Matsuda Norihide was eldest son and heir to Matsuda Morihide and the chief vassal with the highest position in the Houjou Clan.

The Matsuda Clan, which had successively served the Houjou Clan since the time of Houjou Souun, held a vast fief of 2798-kan under the Houjou. Norihide's mother was Houjou Tsunashige's younger sister. He served Ujiyasu as a shrewd internal administrator and also fought in several of his battles, including the invasion of Suruga and the Battle of Kounodai against the Satomi Clan.

After Ujiyasu's death Norihide served Ujimasa, and in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Siege of Odawara took the side of those in favor of resistance to the bitter end. However, he and his eldest son Kasahara Masataka were persuaded by Hori Hidemasa to switch sides, a fact discovered by his second son Matsuda Hideharu and reported to the Houjou. Houjou Ujinao placed Norihide under confinement and forced Masataka to commit suicide. It is said that this is the incident that resulted in the Houjou's surrender.

Hideyoshi, in condemnation of Norihide's disloyalty, had him commit ritual suicide. Hideharu followed Ujinao to Mt. Kouya and after his death served the Maeda Clan.