he switched sides to Hideyoshi. In 1584, after Shibata's defeat, Toshiie become leading general for Hideyoshi in Komaki Nagakute Campaign and was forced to fight another of his friends, Sassa Narimasa at the Battle of Suemori Castle. Narimasa was greatly outnumbered and felled by Toshiie. In 1587, following the major Maeda victory, Toshiie sheltered his fellow daimyo Dom Justo Takayama after Justo was expelled from his position as representative of Christians by the shogun's Bantenren order. Later in 1590, Toshiie fought in the Odawara Campaign against Later Hōjō clan. Toshiie and Uesugi Kagekatsu led a detached force of 35,000 soldiers through Usui Pass. This army captured the Hōjō strongholds one by one: Matsuida Castle, Minowa Castle, Maebashi Castle, Matsuyama Castle and Hachigata Castle before finally taking Hachioji Castle. In 1591, he helped suppress the Kunohe rebellion in many locations along with Tokugawa Ieyasu and many generals from northern Japan.

Before dying in 1598, Hideyoshi named Toshiie to the council of Five Elders to support Toyotomi Hideyori until he was old enough to take control on his own. Gō was adopted by Hideyoshi and became the wife of Ukita Hideie, and Chiyo, who was first wedded to Hosokawa Tadaoki's son Tadataka, later married Murai Nagayori's son Nagatsugu. Sho married Nakagawa Mitsushige. Toshi married Shinohara Sadahide. Fuku married Nakagawa Mitsutada.

"Ōdenta" or "Great Denta" or "The Best among Swords Forged by Denta". Along with "Onimaru" and "Futatsu mei", the sword was considered to be one of the three regalia swords of the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan. Later it was passed down to Maeda Toshiie. A legend says the sword healed a daughter of Toshiie and another legend says birds never try to approach a warehouse where this sword is stored.

He is a playable character in video game Sengoku Basara 2 and an unplayable character in video game Sengoku Basara 4. He wields a trident and fire based attacks. In anime, they were initially servants of Oda Nobunaga, later turned to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He is a playable character in the video game Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends and appears in every major samurai warriors title following his first appearance. He wields a single sword and twin spears.