It's always a given that Nobunaga started the unification process
ultimately concluded by Hideyoshi and Ieyasu. But what were
Nobunaga's motives? He died too soon to ever really know, and most
historians don't even attempt to glean the 'why'. I've created a poll
with 12 possible reasons, that you can find here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/samuraihistory/polls
Go vote in the poll, and post your opinions! I myself think that he
probably didn't intend to at first, but as he gathered power, it sort
of came as a natural result - fell into place. Some people, like
Napoleon, Hitler, and others (Robert Jordan would call them "Ta'veren"
- to throw in an obscure reference) somehow not only end up on paths
to greatness (or great evil), but are spectacularly suited for the
job, and rather than being pulled along with the flow of events, they
create the flow. I think Nobunaga falls into this category.
What are some other views?
c.