Changes

* ''Born: [[1567]]''

* ''Born: [[1567]]''

* ''Died: [[1615]]''

* ''Died: [[1615]]''

* Other names: 弁丸 ''(Ben-maru)'', 左衛門佐 ''(Saemon-suke)''

* Other names: 弁丸 ''(Ben-maru)'', 左衛門佐 ''(Saemon-suke)''

Sanada Yukimura is probably the most famous of the [[Sanada clan]] of [[Shinano province]].  He was the second son of [[Sanada Masayuki]] and his wife  (Kanshô-in　寒松院); his older brother was [[Sanada Nobuyuki|Nobuyuki]]. The Sanada had been loyal vassals of [[Takeda Shingen]], the famed daimyo of [[Kai province]].

Sanada Yukimura is probably the most famous of the [[Sanada clan]] of [[Shinano province]].  He was the second son of [[Sanada Masayuki]] and his wife  (Kanshô-in　寒松院); his older brother was [[Sanada Nobuyuki|Nobuyuki]]. The Sanada had been loyal vassals of [[Takeda Shingen]], the famed daimyo of [[Kai province]].

In 1585 a quarrel between his father Masayuki and [[Hojo Ujimasa|Hôjô Ujimasa]] over [[Numata castle]] came to a head, and [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] made plans to attack the Sanada castle of [[Ueda castle|Ueda]]. In response, Masayuki made overtures to [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]] of [[Echigo province]] and sent Yukimura as a hostage, where he was placed under the watchful eye of Uesugi general [[Suda Mitsuchika]]. A letter of from him dated 8/29 mentions Yukimura's arrival and says that in return, a force had been sent to aid the Sanada in their struggle against the Tokugawa. Ieyasu's [[First Siege of Ueda|attack on Ueda Castle]] ended in utter failure.  Towards the end of the year Masayuki made overtures to [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], guaranteeing a quick end to the quarrel with Ieyasu. Perhaps one result of submitting to Hideyoshi was that Yukimura was able to leave the Uesugi, who had also pledged allegiance to Hideyoshi.

In 1585 a quarrel between his father Masayuki and [[Hojo Ujimasa|Hôjô Ujimasa]] over [[Numata castle]] came to a head, and [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] made plans to attack the Sanada castle of [[Ueda castle|Ueda]]. In response, Masayuki made overtures to [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]] of [[Echigo province]] and sent Yukimura as a hostage, where he was placed under the watchful eye of Uesugi general [[Suda Mitsuchika]]. A letter of from him dated 8/29 mentions Yukimura's arrival and says that in return, a force had been sent to aid the Sanada in their struggle against the Tokugawa. Ieyasu's [[First Siege of Ueda|attack on Ueda Castle]] ended in utter failure.  Towards the end of the year Masayuki made overtures to [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], guaranteeing a quick end to the quarrel with Ieyasu. Perhaps one result of submitting to Hideyoshi was that Yukimura was able to leave the Uesugi, who had also pledged allegiance to Hideyoshi.

Yukimura served under Hideyoshi and married the daughter of a senior Toyotomi retainer [[Otani Yoshitsugu |Ôtani Yoshitsugu]]. In 1594 on the orders of Hideyoshi, Yukimura, along with his father and brother, played leading roles in the construction of [[Fushimi castle]].

Yukimura served under Hideyoshi and married the daughter of a senior Toyotomi retainer [[Otani Yoshitsugu |Ôtani Yoshitsugu]]. In [[1594]] on the orders of Hideyoshi, Yukimura, along with his father and older brother, was ordered to provide men for the construction of [[Fushimi castle]]. Yukimura was a younger son, and he had still younger brothers, but the fact that he was named along with Nobuyuki shows his importance in the clan.

 

In 1600, in the prelude to the [[Battle of Sekigahara]], the Sanada clan, now allies of the Tokugawa, began their advance against the Uesugi (who had relocated to Aizu). However, on 7/17 [[Ishida Mitsunari]] orchestrated an indictment against Ieyasu on 13 charges that was endorsed by three of the bugyô regents ruling on behalf of the Hideyoshi’s heir, the child [[Toyotomi Hideyori]]. With Ieyasu effectively named an enemy of the state, Mitsunari issued an invitation to the Sanada to rethink their current support for Ieyasu and join the Western, anti-Tokugawa coalition. Faced with a complex dilemma on the eve of an all or nothing struggle between Ieyasu and Mitsunari’s coalition, Masayuki complied with Mitsunari’s wishes and immediately withdrew his forces from the field and returned to Ueda, taking Yukimura with him. He left his older son Nobuyuki with Ieyasu, presumably to make sure that the clan would survive—no matter which side, East or West, won.  This was not an unusual move in Japan.  (Nobuyuki's father-in-law was a close retainer of Ieyasu's and Masayuki may have guessed or known that Yukimura's father-in-law Ôtani Yoshitsugu would support Mitsunari.)  Once word of Masayuki’s change of allegiance reached Ieyasu, he promptly told Nobuyuki he would be given his father's land once the Western coalition was successfully defeated.

In 1600, in the prelude to the [[Battle of Sekigahara]], the Sanada clan, now allies of the Tokugawa, began their advance against the Uesugi (who had relocated to Aizu). However, on 7/17 [[Ishida Mitsunari]] orchestrated an indictment against Ieyasu on 13 charges that was endorsed by three of the bugyô regents ruling on behalf of the Hideyoshi’s heir, the child [[Toyotomi Hideyori]]. With Ieyasu effectively named an enemy of the state, Mitsunari issued an invitation to the Sanada to rethink their current support for Ieyasu and join the Western, anti-Tokugawa coalition. Faced with a complex dilemma on the eve of an all or nothing struggle between Ieyasu and Mitsunari’s coalition, Masayuki complied with Mitsunari’s wishes and immediately withdrew his forces from the field and returned to Ueda, taking Yukimura with him. He left his older son Nobuyuki with Ieyasu, presumably to make sure that the clan would survive—no matter which side, East or West, won.  This was not an unusual move in Japan.  (Nobuyuki's father-in-law was a close retainer of Ieyasu's and Masayuki may have guessed or known that Yukimura's father-in-law Ôtani Yoshitsugu would support Mitsunari.)  When word of Masayuki’s change of allegiance reached Ieyasu, he promptly told Nobuyuki he would be given his father's land (which was of course contingent on the defeat of the Western coalition).

Now with the Masayuki and Yukimura’s position clear, Ieyasu's son [[Tokugawa Hidetada|Hidetada]] attacked the father and son at Ueda Castle ([[Second Siege of Ueda]]) on his way to Sekigahara to support his father. The siege at Ueda lasted only eight days and ended in failure for Hidetada, whose 38,000-strong army arrived too late to take part in the fighting at Sekigahara and nearly jeopardized his father’s victory.  

Now with the Masayuki and Yukimura’s position clear, Ieyasu's son [[Tokugawa Hidetada|Hidetada]] attacked the father and son at Ueda Castle ([[Second Siege of Ueda]]) on his way to Sekigahara to support his father. The siege at Ueda lasted only eight days and ended in failure for Hidetada, whose 38,000-strong army arrived too late to take part in the fighting at Sekigahara and nearly jeopardized his father’s victory.  

Having won the battle of Sekigahara, Ieyasu was now master of the realm and both Masayuki and Yukimura found themselves in a precarious position for having opposed him.  Luckily, Nobuyuki was able to intercede on behalf of his father and brother, so their lives were spared. However at the end of 1600,  Masayuki and Yukimura were exiled to Kudoyama in Mt. Koya in [[Kii province]]. Yukimura was then 32 years old ([[Age Calculation|western-style age]]).

Having won the battle of Sekigahara, Ieyasu was now master of the realm and both Masayuki and Yukimura found themselves in a precarious position for having opposed him.  Luckily, Nobuyuki was able to intercede on behalf of his father and brother, so their lives were spared. However at the end of 1600,  Masayuki and Yukimura were exiled to Kudoyama in Mt. Koya in [[Kii province]]. Yukimura was then 32 years old ([[Age Calculation|Western-style age]]).

A number of letters from Yukimura's time in Kudoyama exist, written to his brother or family retainers.  Among other things, he said he was learning and enjoying ''renga'', "linked poems" composed in turn in a group, though it was difficult as he had started late.  His father Masayuki died in Kudoyama in 1611.

A number of letters from Yukimura's time in Kudoyama exist, written to his brother or family retainers.  Among other things, he said he was learning and enjoying ''renga'', "linked poems" composed in turn in a group, though it was difficult as he had started late.  His father Masayuki died in Kudoyama in 1611.

A life of leisure in exile didn’t suit Yukimura very well.  In 1614 Toyotomi Hideyori started gathering ronin to support him against the upcoming attack that Ieyasu was planning, and Yukimura responded. He slipped out of Kudoyama in the tenth month and made his way to [[Osaka castle|Ôsaka Castle]], where he became one of Hideyori’s top commanders. It is here at Osaka castle that Yukimura’s exploits earned him a place in Japanese history as one of the most daring and endearing figures of the late-[[Sengoku]] period.  

A life of leisure in exile didn’t suit Yukimura very well.  In 1614 Toyotomi Hideyori started gathering ronin to support him against the upcoming attack that Ieyasu was planning, and Yukimura responded. He slipped out of Kudoyama in the tenth month and made his way to [[Osaka castle|Ôsaka Castle]], where he became one of Hideyori’s top commanders. It is here at Osaka castle that Yukimura’s exploits earned him a place in Japanese history as one of the most daring and endearing figures of the late-[[Sengoku Period]].  

==Sanada Yukimura and the [[Osaka Campaign|Siege of Osaka Castle]]==

==Sanada Yukimura and the [[Osaka Campaign|Siege of Osaka Castle]]==

==References==

==References==

* Incorporated text from Sengoku Biographical Dictionary ([http://www.Samurai-Archives.com Samurai-archives.com]) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005

* Bryant, Anthony J. ''Sekigahara 1600'', Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1995.

* [[Sanada Family Materials]]

* [[Sanada Family Materials]]

* Bryant, Anthony J. ''Sekigahara 1600'', Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1995.

* ''Sengoku Biographical Dictionary'' ([http://www.Samurai-Archives.com Samurai-archives.com]) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005

* Turnbull, Stephen. ''Osaka 1615'', Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2006.

* Turnbull, Stephen. ''Osaka 1615'', Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2006.

* ''Shin Rekishi Gunzo Series No. 2: Sanada Yukimura to Osaka no Jin'', Gakken, 2006.

* ''Shin Rekishi Gunzo Series No. 2: Sanada Yukimura to Osaka no Jin'', Gakken, 2006.