Ikeda Yoshitaka

Yoshitaka Ikeda (born in Kaei 2nd year, 1849 – died in Kaei 3rd year, 1850) was a feudal lord during the late Edo period and the 11th lord of the Tottori Domain in Inaba Province. He held the court rank of Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade, went by the title of Chamberlain, and bore the title of Inaba no Kami. He served the Tottori Domain of Inaba Province.

He was born as the fourth son of Maeda Nariyoshi, the lord of Kaga Domain. His mother was Hirahime (also known as Keiko or Keitokuin), a daughter of Tokugawa Ienari. His childhood name was Kyōshinmaru.

His father, Maeda Nariyoshi, was born in 1811 and died in 1884. His mother, Hirahime, was born in 1813 and died in 1868. She was the twenty-first daughter of Tokugawa Ienari.

In the first year of Kaei (1848), the then 17-year-old daimyō, Ikeda Yoshiyuki, died unexpectedly. Since Yoshiyuki had no heir, the shogunate recommended Kyōshinmaru to succeed as lord. The following year, in Kaei 2 (1849), he was baptized in front of the shogun Tokugawa Ienaga, as was customary, and he took the name Keiei. He was also granted the court rank of Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade, and was appointed Chamberlain. He also assumed the official title of Inaba no Kami.

He departed for his first official visit to his domain, but on the way from Edo to Tottori, he died suddenly at the Fushimi residence of the Kyoto-based Tsuwamono clan. He was only 17 years old. His death was rumored to be caused by dislike among other families toward adopting an outsider, and there were also whispers of poisoning.

Due to the lack of an heir, an adopted successor was chosen: Shinno (also known as Ikeda Yoshinori), the fifth son of Tokugawa Nariaki, Lord of Mito Domain. Iyadō succeeded him as the lord of the domain.

His family relationships are as follows: his father was Maeda Nariyoshi; his mother was Hirahime, daughter of Tokugawa Ienari; his foster father was Ikeda Yoshiyuki. His formal wife was a woman named Nobuyuki (also known as Enko or Seiji), who was the second daughter of Ikeda Nakatomo. His adopted heir was Ikeda Yoshinori.

Relevant references include the publication "Historical Sites: The Graveyard of Ikeda Family Lords of Tottori Domain," produced by the Foundation for the Preservation of the Tottori Domain Lord Ikeda Family Burial Site (published March 31, 2006).