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[[Category:SamuraiWiki Task Forces|Collaboration Team]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Baba_Nobufusa&diff=15976Baba Nobufusa2008-01-08T23:57:02Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
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<div>* ''Born: [[1514]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1575]]''<br />
* ''Titles: Mino no Kami'', ''Minbu no shô''<br />
* ''Other names: Kyôraishi Kagemasa (教来石景政), Baba Nobuharu'' (馬場信春)<br />
* ''Distinction: One of [[Takeda Shingen's 24 Generals]]''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''馬場信房'''<br />
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[[Image:Baba_nobufusa.jpg||thumb|left|Baba Nobufusa.]]<br />
Nobufusa was the son of Kyôraishi Nobuyasu (教来石信保) and eventually succeeded Baba Torasada, the latter having been killed by [[Takeda Nobutora]]. He was at first known as Kyôraishi Kagemasa. He served three generations of [[Takeda clan|Takeda]] daimyô – Nobutora, [[Takeda Shingen|Shingen]], and [[Takeda Katsuyori|Katsuyori]]. <br />
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Nobufusa was present at many of Shingen's battles, going back to his earliest, under Nobutora. He supported Shingen in his 1541 coup that saw Nobutora exiled from Kai and in 1546 was named ''samurai-taisho'' (侍大将) and at this time changed his name to Baba Nobufusa and recieved the title of ''Minbu no shô''.<br />
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He was part of the miscarried night attack on the Uesugi at the [[Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima|4th Battle of Kawanakajima]], fought at [[Battle of Odawara|Odawara]] and [[Battle of Mimasetoge|Mimasetoge]] in [[1569]], and was in the lead at the [[Battle of Mikatagahara|Battle of Mikatagahara]] in [[1572]]. He was awarded [[Fukashi Castle]] in [[Shinano province|Shinano]] in [[1550]], and inherited the title of Mino no kami after [[Hara Toratane]] died in [[1564]] and changed his name to Nobuharu.<br />
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Nobufusa fell out of favor somewhat with Takeda Katsuyori, but, despite personal objections, led his men in a charge against [[Oda Nobunaga|Oda Nobunaga's]] left at the [[Battle of Nagashino]] on 29 June [[1575]]. Nobuharu survived the morning's slaughter (in which many of the veteran Takeda retainers were slain) and protected Katsuyori's retreat across the Kansagawa. Nobuharu then turned with his remaining troops and was cut down by the enemy. <br />
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After the death of his son [[Baba Masafusa|Masafusa]] in 1582, Nobufusa's lands went to his younger brother [[Baba Nobuyori|Nobuyori]]. <br />
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According to the [[Koyo Gunkan]], Nobuharu was consulted by Shingen on many important matters and was supposed to have suggested the strategy that Shingen used to win the Battle of Mimasetoge. Prior to Nagashino, he is reputed to have fought in 70 engagements while suffering barely a scratch. He figures as one of the better-known members of Takeda Shingen's '24 Generals'. <br />
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==References==<br />
* Initial text from [http://www.samurai-archives.com Samurai-Archives.com] FWSeal & CEWest, 2005<br />
* ''[[Koyo Gunkan|The Koyo Gunkan]]'' (Edited by Yoshida Toyo) 19th edition, Tokyo, August 2005.<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #6: FuuRinKaZan.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
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[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Suwa_Yorishige&diff=15974Suwa Yorishige2008-01-03T22:58:40Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
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<div>* ''Died: [[1542]]''<br />
* ''Distinction: [[Shinano province|Shinano]] warlord''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''諏訪頼重'''<br />
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Yorishige was a son of [[Suwa Yoritaka]] [諏訪頼隆] and succeeded his father when the latter died in 1539. He ruled the area about [[Lake Suwa]] in [[Shinano province|Shinano Province]]. In [[1540]] the Suwa and their rivals the Takeda of [[Kai province|Kai Province]] made peace and Yorishige married the daughter of [[Takeda Nobutora]], [[Nene]]. The following summer he joined Nobutora and [[Murakami Yoshikiyo]] in attacking [[Unno Munetsuna]]. Shortly after that, Nobutora was banished from Kai by his son, [[Takeda Shingen|Harunobu]], and the Takeda-Suwa alliance was rendered moot. Yorishige and [[Ogasawara Nagatoki]] joined forces to invade Kai but were repulsed by Harunobu. In [[1542]] the Takeda made a sudden attack that caught Yorishige by surprise and brought down both [[Uehara]] and [[Kuwabara]] within two days. Yorishige was brought back to Kai and confined at the [[Tokoji|Tôkoji]] in Kofu. He was forced to commit suicide along with his brother [[Suwa Yoritaka|Yoritaka]] [頼高] on 1542/7/21, although he may possibly have been murdered. His daughter was taken as a concubine by Shingen and produced the eventual head of the Takeda, [[Takeda Katsuyori|Takeda (Suwa) Katsuyori]]. His son was spared and was taken to Kai along with his mother. He eventually became known as Chôkyuu [長岌] and his eventual fate is unknown.<br />
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==References==<br />
{{biodict}}<br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
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[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Takeda_Shingen&diff=15973Takeda Shingen2008-01-03T19:07:10Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
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<div>* ''Born: [[1521]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1573]]/4/12''<br />
* ''Title: Daizen-Daibu''<br />
* ''childhood name ([[Yomei|Yômei]]): Katsuchiyo''<br />
* ''Sons: [[Takeda Yoshinobu]], [[Unno Nobuchika]], [[Takeda Nobuyuki]], [[Takeda Katsuyori]], [[Nishina Morinobu]], [[Katsurayama Nobusada]], [[Yasuda Nobukiyo]]''<br />
* ''Other Name: Takeda Harunobu''<br />
* ''Japanese'': [[武田]] 信玄 ''(Takeda Shingen)''<br />
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==The Tiger of Kai==<br />
[[Image:Takeda_shingen.gif||thumb|left|The most famous portrait of Takeda Shingen, the authenticity of which has been questioned. Certain scholars have suggested that this was in fact a painting of a Hatakeyama lord from Noto province.]]<br />
Takeda Shingen was the eldest son of the aggressive warlord [[Takeda Nobutora]] ([[1493]]-1573).<ref>The Takeda clan had been powerful in Kai from the 12th Century, when Takeda Nobuyoshi (a grandson of Minamoto Yoshiie's brother Yoshimitsu, 1138-1186) had sided with Minamoto Yoritomo during the Gempei War. The Takeda's power had increased in the Ashikaga era, and branches became strong in Aki and Wakasa, as well as Kai. Mori Motonari eventually defeated the Aki branch in 1540; the Wakasa Takeda became vassals of the Asakura by 1560 and faded from history. <br />
</ref>Takeda Nobutora had secured the position of the Takeda in [[Kai province|Kai]] after various struggles and established the Takeda capital at [[Tsutsujigaseki]] in Fuchu in [[1519]]. In the course of his career Nobutora clashed with various outside powers, including the Hôjô of [[Sagami province|Sagami Province]], the Imagawa of [[Suruga province|Suruga Province]] and the [[Suwa clan|Suwa]] and [[Imai clan|Imai]] of [[Shinano province|Shinano Province]]. In 1521, Nobutora was compelled to fend off an invasion from Suruga led by [[Kushima Masanari]] in support of the [[Oi clan|Ôi]] family, who had defied Nobutora's authority. Nobutora sent his pregnant wife, the daughter of Oi Nobutatsu, from the Tsutsujigaseki mansion to [[Yogaiyama Castle]] [要害山城]. Word came to Nobutora, commanding his army against Kushima's 15,000-man host, that a son had been born. Nobutora defeated Masanari at the [[Battle of Iidagawara]] and afterwards named his son Katsuchiyo.<ref>Katsuchiyo can be translated as '1000 Victories in Succession', or, as Hiroaki Sato does in Legends of the Samurai, 'Victory Forever'.</ref> <br />
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In 1533, Nobutora arranged for him to marry the daughter of [[Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Tomooki]], who still held considerable lands in the [[Kanto]]. The girl died attempting to deliver Katsuchiyo's first child, however. By this time Nobutora was at odds with both the Imagawa and Hôjô families and they were pressing him on his southern borders. He was lucky in that [[Imagawa Ujichika]] died suddenly and a struggle for power ensued amongst his brothers. Nobutora backed [[Imagawa Yoshimoto|Yoshimoto]], the eventual victor, and in the aftermath married a daughter to him. In return, Yoshimoto acted as a go-between to arrange for the marriage of Katsuchiyo and the daughter of court noble [[Sanjo Kimiyori]]. Katsuchiyo celebrated his coming-of-age ceremony later that year and the shôgun, [[Ashikaga Yoshiharu]], sent permission for Katsuchiyo to incorporate 'Haru' in his adult name, and Katsuchiyo thus became known as Harunobu. He was also given the honorific title Shinano no Kami. Despite this memorable coming of age ceremony, it would seem that Nobutora took a disliking to Harunobu in favor of his second son, Takeda Nobushige. The reasons for this are not clear, and this part of Shingen's life has been heavily embellished over the centuries. <br />
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Harunobu is thought to have seen his first campaign in [[1536]], when his father led an army against [[Hiraga Genshin]] of Shinano Province. He surrounded and attacked Genshin's Umi no kuchi Castle [海ノ口城] but found the defenders unwilling to give and withdrew with the onset of heavy winter snows. According to tradition, Harunobu, commanding the rearguard, decided to double back and launch a surprise attack. This took the seemingly victorious Hiraga men by surprise and the battle went to the Takeda. Whether or not this particular version of events has any basis in fact, Hiraga was defeated and killed in the 2nd month of [[1537]].<br />
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The events leading up to the expulsion of Nobutora from Kai are entirely murky, with the Imagawa figuring into the controversy, possibly as agitators. It would appear that Nobutora planned to name his second son Nobushige heir, and perhaps ship Harunobu off to the Imagawa clan in Suruga (for adoption?). For years, Harunobu had been under the guardianship of [[Obu Toramasa]], a tough warrior who may well have been at the center of what transpired next. In [[1541]] Harunobu suddenly rebelled, supported by a great many of his father's retainers. Nobutora submitted with little bloodshed and Harunobu exiled his father to Suruga. In this act he had the aid of the top Takeda retainers, many of whom held personal grudges against Nobutora or at least saw some gain in assisting the young usurper to power. Nobushige, for his part, seems to have borne his brother no ill will, and became a valued retainer. Sources conflict on what the exact events where which led to the replacement of Nobuhide with Harunobu. One version of events is that in the 5th month of 1541, Nobutora and Harunobu went on a campaign together to attack [[Unno Munetsuna]] in [[Shinano province]], joined by the Suwa and the [[Murakami clan|Murakami]]. Unno Munetsuna lost and fled the province, and by the 4th day of the 6th month, they were on their way back to Kai. However, on the 10th day of their trip back to Kai province, Harunobu suddenly rebelled in a coup supported by his ashigaru and retainers, forcing Nobutora to flee to [[Suruga province]], and in to the care of his daughter's husband, [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]]. This generally follows the Koyogunkan, which essentialy states that Harunobu uncovered a plot by Nobutora to dispose of him and eventually give control of the Takeda clan to his younger brother, Nobushige. According to the Koyogunkan, Harunobu and loyal vassals drove Nobutora out of Kai province into Suruga. Another version of events states that during the 6th month of 1541, Harunobu and Nobutora travelled to Suruga province to visit upon Nobutora's son in law, Imagawa Yoshimoto. Little did Nobutora know, Shingen and Yoshimoto had a secret agreement, and upon arrival, Nobutora was forcibly retired to Suruga castle, and his son Harunobu was given control of the Takeda clan. Although what really happened is not clear, historians seem to be in agreement that Imagawa Yoshimoto had a hand in the removal of Nobutora. Regardless, Harunobu took control of the clan in what is often specifically cited as a 'bloodless coup'. <br />
[[Image:Takeda_mon.jpg||thumb|right|The Takeda mon.]]<br />
Harunobu's chief ambition was the subjugation of Shinano but resistance in that quarter would prove fierce. A number of Shinano warlords, including [[Murakami Yoshikiyo]] ([[1510]]-[[1573]]), [[Ogasawara Nagatoki]] ([[1519]]-[[1583]]), [[Suwa Yorishige]] (? –[[1542]]), and [[Kiso Yoshiyasu]], made a move designed to hopefully nip any further Takeda aggression in the bud. In April 1542 the four daimyo combined forces and marched to the border of Kai, encouraged by news that Harunobu was strengthening his defenses and preparing to make a stand in [[Fuchu]]. In fact, Harunobu's activities had been a ruse - far from waiting passively in Kai, Harunobu led his men out and caught the Shinano warriors by surprise, defeating them at Sezawa. Emboldened by the results of Sezawa, Harunobu made a drive into Shinano later that same year, focusing on the territory of the Suwa clan. He first took Uehara in a surprise attack and then moved on to the Suwa headquarters at Kuwahara, located 2 kilometers to the east. Caught completely off-balance, Suwa Yorishige had little choice but to surrender when Harunobu made a promise of safe conduct. Yorishige and his brother were taken to Kai where the Takeda general [[Itagaki Nobutaka]] arranged for their deaths; both Suwa were either made to commit suicide or were murdered outright. <br />
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Harunobu, with the aid of [[Yamamoto Kansuke]]'s strategies, further expanded his territory through the defeat of both [[Tozawa Yorichika]] ([[1542]]) and [[Takato Yoritsugu]] of central Shinano ([[1544]]-[[1545|45]]). The acquisition of [[Takato castle]] was of particular value, as it provided a secure staging area into southern Shinano, as well as a buffer against any southern aggression. In 1544 the Takeda marched into Suruga in support of the Imagawa and faced Hojo Ujiyasu. No actual fighting occurred as a result of this confrontation, and later Harunobu was compelled to arrange for a peace treaty between the Hojo, Imagawa, and himself due to his wars in Shinano. Over the next decade Harunobu kept up a relentless pressure on the Shinano warlords. Only at Uehara would he be checked, if only briefly. In [[1548]] [[Murakami Yoshikiyo]], perhaps the most formidable of Harunobu's Shinano enemies, moved on Ueda and defeated the Takeda in a bitter clash which saw the use (on the part of the Murakami) of a number of Chinese arquebuses, the first such weapons ever deployed in a Japanese battle. While the defeat at Uehara left two of his best generals dead, Harunobu rebounded quickly, and by [[1552]] the Murakami and Ogasawara clans had fled Shinano outright to Echigo.<ref>The fallen generals in question were Amari Torayasu and Itagaki Nobutaka, both of whom were considered first-rate retainers by the Takeda clan. Shingen managed to score a counter-victory against the Ogasawara at Shiojiritoge the same year that restored the initiative to the Takeda.</ref><br />
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In [[1551]], Harunobu had adopted the name Shingen and a monk's habit, adding even more color to this up-and-coming Sengoku warlord, who was already known for his taste for women, penetrating judgment, skill at calligraphy, and wise government. Perhaps all that was now required was a great rival. This came, too, in the form of Uesugi Terutora of Echigo - the famed Kenshin. <br />
[[Image:Takeda_shingen2.jpg||thumb|left|Another view of Takeda Shingen, by artist [[Utagawa Kuniyoshi]]]]<br />
According to tradition, the defeated Murakami and Ogasawara presented themselves before Terutora and protested Shingen's aggressions. Terutora, uneasy at Shingen's northern expansion and obligated to the two refugees, took the field. That Murakami figures into the Uesugi's roll even many years later gives some substance to this belief, and, certainly, Terutora had reason to worry about Echigo's borders. In June and October [[1553]] The Takeda and Uesugi armies clashed near the Kawanakajima plain in northern Shinano, and while the two sides withdrew after a few rounds of inconclusive skirmishing, a legend was born. In total, the Takeda and Uesugi would face each other at the Kawanakajima five times ([[1554]], [[1555]], [[1557]], [[1561]], [[1564]]) and while not exactly the nearly annual staring matches as they are sometimes portrayed, only the 4th (1561) resulted in an all-out contest.<ref>Shingen also had to keep an eye on both the Imagawa and Hôjô clans to his south and southeast, which no doubt contributed to the caution he generally displayed when facing Kenshin at Kawanakajima. During the 1550's the Takeda, Imagawa, and Hôjô became involved in a series of alliances and counter-alliances that occasionally resulted in minor forays into one another's territory. These almost always came to an end when the clan that happened to hold third-party status at the time declared for the attacked, thus maintaining he balance.</ref> In that engagement, both sides suffered heavy losses and while not individually decisive, those losses no doubt slowed both warlords down for some years. In particular, Shingen must have felt the loss of Nobushige and [[Yamamoto Kansuke]], both killed in action at the battle. <br />
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Internally, the Takeda suffered two grim moments within the span of five years. In [[1560]] Shingen had uncovered a plot against him led by his cousin [[Katanuma Nobumoto]], whom he ordered put to death. In [[1565]], another plot came to light - this one headed by his own son Yoshinobu and [[Obu Toramasa]]. Tormasa was made to commit suicide, while Yoshinobu was confined to the Tokoji. Two years later Yoshinbou died, either from illness or, as many believe, because Shingen had forced him to commit suicide. The event left Shingen heirless for the time being and the Takeda retainers uneasy.<br />
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By [[1564]], Shingen had subdued all of Shinano and shifted his attention to Kozuke, where he took a number of castles from the Uesugi.<ref>These included Kuragano (1565) and Minowa (1566). The latter was taken from the Nagano family and provided a starting point for the career of [[Kamiizumi Hidetsuna]], who declined a personal invitation by Shingen to join the Takeda. He did accept the character 'Nobu' from Shingen's name and went off to become legendary as the swordsman Kamiizumi Nobutsuna.</ref> For the next five years, he limited himself to raids and local conquests (including land grabs in mountainous [[Hida province]]), concentrating on internal affairs. In the 1560's, Shingen's greatest achievement was the Fuji River damming project, the largest and most ambitious of his many innovative domestic endeavors. The benefit of the Fuji River project far-outlived its mastermind, and is ranked as one of the greatest domestic initiatives of the 16th Century.<br />
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==The Takeda expand==<br />
<br />
[[Image:TakedaDomain.jpg|225px|thumb|right|The Takeda domain in 1569 ('''[http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6192/takeda2ot2.jpg CLICK HERE]''' for full size version of this map.)]]By 1568, the Takeda army was on the move again, this time to the south against the faltering Imagawa. The daimyo of that clan was Ujizane, the incompetent son of the late Imagawa Yoshimoto (killed in 1560 by [[Oda Nobunaga]]), whose political ineptness had already cost the Imagawa their Matsudaira (Tokugawa) vassals and Mikawa province. Years before, Shingen's son Yoshinobu had married Ujizane's sister but after the suicide of the former in [[1567]], relations between the families had grown sour. It would appear that Shingen and Tokugawa Ieyasu struck up a deal whereby the two would split up the Imagawa's remaining lands (Totomi and Suruga), an agreement that in the event quickly fell through. In addition, the Hojo of Sagami took a dim view to this shift in the balance of power, and sent troops to defy Shingen, which they did with varying degrees of success for a year or so. In [[1569]] Shingen responded by invading Sagami and besieging Odawara (the Hojo's capital). While this effort was quite short-lived (lasting around a week), the Takeda army did manage to crush an attempt at an ambush by the Hojo at Mimasetoge on their way back to Kai. <br />
[[Image:Takeda_domain.jpg||thumb|left|The Takeda domain in 1572.]]<br />
Thus, in [[1570]], the Takeda's lands now included Kai, Shinano, Suruga, and pieces of Kozuke, Totomi, and Hida. Shingen, at 49, was something more than a regional power - he was the most important warlord east of Mino, and the one who was in a position to derail Oda Nobunaga's march to national hegemony. Shingen alone possessed the strategic position, the generalship, and the solid retainer band necessary. In 1570, the formidable Hojo Ujiyasu died and his heir, Ujimasa, quickly made peace with Shingen, an act that might have all but assured the ultimate destruction of Tokugawa Ieyasu had not Shingen died in 1573.<ref>Conflict with Tokugawa Ieyasu began soon after Takeda consolidated his hold on Suruga, and was exacerbated when Ieyasu moved his headquarters to Hamamatsu in Tôtômi in 1570. Shingen considered this a provocative move, and even Nobunaga urged his impetuous ally to shift his standard back to Mikawa. Tokugawa, far from pulling back, opened up talks with Uesugi Kenshin, inflaming the situation even more and providing the Takeda with ample excuses to attack.</ref> In the meantime, the Takeda and Oda, after an abortive diplomatic courtship designed to check the Uesugi, initiated a war of words, possibly with the shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, at the center of the storm. Shingen stepped up the pressure against Tokugawa, and in [[1572]] launched an attack into Totomi that resulted in the capture of Futamata. The following January, Shingen returned to the province and enticed Tokugawa Ieyasu to come out and fight. The [[Battle of Mikatagahara]], conducted on 6 January to the north of Hamamatsu, ended in a near-complete defeat for Ieyasu (and the allied Oda troops present).<ref>The Battle of Mikatagahara left 1,180 of Tokugawa's men dead while the Takeda lost somewhat less then 400. The majority of Takeda's losses came about as the result of a bold raid ordered that same night by Tokugawa and led by Okubo Tadayo and Amano Yasukage. This action is sometimes known as the Battle of Saigadake. The Oda men present were under the command of Takigawa Kazumasu, Hirade Norihide, and Sakuma Nobumori - of these only Hirade, who was killed, stood before the Takeda onslaught. This battle has sometimes been recorded as occuring in December of 1572; this does not account, however, for the difference in the Japanese lunar calender.</ref><br />
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Though often presented as the opening moves in a march on Kyôto, Shingen's intentions were no doubt more conservative. He probably aimed to test the responses of both Ieyasu and Nobunaga and deal the two a defeat if possible. Either way, within days of winning the battle, he received news that Asakura Yoshikage had elected not to take the field against Nobunaga at this time. Shingen is reported to have been displeased, and might have counted on Yoshikage - and [[Asai Nagamasa]] - to keep Nobunaga preoccupied. This may have played a role in his decision to strike camp and return to Kai - thus granting the bloodied Tokugawa a reprieve.<br />
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==The Death of Shingen==<br />
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Unfortunately, time ran out on the man who had come to epitomize the best and, in some ways, the worst qualities of the Sengoku warlord. In 1573, while laying siege to [[Noda castle]] in Mikawa, Shingen fell ill. A popular tradition holds that a defending sniper shot him. However, the [[Koyo Gunkan]] mentions that Shingen had been ill and records, ''On the 11th day of the 4th month around 1pm, Lord Shingen's condition took a turn for the worst. His pulse became extremely rapid. On the night of the 12th, approximately 9pm, he developed an [abscess/rash] in his mouth, and 5 or 6 of his teeth fell out. He gradually weakened.''<ref>the [[Koyo Gunkan]] gives no indication that Shingen was ever wounded by a sniper at Noda castle.</ref>. <br />
Isogai Masayoshi's ''Takeda Shingen'', Kobayashi Keiichiro's ''Takeda Gunki'', and other modern works on Shingen dismiss the sniper story, pointing out that only Tokugawa records make any mention of a sniper and that Shingen had been ill for some time prior to his death, which in any event occured a full two months after Noda. Interestingly, Shingen had given up eating meat as a show of religious piety around 1563 but began eating fish and poultry again around the time of Noda for his health. The sniper version of events, made famous by Akira Kurosawa's film ''Kagemusha'', holds that he was drawn close to the walls of the castle to listen to a defender playing a flute to raise the morale of his comrades. However, this is strongly reminiscent of the death of [[Amako Masahisa]], the difference being that Masahisa was the flute player playing for the benefit of his men. A defending archer guessed where he seated in the dark, let fly, and killed him. It seems possible-even probable-that this story was adopted and adapted for the romantic death of Shingen, a death the Tokugawa could then claim credit for.<br />
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He died at Kobama in Shinano on the night of the 12th day of the 4th month of 1573, to be succeded by his fourth son, [[Takeda Katsuyori]]. <br />
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Shingen had been a warlord of great domestic skill and competent military leadership. He was a complicated figure, at times utterly cruel. Earlier in his life, he had forced [[Suwa Yorishige]] to commit suicide (or had him murdered) after the two warlords had signed a peace treaty, and then proceeded to take Suwa's daughter as a mistress, ignoring the fact that she was technically his own niece. In [[1565]], as mentioned above, he ordered his own son, Yoshinobu, confined to a temple and evidently made him commit suicide for treasonous activity, as well as the man who had once been his guardian, Obu Toramasa. His domestic policies demonstrate the duality of Takeda Shingen. On one hand, he kept two iron cauldrons on hand to boil alive certain criminals (a practice considered sufficiently cruel enough to provoke Tokugawa Ieyasu to have the cauldrons destroyed years later). On the other, he did away with corporal punishment for most minor offences, instituting in it's place a system of fines - an act that earned him considerable praise from the peasants and townspeople of Kai. Shingen's law was not considered overly harsh, and his was one of the few Sengoku Period administrations prior to [[1582]] to tax most of his subjects evenly (most exempted powerful samurai families and/or religious establishments) and with the option of payment in either gold or rice (a forerunner, in some ways, to the later Kandaka system). <br />
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An enduring legend describes Kenshin's reaction to Shingen's death. When the event was reported to him during a meal, he threw down his chopsticks and said, "He was my rival for many years, but the great general who was a pillar of the Kanto warrior families has been lost. It is truly a shame." He then ordered that no music be played at [[Kasugayama castle]] for a span of three days. In addition, he resisted a call to attack the Takeda domain to take advantage of the situation.<ref>See: Narumoto, Tatsuya. "Sengoku Bushou Omoshiro Jiten", Japan, 1998</ref><br />
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Perhaps the greatest praise paid Shingen was by Tokugawa Ieyasu himself. Following the defeat of Katsuyori in 1582 and the death of Oda Nobunaga, Ieyasu assumed control of Kai, and borrowed freely from Shingen's style and techniques of governance, which he later included in his model for the Tokugawa Shogunate. <br />
<br />
Just prior to his death, Shingen had called from his bed for [[Yamagata Masakage]], one of ablest men, to raise his flags at Seta Bridge (the traditional eastern gate to Kyoto). He then collapsed back into his bed and died soon afterwards. In lieu of a death poem, he left the following words, borrowed from Zen literature, "It is largely left to her own natural bodily perfection, and she has no special need to resort to artificial coloring and powdering to look beautiful."<ref>Suzuki, Zen and Japanese Culture pg. 82. The 'she' in the passage is a reference to life, or reality.</ref><br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Takeda Shingen's 24 Generals]]<br />
<br />
==Notes to the Text==<br />
<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Hall, John Whitney, et al. (ed.) ''Japan Before Tokugawa.'' Princeton, 1981 <br />
* Kanaya, Shunichiro. ''Sengoku Jidai Ga Omoshiroi Hodo Wakaru Hon'', 2003 <br />
* ''[[Koyo Gunkan|The Koyo Gunkan]]'' (Edited by Yoshida Toyo) 19th edition, Tokyo, August 2005.<br />
* Kuwada, Tadachika. ''Nihon Busho Retsuden Series #3'', 1989 <br />
* Narumoto, Tatsuya. ''Sengoku Bushou Omoshiro Jiten'', Japan, 1998<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #6: FuuRinKaZan.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Sadler, A. L. ''The Maker of Modern.'' Japan Tuttle, 1978 <br />
* Sato, Hiroaki. ''[[Legends of the Samurai]].'' Overlook, 1995 <br />
* Suzuki, D. T. ''Zen and Japanese Culture.'' Princeton, 1993 <br />
* Turnbull, Stephen. ''Samurai Warlords.'' London: Blandford, 1992<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=1573&diff=1597215732008-01-02T23:46:21Z<p>FWSeal: /* Births and Deaths of 1573 */</p>
<hr />
<div>First year of Tenshô 天正<br />
<br />
== Timeline of 1573 ==<br />
<br />
* 1573/1/6 - [[Battle of Mikatagahara]]<br />
<br />
==Other Events of 1573==<br />
<br />
===Births and Deaths of 1573===<br />
* 1573/2 - [[Murakami Yoshikiyo]] dies at Nechi Castle in Echigo Province.<br />
* 1573/5 - [[Takeda Shingen]] (52) dies at Komaba in Shinano Province.<br />
* [[Goto Mototsugu]] is born.<br />
<br />
[[Category:Timeline]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period Timeline]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Takeda_Katsuyori&diff=15971Takeda Katsuyori2008-01-02T21:38:07Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1546]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1582]]''<br />
* ''Distinction: 20th Lord of the Kai Takeda clan''<br />
* ''Other Names:'' ''Suwa Katsuyori''<br />
* ''Childhood Name:'' ''Shirô'' [四郎]<br />
* ''Japanese'': [[武田]]勝頼 ''(Takeda Katsuyori)''<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Image:Takeda_katsuyori.jpg||thumb|right|Takeda Katsuyori. ''(Image from "Sengokushi Shimbun" [Warring States Historical Newspaper] by Ichirô Abebayashi, P. 125.)]]<br />
Takeda Katsuyori was the 4th son of [[Takeda Shingen]] and prior to Shingen's death, the head of the Suwa Clan. He was the 20th and second to last lord of the [[Takeda clan]], famous for his conflict with [[Oda Nobunaga]] and [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]].<br />
<br />
In [[1542]] Takeda Shingen defeated [[Suwa Yorishige]] of [[Shinano province|Shinano Province]] and took his daughter as a mistress. Katsuyori was born in 1546 and in 1562 became the head of the Suwa family and was established at [[Shinano-Takato Castle|Takato Castle]] in the Ina District of Shinano. The following year he accompained his father on campaign in the attack on [[Musashi-Matsuyama Castle]] [武蔵松山城]. <br />
<br />
In [[1565]], Shingen and Oda Nobunaga of [[Owari Province|Owari province]] established friendly ties and Katsuyori wedded Nobunaga's niece and adopted daughter, [[Toyama Hujin|Tôyama-hujin]], in the 11th month of that year. Two months previously, Shingen's heir, [[Takeda Yoshinobu|Yoshinobu]], had been placed under confinement on the grounds that he had plotted against his father. In [[1567]] Tôyama-hujin gave birth to [[Takeda Nobukatsu]] in a difficult delivery from which she afterwards died. In the 11th month of that year, Yoshinobu was ordered to commit suicide. Since Shingen's second son, [[Unno Nobuchika]], had been born blind and his third son, [[Takeda Nobuyuki|Nobuyuki]], had died sometime around 1553, Katsuyori was named as the heir. In 1570 he would be ordered to move his household from Suwa to [[Tsutsujigaseki]] in Kai Province. On the other hand, another version of events has Nobukatsu in fact being adopted by Shingen's younger brother, [[Takeda Nobukado|Nobukado]], and named the heir, with Katsuyori to act as his guardian. Supporting this view are the facts that Katsuyori was considered an illegitimate son and had already been adopted into another family, the Suwa.<br />
<br />
Katsuyori gained a reputation as a fearless fighter in Shingen's battles against the [[Hojo clan|Hôjô]] and [[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa]] families. In the 4th month of 1573, while campaigning against Tokugawa Ieyasu, Shingen fell ill and then died at Kobata in Shinano Province. Katsuyori led the Takeda army back to Kai in the aftermath and assumed leadership of the clan. Here again the circumstances of this process are unclear, given the possibility that Nobukatsu had been adopted by Nobukado.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Takeda_katsuyori_nagashino.jpg||thumb|left|The allied forces of Oda and Tokugawa at Nagashino. (1575)]]<br />
<br />
Carrying on his father's war with Tokugawa Ieyasu, Takeda troops captured Akechi Castle [明智城] in Mino Province while Katsuoryi managed to bring down [[Takatenjin Castle]] [高天神城] in [[Totomi province|Tôtômi Province]], in the 2nd and 6th months of [[1574]], respectively. The following year he planned to capture [[Ozaki Castle]] in Mikawa, assisted by a treacherous minister who promised to throw open the gates when the Takeda arrived. This would isolate Ieyasu at Hamamatsu in Tôtômi, cutting him off from Oda reinforcements, and possibly lead to his surrender or death. Unfortunately for the Takeda, the plot was uncovered by the Tokugawa even as Katsuyori was on the march, and Katsuyori called off the attack, deciding instead to invest [[Nagashino Castle]]. Intended as something of a consolation prize (if popular tradition is correct on this point), Nagashino proved a tough nut to crack, resisting attempts at mining, burning, and direct assault. Katsuyori decided to lay siege, and threw up a perimeter about the castle. A brave defender, however, managed to slip through by swimming out via river. This man, [[Torii Sune'emon]], managed to reach Ieyasu and warn him of Nagashino's plight. After some prodding, [[Oda Nobunaga]] agreed to throw his own might into the relief effort, and at length a 38,000 man army drew up across from the Takeda at Nagashino. Katsuyori elected to attack. The odds against victory were steep, as the Oda and Tokugawa had thrown up defensive structures and possessed a considerable numerical advantage, and certain of Katsuyori's retainers advised against making the attempt (''see'' The [[Battle of Nagashino]]). The result was a crushing Takeda defeat that saw a high percentage of the army killed, including many seasoned Takeda retainers. In the aftermath, the Oda recaptured Iwamura Castle in Mino, taken by the Takeda in 1572.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Katsuyori.jpg||thumb|right|Graves of Nobukatsu, Katsuyori, and Katsuyori's wife at the Keitokuin temple.]]<br />
The ability of the Takeda to extend its influence ended after Nagashino and Katsuyori felt compelled to marry the sister of [[Hojo Ujimasa|Hôjô Ujimasa]] in the 1st month of [[1577]]. Uesugi Kenshin of [[Echigo province|Echigo Province]], until now loosely aligned with the Oda against the Takeda, had changed course out of concern for the Oda's advance into [[Kaga province|Kaga Province]] and made peace with Katsuyori. Oda Nobunaga was content to leave Tokugawa Ieyasu to contain Katsuyori and the Tokugawa alone did not have the strength to seriously damage the Takeda's position. Thus, despite the serious blow dealt by Nagashino to the Takeda, it did not prove immediately fatal.<br />
<br />
In [[1578]], following the death of Uesugi Kenshin, civil war broke out between his two successors, [[Uesugi Kagatora]] and [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]]. Kagetora had been adopted from the Hôjô family and so the Hôjô expected Katsuyori to support him. However, Katsuyori came out in favor of Kagekatsu. It is unclear if this was primarily as the result of Kagekatsu offering to give Katsuyori the lands the Uesugi controlled in Shinano or out of a fear that, should Kagetora win and the Hôjô thus assume so much influence over Echigo, the Takeda might someday be virtually surrounded by enemies if the Takeda-Hôjô alliance folded. Ujimasa was furious by Kagekatsu's bad faith and cancelled his alliance with Katsuyori and opened relations with the Oda and Tokugawa. On the other hand, although Kagekatsu had triumphed in Echigo, the Uesugi clan was badly weakened by the so-called [[Otate no ran]] and at any rate pressed by Oda advances in [[Etchu province|Etchu Province]], leaving Katsuyori effectively isolated after all.<br />
<br />
In [[1580]] Takeda and Hôjô troops clashed in Suruga Province and in the 3rd month of [[1581]] Takatenjin Castle in Tôtômi Province fell to the Tokugawa. This represented a serious blow to the prestige of the Takeda and further disenchanted Katsuyori's retainers. Katsuyori spent the rest of the year attempting to shore up the Takeda's army and defenses, to that end ordering large drafts and levies of labor and funds and directing [[Sanada Masayuki]] to begin construction of [[Shinpu Castle]] [新府城] at present-day Nirasaki, where Katsuyori intended to move the Takeda headquarters. These moves served to further tarnish Katsuyori's reputation within the Takeda domain.<br />
<br />
In the 2nd month of [[1582]], Katsuyori's retainer, [[Kiso Yoshimasa]] of Fukushima in Shinano, discontented at material demands related to the building of Shinpu, rebelled. Katsuyori immediately raised an army, heedless of bad weather, and marched against Fukushima in what developed into a pointless fiasco that crushed whatever morale his retainers had left. Soon afterwards, a combined army of Oda, Tokugawa, and Hôjô troops invaded Kai and Shinano. The majority of Katsuyori's troops deserted, including his uncle, Nobukado, and [[Anayama Nobukimi]], neither of whom having enjoyed good relations with Katsuyori since the death of Shingen. His younger brother, [[Nishina Morinobu]], on the other hand, made a gallant if futile stand at [[Takato Castle]]. Katsuyori burned the incomplete defenses at Shinpu and set out for the promised protection of Oyamada Nobushige's Iwadono Castle [岩殿城], only to find the gates barred to him. Pursued by enemy troops under [[Takigawa Kazumasu]] and all but abandoned by his men, Katsuyori committed in the shadow of the [[Tenmokuzan]] with his son Nobukatsu and wife while his last few retainers, three Tsuchiya brothers, held the enemy at bay.<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
<references/> <br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{saref}}<br />
[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/武田勝頼 Takeda Katsuyori] Japanese Wikipedia<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Takeda_Katsuyori&diff=15970Takeda Katsuyori2008-01-02T21:35:58Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1546]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1582]]''<br />
* ''Distinction: 20th Lord of the Kai Takeda clan."<br />
* ''Other Names:'' ''Suwa Katsuyori''<br />
* ''Childhood Name:'' ''Shirô'' [四郎]<br />
* ''Japanese'': [[武田]]勝頼 ''(Takeda Katsuyori)''<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Image:Takeda_katsuyori.jpg||thumb|right|Takeda Katsuyori. ''(Image from "Sengokushi Shimbun" [Warring States Historical Newspaper] by Ichirô Abebayashi, P. 125.)]]<br />
Takeda Katsuyori was the 4th son of [[Takeda Shingen]] and prior to Shingen's death, the head of the Suwa Clan. He was the 20th and second to last lord of the [[Takeda clan]], famous for his conflict with [[Oda Nobunaga]] and [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]].<br />
<br />
In [[1542]] Takeda Shingen defeated [[Suwa Yorishige]] of [[Shinano province|Shinano Province]] and took his daughter as a mistress. Katsuyori was born in 1546 and in 1562 became the head of the Suwa family and was established at [[Shinano-Takato Castle|Takato Castle]] in the Ina District of Shinano. The following year he accompained his father on campaign in the attack on [[Musashi-Matsuyama Castle]] [武蔵松山城]. <br />
<br />
In [[1565]], Shingen and Oda Nobunaga of [[Owari Province|Owari province]] established friendly ties and Katsuyori wedded Nobunaga's niece and adopted daughter, [[Toyama Hujin|Tôyama-hujin]], in the 11th month of that year. Two months previously, Shingen's heir, [[Takeda Yoshinobu|Yoshinobu]], had been placed under confinement on the grounds that he had plotted against his father. In [[1567]] Tôyama-hujin gave birth to [[Takeda Nobukatsu]] in a difficult delivery from which she afterwards died. In the 11th month of that year, Yoshinobu was ordered to commit suicide. Since Shingen's second son, [[Unno Nobuchika]], had been born blind and his third son, [[Takeda Nobuyuki|Nobuyuki]], had died sometime around 1553, Katsuyori was named as the heir. In 1570 he would be ordered to move his household from Suwa to [[Tsutsujigaseki]] in Kai Province. On the other hand, another version of events has Nobukatsu in fact being adopted by Shingen's younger brother, [[Takeda Nobukado|Nobukado]], and named the heir, with Katsuyori to act as his guardian. Supporting this view are the facts that Katsuyori was considered an illegitimate son and had already been adopted into another family, the Suwa.<br />
<br />
Katsuyori gained a reputation as a fearless fighter in Shingen's battles against the [[Hojo clan|Hôjô]] and [[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa]] families. In the 4th month of 1573, while campaigning against Tokugawa Ieyasu, Shingen fell ill and then died at Kobata in Shinano Province. Katsuyori led the Takeda army back to Kai in the aftermath and assumed leadership of the clan. Here again the circumstances of this process are unclear, given the possibility that Nobukatsu had been adopted by Nobukado.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Takeda_katsuyori_nagashino.jpg||thumb|left|The allied forces of Oda and Tokugawa at Nagashino. (1575)]]<br />
<br />
Carrying on his father's war with Tokugawa Ieyasu, Takeda troops captured Akechi Castle [明智城] in Mino Province while Katsuoryi managed to bring down [[Takatenjin Castle]] [高天神城] in [[Totomi province|Tôtômi Province]], in the 2nd and 6th months of [[1574]], respectively. The following year he planned to capture [[Ozaki Castle]] in Mikawa, assisted by a treacherous minister who promised to throw open the gates when the Takeda arrived. This would isolate Ieyasu at Hamamatsu in Tôtômi, cutting him off from Oda reinforcements, and possibly lead to his surrender or death. Unfortunately for the Takeda, the plot was uncovered by the Tokugawa even as Katsuyori was on the march, and Katsuyori called off the attack, deciding instead to invest [[Nagashino Castle]]. Intended as something of a consolation prize (if popular tradition is correct on this point), Nagashino proved a tough nut to crack, resisting attempts at mining, burning, and direct assault. Katsuyori decided to lay siege, and threw up a perimeter about the castle. A brave defender, however, managed to slip through by swimming out via river. This man, [[Torii Sune'emon]], managed to reach Ieyasu and warn him of Nagashino's plight. After some prodding, [[Oda Nobunaga]] agreed to throw his own might into the relief effort, and at length a 38,000 man army drew up across from the Takeda at Nagashino. Katsuyori elected to attack. The odds against victory were steep, as the Oda and Tokugawa had thrown up defensive structures and possessed a considerable numerical advantage, and certain of Katsuyori's retainers advised against making the attempt [[[see]] The [[Battle of Nagashino]]. The result was a crushing Takeda defeat that saw a high percentage of the army killed, including many seasoned Takeda retainers. In the aftermath, the Oda recaptured Iwamura Castle in Mino, taken by the Takeda in 1572.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Katsuyori.jpg||thumb|right|Graves of Nobukatsu, Katsuyori, and Katsuyori's wife at the Keitokuin temple.]]<br />
The ability of the Takeda to extend its influence ended after Nagashino and Katsuyori felt compelled to marry the sister of [[Hojo Ujimasa|Hôjô Ujimasa]] in the 1st month of [[1577]]. Uesugi Kenshin of [[Echigo province|Echigo Province]], until now loosely aligned with the Oda against the Takeda, had changed course out of concern for the Oda's advance into [[Kaga province|Kaga Province]] and made peace with Katsuyori. Oda Nobunaga was content to leave Tokugawa Ieyasu to contain Katsuyori and the Tokugawa alone did not have the strength to seriously damage the Takeda's position. Thus, despite the serious blow dealt by Nagashino to the Takeda, it did not prove immediately fatal.<br />
<br />
In [[1578]], following the death of Uesugi Kenshin, civil war broke out between his two successors, [[Uesugi Kagatora]] and [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]]. Kagetora had been adopted from the Hôjô family and so the Hôjô expected Katsuyori to support him. However, Katsuyori came out in favor of Kagekatsu. It is unclear if this was primarily as the result of Kagekatsu offering to give Katsuyori the lands the Uesugi controlled in Shinano or out of a fear that, should Kagetora win and the Hôjô thus assume so much influence over Echigo, the Takeda might someday be virtually surrounded by enemies if the Takeda-Hôjô alliance folded. Ujimasa was furious by Kagekatsu's bad faith and cancelled his alliance with Katsuyori and opened relations with the Oda and Tokugawa. On the other hand, although Kagekatsu had triumphed in Echigo, the Uesugi clan was badly weakened by the so-called [[Otate no ran]] and at any rate pressed by Oda advances in [[Etchu province|Etchu Province]], leaving Katsuyori effectively isolated after all.<br />
<br />
In [[1580]] Takeda and Hôjô troops clashed in Suruga Province and in the 3rd month of [[1581]] Takatenjin Castle in Tôtômi Province fell to the Tokugawa. This represented a serious blow to the prestige of the Takeda and further disenchanted Katsuyori's retainers. Katsuyori spent the rest of the year attempting to shore up the Takeda's army and defenses, to that end ordering large drafts and levies of labor and funds and directing [[Sanada Masayuki]] to begin construction of [[Shinpu Castle]] [新府城] at present-day Nirasaki, where Katsuyori intended to move the Takeda headquarters. These moves served to further tarnish Katsuyori's reputation within the Takeda domain.<br />
<br />
In the 2nd month of [[1582]], Katsuyori's retainer, [[Kiso Yoshimasa]] of Fukushima in Shinano, discontented at material demands related to the building of Shinpu, rebelled. Katsuyori immediately raised an army, heedless of bad weather, and marched against Fukushima in what developed into a pointless fiasco that crushed whatever morale his retainers had left. Soon afterwards, a combined army of Oda, Tokugawa, and Hôjô troops invaded Kai and Shinano. The majority of Katsuyori's troops deserted, including his uncle, Nobukado, and [[Anayama Nobukimi]], neither of whom having enjoyed good relations with Katsuyori since the death of Shingen. His younger brother, [[Nishina Morinobu]], on the other hand, made a gallant if futile stand at [[Takato Castle]]. Katsuyori burned the incomplete defenses at Shinpu and set out for the promised protection of Oyamada Nobushige's Iwadono Castle [岩殿城], only to find the gates barred to him. Pursued by enemy troops under [[Takigawa Kazumasu]] and all but abandoned by his men, Katsuyori committed in the shadow of the [[Tenmokuzan]] with his son Nobukatsu and wife while his last few retainers, three Tsuchiya brothers, held the enemy at bay.<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
<references/> <br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{saref}}<br />
[ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/武田勝頼 Takeda Katsuyori] Japanese Wikipedia<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Murakami_Yoshikiyo&diff=15969Murakami Yoshikiyo2008-01-02T00:52:40Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1501]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1573]]''<br />
* ''Son: [[Murakamai Kunikiyo]] (Yamaura Kagekuni)''<br />
* ''Title: Suo no Kami''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''村上義清'''<br />
<br />
<br />
Yoshikiyo was the son of [[Murakami Akikuni]] and was born at [[Katsurao Castle]] in [[Shinano province|Shinano Province]]. His mother was a daughter of [[Shiba Yoshihiro]]. He succeeded his father when the latter died sometime during the early 1520s. He contested for local power with the Takanashi family of Minochi District and the Unno family of Chiisagata District. In 1541 he joined with the [[Suwa clan|Suwa]] and [[Takeda clan|Takeda]] in bringing down [[Iiyama Castle]] [飯山城] and forcing [[Unno Munetsuna]] and [[Takanashi Masayori]] to flee to [[Echigo province|Echigo]] and [[Sanada Yukitaka]] to flee to [[Kozuke province|Kozuke Province]]. Shortly thereafter, [[Takeda Nobutora]] was exiled from Kai and the Takeda-Suwa-Murakami alliance became nullified. Yoshikiyo extended his power in Shinano and became increasingly at odds with [[Takeda Shingen]], who was expanding into Shinano. In [[1548]]/2/14 the Takeda and Murakami clashed at the [[Battle of Uedahara]] in southern Chiisagata District. Yoshikiyo emerged the victor in a clash that claimed a number of senior Takeda retainers and that saw Shingen himself wounded. However, Shingen recovered to defeat Yoshikiyo's ally [[Ogasawara Nagatoki]] at the [[Battle of Shiojiritoge]] four months later. Yoshikiyo's position afterwards became increasingly more difficult and in 1551 the Takeda captured [[Toishi Castle]]. Shingen attacked Katsurao Castle in 1553, took it and then lost it again. When Shingen returned in the 7th month of that year with an army too large for Yoshikiyo to contest, the latter elected to flee north to Echigo. He sought and was granted shelter by Nagao Kagetora ([[Uesugi Kenshin]]). He afterwards put himself at Kenshin's disposal and fought under his banner against Shingen in the Kawanakajima battles. At the [[Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima]] he fought in the Uesugi vanguard and some accounts, such as the ''Kitakoshi Gundan'' [北越軍談], credit him with the defeat and death of [[Takeda Nobushige]]. He was given Nechi Castle [根知城] in Echigo Province and died there in the 2nd month of 1573. His son [[Murakami Kunikiyo|Kunikiyo]] served the Uesugi as a retainer and in 1582 was able to recover the Murakami's Shinano lands.<br />
<br />
Yoshikiyo had been married to the daughter of [[Ogasawara Nagamune]].<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{biodict}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]<br />
[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/村上義清 Murakami Yoshikiyo] Japanese Wikipedia</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Takeda_Nobutora&diff=15968Takeda Nobutora2008-01-01T19:56:26Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1493]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1574]]''<br />
* ''Titles: Mutsu no kami, Sakyô-daibu''<br />
* Sons: [[Takeda Shingen]], [[Takeda Nobushige]], [[Takeda Nobutomo]], [[Takeda Nobukado]], [[Takeda Munetomo]], [[Ichijo Nobutatsu]], [[Matsuo Nobukore]], [[Takeda Nobuzane|Kawakubo Nobuzane]], [[Takeda Katsutora]]?<br />
* ''Other Names: Nobunao''<br />
* Japanese: [[武田]] 信虎 ''(Takeda Nobutora)''<br />
<br />
<br />
Nobutora was the eldest son of [[Takeda Nobutsuna]], the lord of [[Kai Province]]. His mother was from the [[Iwashita clan|Iwashita]] family. Nobutsuna, lord since 1491, died of illness in [[1507]] and Nobutora duly succeeded him at a time when the Takeda, and Kai itself, was politically fractured. He was known at this time as Nobunao. His uncle [[Takeda Nobue|Nobue]] challenged Nobutora's authority and fighting broke out between their two factions. Nobutora attacked Nobue and his supporters the following year ([[1508]]) and in the course of the fighting Nobue and his his ally, [[Oyamada Nobutaka]], were killed. However, other important families within Kai, including the [[Oi family|Ôi]] and [[Oyamada family|Oyamada]], now led by [[Oyamada Nobuari]], continued to oppose him. Nobutora forced the submission of the Oyamada in 1510 and the following year married a daughter to Nobuari. However, the Ôi of southern Kai were supported by the [[Imagawa clan|Imagawa]] family of [[Suruga province|Suruga]] and proved more formidable. In 1517, however, [[Imagawa Ujichika]] withdrew his troops from Kai and [[Oi Nobutatsu|Ôi Nobutatsu]] was compelled to come to terms with Nobutora. Nobutora married Nobutatu's daughter and this union would produce four of Nobutora's sons: Harunobu (Shingen), Nobushige, Nobutomo, and Nobukado. In 1530 he was to take the widow of [[Uesugi Norifusa]] as a concubine. Additionally, he was to maintain concubines from the Imai, Kudo, Kusuura, and Matsuo families.<br />
<br />
In 1519 Nobutora established the center of the Takeda clan at [[Tsutsujigaseki]] [躑躅ヶ崎館] in Fuchu. This moated mansion complex would remain the center of the Takeda clan for the next sixty years, until [[Takeda Katsuyori]] moved the family to Nirayama. In [[1521]], Ôi Nobutatsu again defied his authority and war broke out. Imagawa Ujichika came to Nobutatsu's support once more and ordered his retainer [[Kushima Masanari]] to launch an attack into Kai. Nobutora defeated Masashige at Iidagawara and afterwards Nobutatsu submitted, retired and became a monk. Around this time Nobutora's eldest son, the future Shingen, was born. <br />
<br />
Over the course of the next decade, Nobutora was at odds with the Imagawa, Hôjô, and a number of Shinano daimyô. The latter at length banded together in an anti-Nobutora coalition that included the [[Suwa clan|Suwa]], the [[Imai clan|Imai]], the [[Hiraga Clan|Hiraga]] and others. The Suwa, being at this time the strongest of them, was Nobutora's main antagonist. In 1531 he defeated a coalition army near present-day Nirasaki but in 1535 found himself pressed on his southern borders by the Imagawa and Hôjô. The following year he was granted a reprieve by the death of Imagawa Ujichika and the resulting battle for power within the Imagawa family. Nobutora supported [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]]'s bid for leadership and when Yoshimoto emerged as the new daimyô he married Nobutora's eldest daughter. In return, Yoshimoto acted as a go-between to arrange the marriage of Takeda Harunobu to the daughter of the court noble, [[Sanjo Kimiyori]]. Although the Takeda and Hôjô made peace, Nobutora's alliance with Yoshimoto split the Hôjô-Imagawa union and the two clans began fighting. Meanwhile, with his southern borders secure, Nobutora attacked the domain of [[Hiraga Genshin]] in late 1536 and surrounded his castle of Umi no kuchi [海ノ口城]. The defenders resisted stoutly and when winter snows began to fall, Nobutora withdrew. According to legend, it was Harunobu, commanding the rear guard, who opted to make a counter-march that caught the Hiraga men by surprise and led to their defeat and Genshin's death. Whatever the truth of the story, the result of the campaign was the destruction of the Hiraga in the 2nd month of 1537.<br />
<br />
In [[1540]], following the surrender of [[Imai Nobumoto]], the Suwa and the Takeda reconciled and [[Suwa Yorishige]] married another of Nobutora's daughters, [[Nene]]. At the same time, a treaty was made with the [[Murakami]] family and, along with the Suwa, the two clans defeated the Unno family at the Battle of Unnotaira [海野平の戦いで].<br />
<br />
Nobutora came to favor his second son, Nobushige, over Harunobu and contemplated naming him heir. Perhaps as importantly to the coming events, Nobutora had alienated his retainers with his arbitrary style of leadership and burdened the people of Kai with heavy taxes and forced labor for his seemingly endless campaigns. In the summer of [[1541]] he was overthrown by Harunobu and his chief retainers (perhaps most notably [[Amari Torayasu]] and [[Itagaki Nobutaka]]), although the manner in which this played out is not entirely clear. According to one version of the so-called 'bloodless coup', Nobutora departed for [[Suruga province]] to visit his daughter, the wife of Imagawa Yoshimoto, and Harunobu seized power in his absence, possibly with the secret understanding of Yoshimoto. The people of Kai in any event celebrated his fall and the Takeda retainers accepted Shingen's rule without incident. Nobutora afterwards lived quietly in Suruga Province, until the death of Yoshimoto at the [[Battle of Okehazama]] in [[1560]]. Nobutora's relations with Yoshimoto's heir, Ujizane, were not good and at length Nobutora migrated to [[Ise province|Ise Province]] and took up with [[Kitabatake Tomonori]], who gave him property in [[Shima Province]]. In return, Nobutora assisted Tomonori in his conflict with [[Kuki Yoshitaka]]<br />
<br />
After Harunobu (Shingen) died in [[1573]], Katsuyori, the new lord of the Takeda, allowed Nobutora to return to the east and he took up with his 4th son, Nobukado, at [[Takato Castle]] in Shinano. He died on 27 March [[1574]] in Shinano (almost all western sources state that he died in 1573, perhaps owing to some earlier confusion with the death of Shingen), and was buried in Kai and his grave may be seen in Kofu today. Nobutora was recorded as an intemperate and even unstable man who was not well-liked by his retainers, though he was a warrior of obvious ability. Katsuyori was said to have been taken aback at how fearsome his grandfather looked even at 80 years of age. His wife, the daughter of Ôi Nobutatsu, died in [[1552]]. His eldest daughter (who died in [[1550]]), the wife of Imagawa Yoshimoto, produced the latter's heir, [[Imagawa Ujizane|Ujizane]]. In addition to his other sons, Nobutora may also have had another, Katsutora. Little is known about him, except that he may have been born around the time that Nobutora went into exile.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Kanaya, Shunichiro. ''Sengoku Jidai Ga Omoshiroi Hodo Wakaru Hon'', 2003 <br />
* Kuwada, Tadachika. ''Nihon Busho Retsuden Series #3'', 1989 <br />
* Narumoto, Tatsuya. ''Sengoku Bushou Omoshiro Jiten'', Japan, 1998<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #6: FuuRinKaZan.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BB%8A%E5%B7%9D%E7%BE%A9%E5%85%83 Imagawa Yoshimoto] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%9A%E6%81%B5%E9%99%A2 Joukei-In] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A6%B0%E3%80%85 Nene] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A6%E7%94%B0%E4%BF%A1%E8%99%8E Takeda Nobutora] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Baba_Nobufusa&diff=15967Baba Nobufusa2008-01-01T03:17:36Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1514]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1575]]''<br />
* ''Title: Mino no Kami''<br />
* ''Other names: Kyôraishi Kagemasa (教来石景政), Baba Nobuharu'' (馬場信春)<br />
* ''Distinction: One of [[Takeda Shingen's 24 Generals]]''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''馬場信房'''<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Image:Baba_nobufusa.jpg||thumb|left|Baba Nobufusa.]]<br />
Nobufusa was the son of Kyôraishi Nobuyasu (教来石信保) and succeeded Baba Torasada after the latter was killed by [[Takeda Nobutora]]. He served three generations of [[Takeda clan|Takeda]] daimyô – Nobutora, [[Takeda Shingen|Shingen]], and [[Takeda Katsuyori|Katsuyori]]. <br />
<br />
Nobufusa was present at many of Shingen's battles, going back to his earliest, under Nobutora. He supported Shingen in his 1541 coup that saw Nobutora exiled from Kai and in 1546 was named ''samurai-taisho'' (侍大将) and at this time changed his name to Nobufusa (from Kagemasa.)<br />
<br />
He was part of the miscarried night attack on the Uesugi at the [[Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima|4th Battle of Kawanakajima]], fought at the [[Battle of Odawara|Odawara]] and [[Battle of Mimasetoge|Mimasetoge]] in [[1569]], and was in the lead at the [[Battle of Mikatagahara|Mikatagahara]] in [[1572]]. He was awarded [[Fukashi Castle]] in [[Shinano province|Shinano]] in [[1550]], and inherited the title of Mino no kami after [[Hara Toratane]] died in [[1564]] and changed his name to Nobuharu.<br />
<br />
Nobufusa fell out of favor somewhat with Takeda Katsuyori, but, despite personal objections, led his men in a charge against [[Oda Nobunaga|Oda Nobunaga's]] left at the [[Battle of Nagashino]] on 29 June [[1575]]. Nobuharu survived the morning's slaughter (some 10,000 Takeda warriors and many of his collegues fell) and protected Katsuyori's retreat across the Kansagawa. Nobuharu then turned with his remaining troops and was cut down by the enemy. <br />
After the death of his son [[Baba Masafusa|Masafusa]] in 1582, Nobufusa's lands went to his younger brother [[Baba Nobuyori|Nobuyori]]. <br />
<br />
According to the [[Koyo Gunkan]], Nobuharu was consulted by Shingen on many important matters and was supposed to have suggested the strategy that Shingen used to win the Battle of Mimasetoge. Prior to Nagashino, he is reputed to have fought in 70 engagements while suffering barely a scratch. He figures as one of the better-known members of Takeda Shingen's '24 Generals'. <br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Initial text from [http://www.samurai-archives.com Samurai-Archives.com] FWSeal & CEWest, 2005<br />
* ''[[Koyo Gunkan|The Koyo Gunkan]]'' (Edited by Yoshida Toyo) 19th edition, Tokyo, August 2005.<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #6: FuuRinKaZan.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Takeda_Yoshinobu&diff=15966Takeda Yoshinobu2007-12-31T19:16:15Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1536]]?''<br />
* ''Died: [[1567]]''<br />
* ''Other Name: Takeda Tarô''<br />
* ''Title: Izu no Kami''<br />
<br />
<br />
Yoshinobu was [[Takeda Shingen|Shingen's]] eldest son. His mother was the daughter of court noble [[Sanjo Kimiyori|Sanjô Kimiyori]]. Yoshinobu was granted the use of the character 'Yoshi' (義) from shôgun [[Ashikaga Yoshiteru]] and in [[1552]] married a daughter of [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]]. He argued with his father over the conduct of the [[Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima]] ([[1561]]), where he was wounded, as well as disagreed on what to do about the [[Imagawa clan]] in [[Suruga province]] after the death of his father in law, Imagawa Yoshimoto. He went so far as to lobby his position to Shingen's generals behind his back, and relations between father and son soured after this. In [[1565]] he was accused of plotting against Shingen and was confined to the [[Toko temple]]. Meanwhile, [[Obu Toramasa]], his tutor, was ordered to commit suicide. The information of the alleged plot against Shingen was brought to light by [[Yamagata Masakage]]. <br />
<br />
In [[1567]] Yoshinobu was made to commit suicide. Another theory has it that he died of illness, though many historians accept that Shingen ordered his death, possibly to insure that [[Takeda Katsuyori]] would succeed him.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{saref}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Baba_Nobufusa&diff=15965Baba Nobufusa2007-12-31T00:31:23Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1514]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1575]]''<br />
* ''Title: Mino no Kami''<br />
* ''Other names: Kyôraishi Kagemasa (教来石景政), Baba Nobuharu'' (馬場信春)<br />
* ''Distinction: One of [[Takeda Shingen's 24 Generals]]''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''馬場信房'''<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Image:Baba_nobufusa.jpg||thumb|left|Baba Nobufusa.]]<br />
Nobufusa was the son of Kyôraishi Nobuyasu (教来石信保) and succeeded Baba Torasada after the latter was killed by [[Takeda Nobutora]] in 1546. He served three generations of [[Takeda clan|Takeda]] daimyô – Nobutora, [[Takeda Shingen|Shingen]], and [[Takeda Katsuyori|Katsuyori]]. <br />
<br />
Nobufusa was present at many of Shingen's battles, going back to his earliest, under Nobutora. He supported Shingen in his 1541 coup that saw Nobutora exiled from Kai and in 1546 was named ''samurai-taisho'' (侍大将) and at this time changed his name to Nobufusa (from Kagemasa.)<br />
<br />
He was part of the miscarried night attack on the Uesugi at the [[Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima|4th Battle of Kawanakajima]], fought at the [[Battle of Odawara|Odawara]] and [[Battle of Mimasetoge|Mimasetoge]] in [[1569]], and was in the lead at the [[Battle of Mikatagahara|Mikatagahara]] in [[1572]]. He was awarded [[Fukashi Castle]] in [[Shinano province|Shinano]] in [[1550]], and inherited the title of Mino no kami after [[Hara Toratane]] died in [[1564]] and changed his name to Nobuharu.<br />
<br />
Nobufusa fell out of favor somewhat with Takeda Katsuyori, but, despite personal objections, led his men in a charge against [[Oda Nobunaga|Oda Nobunaga's]] left at the [[Battle of Nagashino]] on 29 June [[1575]]. Nobuharu survived the morning's slaughter (some 10,000 Takeda warriors and many of his collegues fell) and protected Katsuyori's retreat across the Kansagawa. Nobuharu then turned with his remaining troops and was cut down by the enemy. <br />
After the death of his son [[Baba Masafusa|Masafusa]] in 1582, Nobufusa's lands went to his younger brother [[Baba Nobuyori|Nobuyori]]. <br />
<br />
According to the [[Koyo Gunkan]], Nobuharu was consulted by Shingen on many important matters and was supposed to have suggested the strategy that Shingen used to win the Battle of Mimasetoge. Prior to Nagashino, he is reputed to have fought in 70 engagements while suffering barely a scratch. He figures as one of the better-known members of Takeda Shingen's '24 Generals'. <br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Initial text from [http://www.samurai-archives.com Samurai-Archives.com] FWSeal & CEWest, 2005<br />
* ''[[Koyo Gunkan|The Koyo Gunkan]]'' (Edited by Yoshida Toyo) 19th edition, Tokyo, August 2005.<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #6: FuuRinKaZan.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Baba_Nobufusa&diff=15964Baba Nobufusa2007-12-30T21:38:26Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1514]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1575]]''<br />
* ''Title: Mino no Kami''<br />
* ''Other names: Kyôraishi Kagemasa (教来石景政), Baba Nobuharu'' (馬場信春)<br />
* ''Distinction: One of [[Takeda Shingen's 24 Generals]]''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''馬場信房'''<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Image:Baba_nobufusa.jpg||thumb|left|Baba Nobufusa.]]<br />
Nobufusa was the son of Kyôraishi Nobuyasu (教来石信保) and succeeded Baba Torasada after the latter was killed by Takeda Nobutora in 1546. He served three generations of [[Takeda clan|Takeda]] daimyô – Nobutora, [[Takeda Shingen|Shingen]], and [[Takeda Katsuyori|Katsuyori]]. <br />
<br />
Nobufusa was present at many of Shingen's battles, going back to his earliest, under Nobutora. He supported Shingen in his 1541 coup that saw Nobutora exiled from Kai and in 1546 was named ''samurai-taisho'' (侍大将) and at this time changed his name to Nobufusa (from Kagemasa.)<br />
<br />
He was part of the miscarried night attack on the Uesugi at the [[Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima|4th Battle of Kawanakajima]], fought at the [[Battle of Odawara|Odawara]] and [[Battle of Mimasetoge|Mimasetoge]] in [[1569]], and was in the lead at the [[Battle of Mikatagahara|Mikatagahara]] in [[1572]]. He was awarded [[Fukashi Castle]] in [[Shinano province|Shinano]] in [[1550]], and inherited the title of Mino no kami after [[Hara Toratane]] died in [[1564]] and changed his name to Nobuharu.<br />
<br />
Nobufusa fell out of favor somewhat with Takeda Katsuyori, but, despite personal objections, led his men in a charge against [[Oda Nobunaga|Oda Nobunaga's]] left at the [[Battle of Nagashino]] on 29 June [[1575]]. Nobuharu survived the morning's slaughter (some 10,000 Takeda warriors and many of his collegues fell) and protected Katsuyori's retreat across the Kansagawa. Nobuharu then turned with his remaining troops and was cut down by the enemy. <br />
After the death of his son [[Baba Masafusa|Masafusa]] in 1582, Nobufusa's lands went to his younger brother [[Baba Nobuyori|Nobuyori]]. <br />
<br />
According to the [[Koyo Gunkan]], Nobuharu was consulted by Shingen on many important matters and was supposed to have suggested the strategy that Shingen used to win the Battle of Mimasetoge. Prior to Nagashino, he is reputed to have fought in 70 engagements while suffering barely a scratch. He figures as one of the better-known members of Takeda Shingen's '24 Generals'. <br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Initial text from [http://www.samurai-archives.com Samurai-Archives.com] FWSeal & CEWest, 2005<br />
* ''[[Koyo Gunkan|The Koyo Gunkan]]'' (Edited by Yoshida Toyo) 19th edition, Tokyo, August 2005.<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #6: FuuRinKaZan.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Hanagura_no_Ran&diff=15963Hanagura no Ran2007-12-30T19:27:54Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Date: [[1536]]''<br />
* ''Location: [[Suruga province]]''<br />
* ''Succession Dispute''<br />
<br />
<br />
In 1536, when the head of the [[Imagawa clan]], [[Imagawa Ujiteru]], died of illness, [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]] went to war against his older brother [[Genko Etan|Genkô Etan]] for control of the clan. This succession dispute is known as the Hanagura no ran. With the military assistance of [[Hojo Ujitsuna]] of [[Sagami province]] and the support of [[Takeda Nobutora]] of [[Kai province]], Yoshimoto became victorious over his older brother, and gained control of the clan.<br />
<br />
[[Category:Battles|Hanagura]][[Category:Sengoku Period|Hanagura]]<br />
<br />
==Sources==<br />
<br />
* Kanaya, Shunichiro, ''Sengoku Jidai ga Omoshiroku Wakaru Hon'', (戦国時代が面白くわかる本) Japan, 2003</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Imagawa_Yoshimoto&diff=15962Imagawa Yoshimoto2007-12-30T18:57:25Z<p>FWSeal: expanded text</p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1519]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1560]]''<br />
* ''Titles: Jibu-Osuke, Mikawa no Kami, and Kazusa no Suke''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''今川義元'''<br />
[[Image:Imagawa_yoshimoto.jpg||thumb|left|Imagawa Yoshimoto.]]<br />
Imagawa Yoshimoto was the 9th lord of the of [[Suruga province|Suruga]] Imagawa family and daimyô of Suruga, [[Totomi province|Tôtomi]] and, later, [[Mikawa province|Mikawa Provinces]] until [[1560]]. <br />
<br />
Yoshimoto was the 5th son of [[Imagawa Ujichika|Imagawa ''Kazusa no suke'' Ujichika]] ([[1473]]-[[1526]]). His mother was a daughter of [[Nakamikado Nobutane]]. As a youth he was sent to the Zentoku-ji [善徳寺] to prepare for a religious life and was named Baigakushôhô [梅岳承芳]. In [[1526]] Ujichika died and his eldest son [[Imagawa Ujiteru|Ujiteru]] succeeded him. Ujiteru himself died of illness in [[1536]] and this touched off a struggle for power between his remaining brothers. Yoshimoto quit the temple and entered the fray, which became known as the [[Hanagura no ran]]. Yoshimoto, aided by [[Taigen Sessai]] and supported from afar by [[Takeda Nobutora]] of [[Kai province|Kai Province]] emerged the victor with the aid of [[Hojo Ujitsuna]], and moved to consolidate his power with a marriage to [[Takeda Nobutora|Takeda Nobutora's]] sister in [[1537]]. He also acted as an go-between for the arranged marriage of Nobutora's eldest son, [[Takeda Shingen|Harunobu]] to the daughter of court noble [[Sanjo Kimiyori]]. To this time, the Imagawa and neighboring Hôjô had been allied, with both at odds with the Takeda. Yoshimoto's rise to power and subsequent alliance with the Takeda offended [[Hôjô Ujitsuna]] and a period of hostilities between the Imagawa and Hôjô commenced. Concerned by the proximity of Kai to his own domain, Yoshimoto sought to influence the Takeda and was apparently involved in Takeda Shingen's take-over in [[1540]]. Relations between the Takeda and Imagawa would remain stable for the remainder of Yoshimoto's life. In [[1544]] the Imagawa and Hôjô faced each other at the [[Battle of Kitsunebashi|Kitsunebashi]], with the Takeda moving their own army into the area in support of Yoshimoto. At this time, all three major powers in the region-the Takeda, Hôjô, and Imagawa-had pressing concerns elsewhere. The Takeda were involved in a war with the Murakami family for control of central Shinano province, the Hôjô were threatened by a powerful alliance of the two branches of the Uesugi, and Yoshimoto's western holdings were being raided by Oda Nobuhide of Owari province. Shingen suggested a truce be arranged and after In truth, Yoshimoto emerged the winner from negotiations, as the Hôjô were compelled to return the lands they had seized from the Imagawa in Suruga over the course of the last few years. Moreover, he was free to focus his full attention to the west. Yoshimoto was clearly respected by his peers, and was often in the position of mediator, such as when [[Hojo Ujiyasu|Hôjô Ujiyasu]] requested he ask [[Takeda Shingen]] not to attack [[Kozuke province|Kozuke]] as the Hôjô were preparing to do so. <br />
<br />
Yoshimoto relied heavily on the talents of the monkish warrior Taigen Sessai, making use of him in negotiations with the Takeda and Hôjô and as his primary army commander. His martial skills were most required in [[Mikawa province|Mikawa Province]], where the Imagawa and Oda were contending for power. The native [[Matsudaira clan|Matsudaira]] family had become weakened by family disputes and the murder of their lord, [[Matsudaira Kiyoyasu|Kiyoyasu]], in 1536. Their neighbor to the west, Oda Nobuhide, was an aggressive commander and took advantage of the fractured state of the Matsudaira to make in-roads in Mikawa. In 1540, the lord of the Matsudaira, [[Matsudaira Hirotada|Hirotada]] was only 14 years old and came under the influence of the Imagawa by sheer necessity. In 1540 Nobuhide brought down Anshôji Castle [安祥寺城; usually referred to in English as Anjô] and established his eldest son [[Oda Nobuhiro|Nobuhiro]] there. According to tradition, an Imagawa army sent to expel the Oda from Mikawa was defeated at the [[1st Battle of Azukizaka]] {小豆坂の戦い) in 1542 but there is some question whether or not this engagement actually occured. In [[1548]] Nobuhide led 4,000 men against the Matsudaira's Okazaki Castle, prompting Yoshimoto to dispatch Sessai with a relief army. Yoshimoto used this situation as a means of tightening his control over the Matsudaira by making his help dependant on Hirotada sending his son, the future [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], as a hostage to Suruga, a price Hirotada had little choice but to accept. The resulting clash, the so-called 2nd Battle of Azukizaka ended with an Imagawa victory. Sessai pressed his advantage to put Anshôji Castle under siege. Oda Nobuhiro was forced to surrender and would later be returned to the Oda in return for Hirotada's aforementioned son, who had in fact been intercepted on his way to Suruga and ended up in Nobuhide's custody. In [[1549]] Hirotada died, leaving the Matsudaira effectively leaderless and with Yoshimoto's influence over Mikawa all but complete. The death of Oda Nobuhide two years later was a further boon for Yoshimoto's westward ambitions.<br />
<br />
Yoshimoto's wife, the daughter of Takeda Nobutora, died in [[1550]] and thus the relationship between the Takeda and Hôjô became more tenuous. In [[1552]] he strengthened this bond by marrying his daughter to Takeda Shingen's son and heir, [[Takeda Yoshinobu|Yoshinobu]]. Two years later he married his own heir, Ujizane, to a daughter of Hôjô Ujiyasu. In 1553 Shingen had married a daughter of his own to Ujiyasu's heir, Ujimasa and so, by 1554, all three of these powerful clans enjoyed maritial relations.<br />
<br />
While Sessai led his armies, Yoshimoto carried out a series of land surveys in his domain and transformed his capital of [[Sumpu]] into a cultural center. Yoshimoto himself was said to have had the habit of shaving his eyebrows and blackening his teeth in the manner of a Kyoto noble. He composed the [[Imagawa kana mokuroku tsuika]], expanding on house rules left by Ujichika, in [[1553]], established a printing press in Sumpu and oversaw the completion of a five-volume history of the Imagawa family. <br />
<br />
[[Image:Okehazamayoshi.jpg|right|frame|Print of '''Imagawa Yoshimoto''' at the battle of Okehazama, by Nobukazu]]<br />
By the close of the 1550's, Yoshimoto enjoyed a strong position and began to consider marching on Kyoto. Sessai had died in [[1557]], but the Imagawa had been able to call on the talents of the young Matsudaira Motoyasu (Tokugawa Ieyasu) to check the activities of [[Oda Nobunaga]], and by [[1560]] Yoshimoto felt confident enough to call his entire army to arms. He mustered somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 men from Suruga and Mikawa and in June 1560 departed for Owari. The common view is that he intended to march on Kyoto. Another theory is that the purpose of his campaign was in fact specifically to force Nobunaga's submission. <br />
<br />
Two of Oda's forts (Marume and Terabe) were reduced, and a confident Yoshimoto called for his men to rest in the Dengakuhazama (near Okehazama) where he viewed the heads taken thus far and enjoyed a musical performance. Unbeknownst to the Imagawa, Oda Nobunaga had resolved to take the offensive, and had managed to creep right up on Yoshimoto's encampment. Following a terrific thunderstorm, Oda's men attacked, and such was the suddenness and violence of their charge Yoshimoto initially assumed a fight had broken out among his men. Amidst the growing confusion, Yoshimoto was set upon by a number of Oda warriors. He managed to cripple one with a blow of his sword, but was struck down by a certain [[Mori Shinsuke]]. When word of his death spread, the Imagawa army fled precipitously, signaling not only the end of Yoshimoto but also an eventual end to the Imagawa. Indeed, his successor Ujizane ([[1538]]-[[1614]]) would suffer the loss of his lands to the Tokugawa and Takeda by [[1569]], and in the end retired to Kyoto, providing a certain element of irony to the demise of the once-proud Imagawa clan. <br />
<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Initial text from [http://www.samurai-archives.com Samurai-Archives.com] FWSeal & CEWest, 2005<br />
* ''Bessatsu Rekishi Tokuhon #85, Sengoku no Kassen'' Japan: Shin Jinbutsu Ôrai Co., 1998 <br />
* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/今川義元 Imagawa Yoshimoto] ''from Japanese wikipedia''<br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
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[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Takeda_Shingen&diff=15961Takeda Shingen2007-12-30T02:00:42Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1521]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1573]]/4/12''<br />
* ''Title: Daizen-Daibu''<br />
* ''childhood name ([[Yomei|Yômei]]): Katsuchiyo''<br />
* ''Sons: [[Takeda Yoshinobu]], [[Unno Nobuchika]], [[Takeda Nobuyuki]], [[Takeda Katsuyori]], [[Nishina Morinobu]], [[Katsurayama Nobusada]], [[Yasuda Nobukiyo]]''<br />
* ''Other Name: Takeda Harunobu''<br />
* ''Japanese'': [[武田]] 信玄 ''(Takeda Shingen)''<br />
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<br />
==The Tiger of Kai==<br />
[[Image:Takeda_shingen.gif||thumb|left|The most famous portrait of Takeda Shingen, the authenticity of which has been questioned. Certain scholars have suggested that this was in fact a painting of a Hatakeyama lord from Noto province.]]<br />
Takeda Shingen was the eldest son of the aggressive warlord [[Takeda Nobutora]] ([[1493]]-1573).<ref>The Takeda clan had been powerful in Kai from the 12th Century, when Takeda Nobuyoshi (a grandson of Minamoto Yoshiie's brother Yoshimitsu, 1138-1186) had sided with Minamoto Yoritomo during the Gempei War. The Takeda's power had increased in the Ashikaga era, and branches became strong in Aki and Wakasa, as well as Kai. Mori Motonari eventually defeated the Aki branch in 1540; the Wakasa Takeda became vassals of the Asakura by 1560 and faded from history. <br />
</ref>Takeda Nobutora had secured the position of the Takeda in [[Kai province|Kai]] after various struggles and established the Takeda capital at [[Tsutsujigaseki]] in Fuchu in [[1519]]. In the course of his career Nobutora clashed with various outside powers, including the Hôjô of [[Sagami province|Sagami Province]], the Imagawa of [[Suruga province|Suruga Province]] and the [[Suwa clan|Suwa]] and [[Imai clan|Imai]] of [[Shinano province|Shinano Province]]. In 1521, Nobutora was compelled to fend off an invasion from Suruga led by [[Kushima Masanari]] in support of the [[Oi clan|Ôi]] family, who had defied Nobutora's authority. Nobutora sent his pregnant wife, the daughter of Oi Nobutatsu, from the Tsutsujigaseki mansion to [[Yogaiyama Castle]] [要害山城]. Word came to Nobutora, commanding his army against Kushima's 15,000-man host, that a son had been born. Nobutora defeated Masanari at the [[Battle of Iidagawara]] and afterwards named his son Katsuchiyo.<ref>Katsuchiyo can be translated as '1000 Victories in Succession', or, as Hiroaki Sato does in Legends of the Samurai, 'Victory Forever'.</ref> <br />
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In 1533, Nobutora arranged for him to marry the daughter of [[Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Tomooki]], who still held considerable lands in the [[Kanto]]. The girl died attempting to deliver Katsuchiyo's first child, however. By this time Nobutora was at odds with both the Imagawa and Hôjô families and they were pressing him on his southern borders. He was lucky in that [[Imagawa Ujichika]] died suddenly and a struggle for power ensued amongst his brothers. Nobutora backed [[Imagawa Yoshimoto|Yoshimoto]], the eventual victor, and in the aftermath married a daughter to him. In return, Yoshimoto acted as a go-between to arrange for the marriage of Katsuchiyo and the daughter of court noble [[Sanjo Kimiyori]]. Katsuchiyo celebrated his coming-of-age ceremony later that year and the shôgun, [[Ashikaga Yoshiharu]], sent permission for Katsuchiyo to incorporate 'Haru' in his adult name, and Katsuchiyo thus became known as Harunobu. He was also given the honorific title Shinano no Kami. Despite this memorable coming of age ceremony, it would seem that Nobutora took a disliking to Harunobu in favor of his second son, Takeda Nobushige. The reasons for this are not clear, and this part of Shingen's life has been heavily embellished over the centuries. <br />
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Harunobu is thought to have seen his first campaign in [[1536]], when his father led an army against [[Hiraga Genshin]] of Shinano Province. He surrounded and attacked Genshin's Umi no kuchi Castle [海ノ口城] but found the defenders unwilling to give and withdrew with the onset of heavy winter snows. According to tradition, Harunobu, commanding the rearguard, decided to double back and launch a surprise attack. This took the seemingly victorious Hiraga men by surprise and the battle went to the Takeda. Whether or not this particular version of events has any basis in fact, Hiraga was defeated and killed in the 2nd month of [[1537]].<br />
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The events leading up to the expulsion of Nobutora from Kai are entirely murky, with the Imagawa figuring into the controversy, possibly as agitators. It would appear that Nobutora planned to name his second son Nobushige heir, and perhaps ship Harunobu off to the Imagawa clan in Suruga (for adoption?). For years, Harunobu had been under the guardianship of [[Obu Toramasa]], a tough warrior who may well have been at the center of what transpired next. In [[1541]] Harunobu suddenly rebelled, supported by a great many of his father's retainers. Nobutora submitted with little bloodshed and Harunobu exiled his father to Suruga. In this act he had the aid of the top Takeda retainers, many of whom held personal grudges against Nobutora or at least saw some gain in assisting the young usurper to power. Nobushige, for his part, seems to have borne his brother no ill will, and became a valued retainer. Sources conflict on what the exact events where which led to the replacement of Nobuhide with Harunobu. One version of events is that in the 5th month of 1541, Nobutora and Harunobu went on a campaign together to attack [[Unno Munetsuna]] in [[Shinano province]], joined by the Suwa and the [[Murakami clan|Murakami]]. Unno Munetsuna lost and fled the province, and by the 4th day of the 6th month, they were on their way back to Kai. However, on the 10th day of their trip back to Kai province, Harunobu suddenly rebelled in a coup supported by his ashigaru and retainers, forcing Nobutora to flee to [[Suruga province]], and in to the care of his daughter's husband, [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]]. This generally follows the Koyogunkan, which essentialy states that Harunobu uncovered a plot by Nobutora to dispose of him and eventually give control of the Takeda clan to his younger brother, Nobushige. According to the Koyogunkan, Harunobu and loyal vassals drove Nobutora out of Kai province into Suruga. Another version of events states that during the 6th month of 1541, Harunobu and Nobutora travelled to Suruga province to visit upon Nobutora's son in law, Imagawa Yoshimoto. Little did Nobutora know, Shingen and Yoshimoto had a secret agreement, and upon arrival, Nobutora was forcibly retired to Suruga castle, and his son Harunobu was given control of the Takeda clan. Although what really happened is not clear, historians seem to be in agreement that Imagawa Yoshimoto had a hand in the removal of Nobutora. Regardless, Harunobu took control of the clan in what is often specifically cited as a 'bloodless coup'. <br />
[[Image:Takeda_mon.jpg||thumb|right|The Takeda mon.]]<br />
Harunobu's chief ambition was the subjugation of Shinano but resistance in that quarter would prove fierce. A number of Shinano warlords, including [[Murakami Yoshikiyo]] ([[1510]]-[[1573]]), [[Ogasawara Nagatoki]] ([[1519]]-[[1583]]), [[Suwa Yorishige]] (? –[[1542]]), and [[Kiso Yoshiyasu]], made a move designed to hopefully nip any further Takeda aggression in the bud. In April 1542 the four daimyo combined forces and marched to the border of Kai, encouraged by news that Harunobu was strengthening his defenses and preparing to make a stand in [[Fuchu]]. In fact, Harunobu's activities had been a ruse - far from waiting passively in Kai, Harunobu led his men out and caught the Shinano warriors by surprise, defeating them at Sezawa. Emboldened by the results of Sezawa, Harunobu made a drive into Shinano later that same year, focusing on the territory of the Suwa clan. He first took Uehara in a surprise attack and then moved on to the Suwa headquarters at Kuwahara, located 2 kilometers to the east. Caught completely off-balance, Suwa Yorishige had little choice but to surrender when Harunobu made a promise of safe conduct. Yorishige and his brother were taken to Kai where the Takeda general [[Itagaki Nobutaka]] arranged for their deaths; both Suwa were either made to commit suicide or were murdered outright. <br />
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Harunobu, with the aid of [[Yamamoto Kansuke]]'s strategies, further expanded his territory through the defeat of both [[Tozawa Yorichika]] ([[1542]]) and [[Takato Yoritsugu]] of central Shinano ([[1544]]-[[1545|45]]). The acquisition of [[Takato castle]] was of particular value, as it provided a secure staging area into southern Shinano, as well as a buffer against any southern aggression. In 1544 the Takeda marched into Suruga in support of the Imagawa and faced Hojo Ujiyasu. No actual fighting occurred as a result of this confrontation, and later Harunobu was compelled to arrange for a peace treaty between the Hojo, Imagawa, and himself due to his wars in Shinano. Over the next decade Harunobu kept up a relentless pressure on the Shinano warlords. Only at Uehara would he be checked, if only briefly. In [[1548]] [[Murakami Yoshikiyo]], perhaps the most formidable of Harunobu's Shinano enemies, moved on Ueda and defeated the Takeda in a bitter clash which saw the use (on the part of the Murakami) of a number of Chinese arquebuses, the first such weapons ever deployed in a Japanese battle. While the defeat at Uehara left two of his best generals dead, Harunobu rebounded quickly, and by [[1552]] the Murakami and Ogasawara clans had fled Shinano outright to Echigo.<ref>The fallen generals in question were Amari Torayasu and Itagaki Nobutaka, both of whom were considered first-rate retainers by the Takeda clan. Shingen managed to score a counter-victory against the Ogasawara at Shiojiritoge the same year that restored the initiative to the Takeda.</ref><br />
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In [[1551]], Harunobu had adopted the name Shingen and a monk's habit, adding even more color to this up-and-coming Sengoku warlord, who was already known for his taste for women, penetrating judgment, skill at calligraphy, and wise government. Perhaps all that was now required was a great rival. This came, too, in the form of Uesugi Terutora of Echigo - the famed Kenshin. <br />
[[Image:Takeda_shingen2.jpg||thumb|left|Another view of Takeda Shingen, by artist [[Utagawa Kuniyoshi]]]]<br />
According to tradition, the defeated Murakami and Ogasawara presented themselves before Terutora and protested Shingen's aggressions. Terutora, uneasy at Shingen's northern expansion and obligated to the two refugees, took the field. That Murakami figures into the Uesugi's roll even many years later gives some substance to this belief, and, certainly, Terutora had reason to worry about Echigo's borders. In June and October [[1553]] The Takeda and Uesugi armies clashed near the Kawanakajima plain in northern Shinano, and while the two sides withdrew after a few rounds of inconclusive skirmishing, a legend was born. In total, the Takeda and Uesugi would face each other at the Kawanakajima five times ([[1554]], [[1555]], [[1557]], [[1561]], [[1564]]) and while not exactly the nearly annual staring matches as they are sometimes portrayed, only the 4th (1561) resulted in an all-out contest.<ref>Shingen also had to keep an eye on both the Imagawa and Hôjô clans to his south and southeast, which no doubt contributed to the caution he generally displayed when facing Kenshin at Kawanakajima. During the 1550's the Takeda, Imagawa, and Hôjô became involved in a series of alliances and counter-alliances that occasionally resulted in minor forays into one another's territory. These almost always came to an end when the clan that happened to hold third-party status at the time declared for the attacked, thus maintaining he balance.</ref> In that engagement, both sides suffered heavy losses and while not individually decisive, those losses no doubt slowed both warlords down for some years. In particular, Shingen must have felt the loss of Nobushige and [[Yamamoto Kansuke]], both killed in action at the battle. <br />
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Internally, the Takeda suffered two grim moments within the span of five years. In [[1560]] Shingen had uncovered a plot against him led by his cousin [[Katanuma Nobumoto]], whom he ordered put to death. In [[1565]], another plot came to light - this one headed by his own son Yoshinobu and [[Obu Toramasa]]. Tormasa was made to commit suicide, while Yoshinobu was confined to the Tokoji. Two years later Yoshinbou died, either from illness or, as many believe, because Shingen had forced him to commit suicide. The event left Shingen heirless for the time being and the Takeda retainers uneasy.<br />
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By [[1564]], Shingen had subdued all of Shinano and shifted his attention to Kozuke, where he took a number of castles from the Uesugi.<ref>These included Kuragano (1565) and Minowa (1566). The latter was taken from the Nagano family and provided a starting point for the career of [[Kamiizumi Hidetsuna]], who declined a personal invitation by Shingen to join the Takeda. He did accept the character 'Nobu' from Shingen's name and went off to become legendary as the swordsman Kamiizumi Nobutsuna.</ref> For the next five years, he limited himself to raids and local conquests (including land grabs in mountainous [[Hida province]]), concentrating on internal affairs. In the 1560's, Shingen's greatest achievement was the Fuji River damming project, the largest and most ambitious of his many innovative domestic endeavors. The benefit of the Fuji River project far-outlived its mastermind, and is ranked as one of the greatest domestic initiatives of the 16th Century.<br />
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==The Takeda expand==<br />
<br />
[[Image:TakedaDomain.jpg|225px|thumb|right|The Takeda domain in 1569 ('''[http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6192/takeda2ot2.jpg CLICK HERE]''' for full size version of this map.)]]By 1568, the Takeda army was on the move again, this time to the south against the faltering Imagawa. The daimyo of that clan was Ujizane, the incompetent son of the late Imagawa Yoshimoto (killed in 1560 by [[Oda Nobunaga]]), whose political ineptness had already cost the Imagawa their Matsudaira (Tokugawa) vassals and Mikawa province. Years before, Shingen's son Yoshinobu had married Ujizane's sister but after the suicide of the former in [[1567]], relations between the families had grown sour. It would appear that Shingen and Tokugawa Ieyasu struck up a deal whereby the two would split up the Imagawa's remaining lands (Totomi and Suruga), an agreement that in the event quickly fell through. In addition, the Hojo of Sagami took a dim view to this shift in the balance of power, and sent troops to defy Shingen, which they did with varying degrees of success for a year or so. In [[1569]] Shingen responded by invading Sagami and besieging Odawara (the Hojo's capital). While this effort was quite short-lived (lasting around a week), the Takeda army did manage to crush an attempt at an ambush by the Hojo at Mimasetoge on their way back to Kai. <br />
[[Image:Takeda_domain.jpg||thumb|left|The Takeda domain in 1572.]]<br />
Thus, in [[1570]], the Takeda's lands now included Kai, Shinano, Suruga, and pieces of Kozuke, Totomi, and Hida. Shingen, at 49, was something more than a regional power - he was the most important warlord east of Mino, and the one who was in a position to derail Oda Nobunaga's march to national hegemony. Shingen alone possessed the strategic position, the generalship, and the solid retainer band necessary. In 1570, the formidable Hojo Ujiyasu died and his heir, Ujimasa, quickly made peace with Shingen, an act that might have all but assured the ultimate destruction of Tokugawa Ieyasu had not Shingen died in 1573.<ref>Conflict with Tokugawa Ieyasu began soon after Takeda consolidated his hold on Suruga, and was exacerbated when Ieyasu moved his headquarters to Hamamatsu in Tôtômi in 1570. Shingen considered this a provocative move, and even Nobunaga urged his impetuous ally to shift his standard back to Mikawa. Tokugawa, far from pulling back, opened up talks with Uesugi Kenshin, inflaming the situation even more and providing the Takeda with ample excuses to attack.</ref> In the meantime, the Takeda and Oda, after an abortive diplomatic courtship designed to check the Uesugi, initiated a war of words, possibly with the shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, at the center of the storm. Shingen stepped up the pressure against Tokugawa, and in [[1572]] launched an attack into Totomi that resulted in the capture of Futamata. The following January, Shingen returned to the province and enticed Tokugawa Ieyasu to come out and fight. The [[Battle of Mikatagahara]], conducted on 6 January to the north of Hamamatsu, ended in a near-complete defeat for Ieyasu (and the allied Oda troops present).<ref>The Battle of Mikatagahara left 1,180 of Tokugawa's men dead while the Takeda lost somewhat less then 400. The majority of Takeda's losses came about as the result of a bold raid ordered that same night by Tokugawa and led by Okubo Tadayo and Amano Yasukage. This action is sometimes known as the Battle of Saigadake. The Oda men present were under the command of Takigawa Kazumasu, Hirade Norihide, and Sakuma Nobumori - of these only Hirade, who was killed, stood before the Takeda onslaught. This battle has sometimes been recorded as occuring in December of 1572; this does not account, however, for the difference in the Japanese lunar calender.</ref><br />
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Though often presented as the opening moves in a march on Kyôto, Shingen's intentions were no doubt more conservative. He probably aimed to test the responses of both Ieyasu and Nobunaga and deal the two a defeat if possible. Either way, within days of winning the battle, he received news that Asakura Yoshikage had elected not to take the field against Nobunaga at this time. Shingen is reported to have been displeased, and might have counted on Yoshikage - and [[Asai Nagamasa]] - to keep Nobunaga preoccupied. This may have played a role in his decision to strike camp and return to Kai - thus granting the bloodied Tokugawa a reprieve.<br />
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==The Death of Shingen==<br />
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Unfortunately, time ran out on the man who had come to epitomize the best and, in some ways, the worst qualities of the Sengoku warlord. In 1573, while laying siege to [[Noda castle]] in Mikawa, Shingen was either wounded by a sniper or fell sick (possibly with tuberculosis); a point modern scholars are divided on<ref>The [[Koyo Gunkan]] gives no indication that Shingen was ever wounded by a sniper at Noda castle.</ref>. He died at Kobama in Shinano on the night of the 12th day of the 4th month of 1573, to be succeded by his fourth son, [[Takeda Katsuyori]]. <br />
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Shingen had been a warlord of great domestic skill and competent military leadership. He was a complicated figure, at times utterly cruel. Earlier in his life, he had forced [[Suwa Yorishige]] to commit suicide (or had him murdered) after the two warlords had signed a peace treaty, and then proceeded to take Suwa's daughter as a mistress, ignoring the fact that she was technically his own niece. In [[1565]], as mentioned above, he ordered his own son, Yoshinobu, confined to a temple and evidently made him commit suicide for treasonous activity, as well as the man who had once been his guardian, Obu Toramasa. His domestic policies demonstrate the duality of Takeda Shingen. On one hand, he kept two iron cauldrons on hand to boil alive certain criminals (a practice considered sufficiently cruel enough to provoke Tokugawa Ieyasu to have the cauldrons destroyed years later). On the other, he did away with corporal punishment for most minor offences, instituting in it's place a system of fines - an act that earned him considerable praise from the peasants and townspeople of Kai. Shingen's law was not considered overly harsh, and his was one of the few Sengoku Period administrations prior to [[1582]] to tax most of his subjects evenly (most exempted powerful samurai families and/or religious establishments) and with the option of payment in either gold or rice (a forerunner, in some ways, to the later Kandaka system). <br />
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An enduring legend describes Kenshin's reaction to Shingen's death. When the event was reported to him during a meal, he threw down his chopsticks and said, "He was my rival for many years, but the great general who was a pillar of the Kanto warrior families has been lost. It is truly a shame." He then ordered that no music be played at [[Kasugayama castle]] for a span of three days. In addition, he resisted a call to attack the Takeda domain to take advantage of the situation.<ref>See: Narumoto, Tatsuya. "Sengoku Bushou Omoshiro Jiten", Japan, 1998</ref><br />
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Perhaps the greatest praise paid Shingen was by Tokugawa Ieyasu himself. Following the defeat of Katsuyori in 1582 and the death of Oda Nobunaga, Ieyasu assumed control of Kai, and borrowed freely from Shingen's style and techniques of governance, which he later included in his model for the Tokugawa Shogunate. <br />
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Just prior to his death, Shingen had called from his bed for [[Yamagata Masakage]], one of ablest men, to raise his flags at Seta Bridge (the traditional eastern gate to Kyoto). He then collapsed back into his bed and died soon afterwards. In lieu of a death poem, he left the following words, borrowed from Zen literature, "It is largely left to her own natural bodily perfection, and she has no special need to resort to artificial coloring and powdering to look beautiful."<ref>Suzuki, Zen and Japanese Culture pg. 82. The 'she' in the passage is a reference to life, or reality.</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Takeda Shingen's 24 Generals]]<br />
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==Notes to the Text==<br />
<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Hall, John Whitney, et al. (ed.) ''Japan Before Tokugawa.'' Princeton, 1981 <br />
* Kanaya, Shunichiro. ''Sengoku Jidai Ga Omoshiroi Hodo Wakaru Hon'', 2003 <br />
* ''[[Koyo Gunkan|The Koyo Gunkan]]'' (Edited by Yoshida Toyo) 19th edition, Tokyo, August 2005.<br />
* Kuwada, Tadachika. ''Nihon Busho Retsuden Series #3'', 1989 <br />
* Narumoto, Tatsuya. ''Sengoku Bushou Omoshiro Jiten'', Japan, 1998<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #6: FuuRinKaZan.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Sadler, A. L. ''The Maker of Modern.'' Japan Tuttle, 1978 <br />
* Sato, Hiroaki. ''[[Legends of the Samurai]].'' Overlook, 1995 <br />
* Suzuki, D. T. ''Zen and Japanese Culture.'' Princeton, 1993 <br />
* Turnbull, Stephen. ''Samurai Warlords.'' London: Blandford, 1992<br />
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[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Takeda_Nobutora&diff=15960Takeda Nobutora2007-12-30T01:33:59Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
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<div>* ''Born: [[1493]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1574]]''<br />
* ''Titles: Mutsu no kami, Sakyô-daibu''<br />
* Sons: [[Takeda Shingen]], [[Takeda Nobushige]], [[Takeda Nobutomo]], [[Takeda Nobukado]], [[Takeda Munetomo]], [[Ichijo Nobutatsu]], [[Matsuo Nobukore]], [[Takeda Nobuzane|Kawakubo Nobuzane]], [[Takeda Katsutora]]?<br />
* ''Other Names: Nobunao''<br />
* Japanese: [[武田]] 信虎 ''(Takeda Nobutora)''<br />
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Nobutora was the eldest son of [[Takeda Nobutsuna]], the lord of [[Kai Province]]. His mother was from the [[Iwashita clan|Iwashita]] family. Nobutsuna, lord since 1491, died of illness in [[1507]] and Nobutora duly succeeded him at a time when the Takeda, and Kai itself, was politically fractured. He was known at this time as Nobunao. His uncle [[Takeda Nobue|Nobue]] challenged Nobutora's authority and fighting broke out between their two factions. Nobutora attacked Nobue and his supporters the following year ([[1508]]) and in the course of the fighting Nobue and his his ally, [[Oyamada Nobutaka]], were killed. However, other important families within Kai, including the [[Oi family|Ôi]] and [[Oyamada family|Oyamada]], now led by [[Oyamada Nobuari]], continued to oppose him. Nobutora forced the submission of the Oyamada in 1510 and the following year married a daughter to Nobuari. However, the Ôi of southern Kai were supported by the [[Imagawa clan|Imagawa]] family of [[Suruga province|Suruga]] and proved more formidable. In 1517, however, [[Imagawa Ujichika]] withdrew his troops from Kai and [[Oi Nobutatsu|Ôi Nobutatsu]] was compelled to come to terms with Nobutora. Nobutora married Nobutatu's daughter and this union would produce four of Nobutora's sons: Harunobu (Shingen), Nobushige, Nobutomo, and Nobukado. In 1530 he was to take the widow of [[Uesugi Norifusa]] as a concubine. Additionally, he was to maintain concubines from the Imai, Kudo, Kusuura, and Matsuo families.<br />
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In 1519 Nobutora established the center of the Takeda clan at [[Tsutsugigaseki]] [躑躅ヶ崎館] in Fuchu. This moated mansion complex would remain the center of the Takeda clan for the next sixty years, until [[Takeda Katsuyori]] moved the family to Nirayama. In [[1521]], Ôi Nobutatsu again defied his authority and war broke out. Imagawa Ujichika came to Nobutatsu's support once more and ordered his retainer [[Kushima Masanari]] to launch an attack into Kai. Nobutora defeated Masashige at Iidagawara and afterwards Nobutatsu submitted, retired and became a monk. Around this time Nobutora's eldest son, the future Shingen, was born. <br />
<br />
Over the course of the next decade, Nobutora was at odds with the Imagawa, Hôjô, and a number of Shinano daimyô. The latter at length banded together in an anti-Nobutora coalition that included the [[Suwa clan|Suwa]], the [[Imai clan|Imai]], the [[Hiraga Clan|Hiraga]] and others. The Suwa, being at this time the strongest of them, was Nobutora's main antagonist. In 1531 he defeated a coalition army near present-day Nirasaki but in 1535 found himself pressed on his southern borders by the Imagawa and Hôjô. The following year he was granted a reprieve by the death of Imagawa Ujichika and the resulting battle for power within the Imagawa family. Nobutora supported [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]]'s bid for leadership and when Yoshimoto emerged as the new daimyô he married Nobutora's eldest daughter. In return, Yoshimoto acted as a go-between to arrange the marriage of Takeda Harunobu to the daughter of the court noble, [[Sanjo Kimiyori]]. Although the Takeda and Hôjô made peace, Nobutora's alliance with Yoshimoto split the Hôjô-Imagawa union and the two clans began fighting. Meanwhile, with his southern borders secure, Nobutora attacked the domain of [[Hiraga Genshin]] in late 1536 and surrounded his castle of Umi no kuchi [海ノ口城]. The defenders resisted stoutly and when winter snows began to fall, Nobutora withdrew. According to legend, it was Harunobu, commanding the rear guard, who opted to make a counter-march that caught the Hiraga men by surprise and led to their defeat and Genshin's death. Whatever the truth of the story, the result of the campaign was the destruction of the Hiraga in the 2nd month of 1537.<br />
<br />
In [[1540]], following the surrender of [[Imai Nobumoto]], the Suwa and the Takeda reconciled and [[Suwa Yorishige]] married another of Nobutora's daughters, [[Nene]]. At the same time, a treaty was made with the [[Murakami]] family and, along with the Suwa, the two clans defeated the Unno family at the Battle of Unnotaira [海野平の戦いで].<br />
<br />
Nobutora came to favor his second son, Nobushige, over Harunobu and contemplated naming him heir. Perhaps as importantly to the coming events, Nobutora had alienated his retainers with his arbitrary style of leadership and burdened the people of Kai with heavy taxes and forced labor for his seemingly endless campaigns. In the summer of [[1541]] he was overthrown by Harunobu and his chief retainers (perhaps most notably [[Amari Torayasu]] and [[Itagaki Nobutaka]]), although the manner in which this played out is not entirely clear. According to one version of the so-called 'bloodless coup', Nobutora departed for [[Suruga province]] to visit his daughter, the wife of Imagawa Yoshimoto, and Harunobu seized power in his absence, possibly with the secret understanding of Yoshimoto. The people of Kai in any event celebrated his fall and the Takeda retainers accepted Shingen's rule without incident. Nobutora afterwards lived quietly in Suruga Province, until the death of Yoshimoto at the [[Battle of Okehazama]] in [[1560]]. Nobutora's relations with Yoshimoto's heir, Ujizane, were not good and at length Nobutora migrated to [[Ise province|Ise Province]] and took up with [[Kitabatake Tomonori]], who gave him property in [[Shima Province]]. In return, Nobutora assisted Tomonori in his conflict with [[Kuki Yoshitaka]]<br />
<br />
After Harunobu (Shingen) died in [[1573]], Katsuyori, the new lord of the Takeda, allowed Nobutora to return to the east and he took up with his 4th son, Nobukado, at [[Takato Castle]] in Shinano. He died on 27 March [[1574]] in Shinano (almost all western sources state that he died in 1573, perhaps owing to some earlier confusion with the death of Shingen), and was buried in Kai and his grave may be seen in Kofu today. Nobutora was recorded as an intemperate and even unstable man who was not well-liked by his retainers, though he was a warrior of obvious ability. Katsuyori was said to have been taken aback at how fearsome his grandfather looked even at 80 years of age. His wife, the daughter of Ôi Nobutatsu, died in [[1552]]. His eldest daughter (who died in [[1550]]), the wife of Imagawa Yoshimoto, produced the latter's heir, [[Imagawa Ujizane|Ujizane]]. In addition to his other sons, Nobutora may also have had another, Katsutora. Little is known about him, except that he may have been born around the time that Nobutora went into exile.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Kanaya, Shunichiro. ''Sengoku Jidai Ga Omoshiroi Hodo Wakaru Hon'', 2003 <br />
* Kuwada, Tadachika. ''Nihon Busho Retsuden Series #3'', 1989 <br />
* Narumoto, Tatsuya. ''Sengoku Bushou Omoshiro Jiten'', Japan, 1998<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #6: FuuRinKaZan.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BB%8A%E5%B7%9D%E7%BE%A9%E5%85%83 Imagawa Yoshimoto] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%9A%E6%81%B5%E9%99%A2 Joukei-In] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A6%B0%E3%80%85 Nene] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A6%E7%94%B0%E4%BF%A1%E8%99%8E Takeda Nobutora] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Takeda_Nobutora&diff=15959Takeda Nobutora2007-12-29T21:07:48Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1493]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1574]]''<br />
* ''Titles: Mutsu no kami, Sakyô-daibu''<br />
* Sons: [[Takeda Shingen]], [[Takeda Nobushige]], [[Takeda Nobutomo]], [[Takeda Nobukado]], [[Takeda Munetomo]], [[Ichijo Nobutatsu]], [[Matsuo Nobukore]], [[Takeda Nobuzane|Kawakubo Nobuzane]], [[Takeda Katsutora]]?<br />
* ''Other Names: Nobunao''<br />
* Japanese: [[武田]] 信虎 ''(Takeda Nobutora)''<br />
<br />
<br />
Nobutora was the eldest son of [[Takeda Nobutsuna]], the lord of [[Kai Province]]. His mother was from the [[Iwashita clan|Iwashita]] family. Nobutsuna, lord since 1491, died of illness in [[1507]] and Nobutora duly succeeded him at a time when the Takeda, and Kai itself, was politically fractured. He was known at this time as Nobunao. His uncle [[Takeda Nobue|Nobue]] challenged Nobutora's authority and fighting broke out between their two factions. Nobutora attacked Nobue and his supporters the following year ([[1508]]) and in the course of the fighting Nobue and his his ally, [[Oyamada Nobutaka]], were killed. However, other important families within Kai, including the [[Oi family|Ôi]] and [[Oyamada family|Oyamada]], now led by [[Oyamada Nobuari]], continued to oppose him. Nobutora forced the submission of the Oyamada in 1510 and the following year married a daughter to Nobuari. However, the Ôi of southern Kai were supported by the [[Imagawa clan|Imagawa]] family of [[Suruga province|Suruga]] and proved more formidable. In 1517, however, [[Imagawa Ujichika]] withdrew his troops from Kai and [[Oi Nobutatsu|Ôi Nobutatsu]] was compelled to come to terms with Nobutora. Nobutora married Nobutatu's daughter and this union would produce four of Nobutora's sons: Harunobu (Shingen), Nobushige, Nobutomo, and Nobukado. In 1530 he was to take the widow of [[Uesugi Norifusa]] as a concubine. Additionally, he was to maintain concubines from the Imai, Kudo, Kusuura, and Matsuo families.<br />
<br />
In 1519 Nobutora established the center of the Takeda clan at [[Tsutsugigaseki]] [躑躅ヶ崎館] in Fuchu. This moated mansion complex would remain the center of the Takeda clan for the next sixty years, until [[Takeda Katsuyori]] moved the family to Nirayama. In [[1521]], Ôi Nobutatsu again defied his authority and war broke out. Imagawa Ujichika came to Nobutatsu's support once more and ordered his retainer [[Kushima Masashige]] to launch an attack into Kai. Nobutora defeated Masashige at Iidagawara and afterwards Nobutatsu submitted, retired and became a monk. Around this time Nobutora's eldest son, the future Shingen, was born. <br />
<br />
Over the course of the next decade, Nobutora was at odds with the Imagawa, Hôjô, and a number of Shinano daimyô. The latter at length banded together in an anti-Nobutora coalition that included the [[Suwa clan|Suwa]], the [[Imai clan|Imai]], the [[Hiraga Clan|Hiraga]] and others. The Suwa, being at this time the strongest of them, was Nobutora's main antagonist. In 1531 he defeated a coalition army near present-day Nirasaki but in 1535 found himself pressed on his southern borders by the Imagawa and Hôjô. The following year he was granted a reprieve by the death of Imagawa Ujichika and the resulting battle for power within the Imagawa family. Nobutora supported [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]]'s bid for leadership and when Yoshimoto emerged as the new daimyô he married Nobutora's eldest daughter. In return, Yoshimoto acted as a go-between to arrange the marriage of Takeda Harunobu to the daughter of the court noble, [[Sanjo Kimiyori]]. Although the Takeda and Hôjô made peace, Nobutora's alliance with Yoshimoto split the Hôjô-Imagawa union and the two clans began fighting. Meanwhile, with his southern borders secure, Nobutora attacked the domain of [[Hiraga Genshin]] in late 1536 and surrounded his castle of Umi no kuchi [海ノ口城]. The defenders resisted stoutly and when winter snows began to fall, Nobutora withdrew. According to legend, it was Harunobu, commanding the rear guard, who opted to make a counter-march that caught the Hiraga men by surprise and led to their defeat and Genshin's death. Whatever the truth of the story, the result of the campaign was the destruction of the Hiraga in the 2nd month of 1537.<br />
<br />
In [[1540]], following the surrender of [[Imai Nobumoto]], the Suwa and the Takeda reconciled and [[Suwa Yorishige]] married another of Nobutora's daughters, [[Nene]]. At the same time, a treaty was made with the [[Murakami]] family and, along with the Suwa, the two clans defeated the Unno family at the Battle of Unnotaira [海野平の戦いで].<br />
<br />
Nobutora came to favor his second son, Nobushige, over Harunobu and contemplated naming him heir. Perhaps as importantly to the coming events, Nobutora had alienated his retainers with his arbitrary style of leadership and burdened the people of Kai with heavy taxes and forced labor for his seemingly endless campaigns. In the summer of [[1541]] he was overthrown by Harunobu and his chief retainers (perhaps most notably [[Amari Torayasu]] and [[Itagaki Nobutaka]]), although the manner in which this played out is not entirely clear. According to one version of the so-called 'bloodless coup', Nobutora departed for [[Suruga province]] to visit his daughter, the wife of Imagawa Yoshimoto, and Harunobu seized power in his absence, possibly with the secret understanding of Yoshimoto. The people of Kai in any event celebrated his fall and the Takeda retainers accepted Shingen's rule without incident. Nobutora afterwards lived quietly in Suruga Province, until the death of Yoshimoto at the [[Battle of Okehazama]] in [[1560]]. Nobutora's relations with Yoshimoto's heir, Ujizane, were not good and at length Nobutora migrated to [[Ise province|Ise Province]] and took up with [[Kitabatake Tomonori]], who gave him property in [[Shima Province]]. In return, Nobutora assisted Tomonori in his conflict with [[Kuki Yoshitaka]]<br />
<br />
After Harunobu (Shingen) died in [[1573]], Katsuyori, the new lord of the Takeda, allowed Nobutora to return to the east and he took up with his 4th son, Nobukado, at [[Takato Castle]] in Shinano. He died on 27 March [[1574]] in Shinano (almost all western sources state that he died in 1573, perhaps owing to some earlier confusion with the death of Shingen), and was buried in Kai and his grave may be seen in Kofu today. Nobutora was recorded as an intemperate and even unstable man who was not well-liked by his retainers, though he was a warrior of obvious ability. Katsuyori was said to have been taken aback at how fearsome his grandfather looked even at 80 years of age. His wife, the daughter of Ôi Nobutatsu, died in [[1552]]. His eldest daughter (who died in [[1550]]), the wife of Imagawa Yoshimoto, produced the latter's heir, [[Imagawa Ujizane|Ujizane]]. In addition to his other sons, Nobutora may also have had another, Katsutora. Little is known about him, except that he may have been born around the time that Nobutora went into exile.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Kanaya, Shunichiro. ''Sengoku Jidai Ga Omoshiroi Hodo Wakaru Hon'', 2003 <br />
* Kuwada, Tadachika. ''Nihon Busho Retsuden Series #3'', 1989 <br />
* Narumoto, Tatsuya. ''Sengoku Bushou Omoshiro Jiten'', Japan, 1998<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #6: FuuRinKaZan.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BB%8A%E5%B7%9D%E7%BE%A9%E5%85%83 Imagawa Yoshimoto] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%9A%E6%81%B5%E9%99%A2 Joukei-In] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A6%B0%E3%80%85 Nene] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A6%E7%94%B0%E4%BF%A1%E8%99%8E Takeda Nobutora] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Matsuo_Nobukore&diff=15949Matsuo Nobukore2007-12-26T20:01:05Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Died: [[1571]]''<br />
* ''Title: Minbu Shôsuke''<br />
* ''Other name: Takeda Genjûrô''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''松尾信是'''<br />
<br />
Nobukore was a son of [[Takeda Nobutora]] and half-brother of [[Takeda Shingen]]. His mother was Nobutora's cousin, a daughter of [[Matsuo Nobutaka]], Nobutora's uncle. Nobukore was adopted into the Matsuo house and afterwards held Matsuo in [[Kai province|Kai Province]].<br />
<br />
He died without an heir in the 4th month of 1571 and was succeeded by his nephew [[Takeda|Nobutoshi]], son of [[Takeda Nobuzane|Takeda (Kawakubo) Nobuzane]].<br />
<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* ''[[Koyo Gunkan|The Koyo Gunkan]]'' (Edited by Yoshida Toyo) 19th edition, Tokyo, August 2005.<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Takeda_Nobutora&diff=15948Takeda Nobutora2007-12-26T19:42:10Z<p>FWSeal: added Matsuo Nobukore to sons</p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1493]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1574]]''<br />
* ''Titles: Mutsu no kami, Sakyô-daibu''<br />
* Sons: [[Takeda Shingen]], [[Takeda Nobushige]], [[Takeda Nobutomo]], [[Takeda Nobukado]], [[Takeda Munetomo]], [[Ichijo Nobutatsu]], [[Matsuo Nobukore]], [[Takeda Nobuzane|Kawakubo Nobuzane]], [[Takeda Katsutora]]?<br />
* ''Other Names: Nobunao''<br />
* Japanese: [[武田]] 信虎 ''(Takeda Nobutora)''<br />
<br />
<br />
Nobutora was the eldest son of [[Takeda Nobutsuna]], the lord of [[Kai Province]]. His mother was from the [[Iwashita clan|Iwashita]] family. Nobutsuna died in [[1507]] and Nobutora duly succeeded him, only to suffer the revolt of his uncle, [[Takeda Nobue|Nobue]]. Nobutora put the rebellion down in [[1512]] and brought all of Kai under his effective control by [[1519]]. In that year, having gained the support of such Kai notables as the [[Anayama clan|Anayama]] and [[Oyamada clan|Oyamada]], Nobutora built a castle he named [[Yogai castle|Yogai]] on [[Maruyama]] near [[Fuchu]]. Fuchu, better known as [[Kofu]], would remain the center of the Takeda clan for the next sixty years. He fought a series of battles defending Kai's borders, defeating [[Fukushima Masashige]] in [[1521]] and [[Hojo Ujitsuna|Hôjô Ujitsuna]] in [[1526]]. He clashed with his rival [[Hiraga Genshin]] in [[1536]], and captured [[Un no kuchi]] thanks, reportedly, to the efforts of his eldest son [[Takeda Shingen|Harunobu]].<br />
<br />
The following year made peace with the [[Suwa clan]] by marrying his third daugther [[ Nene (b.1528)|Nene]] to [[Suwa Yorishige]], and married his oldest daughter, [[Jokei-In|Jôkei-In]], to [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]] of [[Suruga province]], which would put Yoshimoto at odds with the Hôjô clan and result in the [[Kato no ran]]. Despite Un no kuchi, Nobutora favored a younger son, [[Takeda Nobushige|Nobushige]] over Harunobu and planned to name him heir. Perhaps as importantly to the coming events, Nobutora had alienated his retainers with his arbitrary style of leadership and burdened the people of Kai with heavy taxes and forced labor. In the summer of [[1541]] he was overthrown by Harunobu and his chief retainers (perhaps most notably [[Amari Torayasu]] and [[Itagaki Nobutaka]]), although the manner in which this played out is not entirely clear. According to one version of the so-called 'bloodless coup', Nobutora departed for [[Suruga province]] to visit his daughter, the wife of Imagawa Yoshimoto, and Harunobu seized power in his absence, possibly with the secret understanding of Yoshimoto. The people of Kai in any event celebrated his fall and the Takeda retainers accepted Shingen's rule without incident. Nobutora afterwards lived quietly in Suruga Province, at one point going to Kyoto to visit [[Ashikaga Yoshiteru]], and was watched first by the Imagawa and then by the Takeda when Suruga came under Takeda control after [[1569]]. <br />
<br />
After Harunobu (Shingen) died in [[1573]], [[Takeda Katsuyori]] came to visit Nobutora and then allowed him to take up residence in [[Shinano province]]. He died on 27 March [[1574]] in Shinano (almost all western sources state that he died in 1573, perhaps owing to some earlier confusion with the death of Shingen), and was buried in Kai and his grave may be seen in Kofu today. Nobutora was recorded as an intemperate and even unstable man who was not well-liked by his retainers, though he was a warrior of some ability. Katsuyori was said to have been taken aback at how fearsome his grandfather looked even at 80 years of age. His wife, the daughter of [[Oi Nobutatsu|Ôi Nobutatsu]] and the mother of all his sons until [[Ichijo Nobutatsu|Ichijô Nobutatsu]], died in [[1552]]. His eldest daughter (who died in [[1550]]), the wife of Imagawa Yoshimoto, produced the latter's heir, [[Imagawa Ujizane|Ujizane]]. Very little is known about his possible youngest son, Katsutora, except that he may have been born around the time that Nobutora went into exile.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Kanaya, Shunichiro. ''Sengoku Jidai Ga Omoshiroi Hodo Wakaru Hon'', 2003 <br />
* Kuwada, Tadachika. ''Nihon Busho Retsuden Series #3'', 1989 <br />
* Narumoto, Tatsuya. ''Sengoku Bushou Omoshiro Jiten'', Japan, 1998<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #6: FuuRinKaZan.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BB%8A%E5%B7%9D%E7%BE%A9%E5%85%83 Imagawa Yoshimoto] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%9A%E6%81%B5%E9%99%A2 Joukei-In] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A6%B0%E3%80%85 Nene] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A6%E7%94%B0%E4%BF%A1%E8%99%8E Takeda Nobutora] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Takeda_Nobuzane&diff=15947Takeda Nobuzane2007-12-26T19:36:38Z<p>FWSeal: mention Kawakubo, connection to Nobukore's house</p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Died: [[1575]]''<br />
* ''Title: Hyôgo no Suke''<br />
* ''Other name: Kawakubo Nobuzane'' [河窪信実]<br />
* ''Japanese'': [[武田]] 信実 ''(Takeda Nobuzane)''<br />
<br />
<br />
Nobuzane was a younger half-brother of [[Takeda Shingen]], the identity of his mother being unknown, and was known by the adopted surname Kawakubo.<br />
<br />
He was killed in an attack led by [[Sakai Tadatsugu]] and [[Kanamori Nagachika]] during the [[Battle of Nagashino]]. The [[Koyo Gunkan]] records that he occasionally acted as a double for his elder brother Shingen. <br />
<br />
His son Nobutoshi entered the service of the Tokugawa after the fall of the [[Takeda clan|Takeda]] in [[1582]]. Nobutoshi had earlier succeeded Nobuzane's elder brother [[Matsuo Nobukore]], who died in 1571 without an heir. To this end, Nobutoshi had been married to Nobukore's daughter. Nobutoshi's son Nobusada would revert to the Takeda surname.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{saref}}<br />
* ''[[Koyo Gunkan|The Koyo Gunkan]]'' (Edited by Yoshida Toyo) 19th edition, Tokyo, August 2005.<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Takeda_Nobutora&diff=15946Takeda Nobutora2007-12-26T19:19:55Z<p>FWSeal: link fix</p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1493]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1574]]''<br />
* ''Titles: Mutsu no kami, Sakyô-daibu''<br />
* Sons: [[Takeda Shingen]], [[Takeda Nobushige]], [[Takeda Nobutomo]], [[Takeda Nobukado]], [[Takeda Munetomo]], [[Ichijo Nobutatsu]], [[Takeda Nobuzane|Kawakubo Nobuzane]], [[Takeda Katsutora]]<br />
* ''Other Names: Nobunao''<br />
* Japanese: [[武田]] 信虎 ''(Takeda Nobutora)''<br />
<br />
<br />
Nobutora was the eldest son of [[Takeda Nobutsuna]], the lord of [[Kai Province]]. His mother was from the [[Iwashita clan|Iwashita]] family. Nobutsuna died in [[1507]] and Nobutora duly succeeded him, only to suffer the revolt of his uncle, [[Takeda Nobue|Nobue]]. Nobutora put the rebellion down in [[1512]] and brought all of Kai under his effective control by [[1519]]. In that year, having gained the support of such Kai notables as the [[Anayama clan|Anayama]] and [[Oyamada clan|Oyamada]], Nobutora built a castle he named [[Yogai castle|Yogai]] on [[Maruyama]] near [[Fuchu]]. Fuchu, better known as [[Kofu]], would remain the center of the Takeda clan for the next sixty years. He fought a series of battles defending Kai's borders, defeating [[Fukushima Masashige]] in [[1521]] and [[Hojo Ujitsuna|Hôjô Ujitsuna]] in [[1526]]. He clashed with his rival [[Hiraga Genshin]] in [[1536]], and captured [[Un no kuchi]] thanks, reportedly, to the efforts of his eldest son [[Takeda Shingen|Harunobu]].<br />
<br />
The following year made peace with the [[Suwa clan]] by marrying his third daugther [[ Nene (b.1528)|Nene]] to [[Suwa Yorishige]], and married his oldest daughter, [[Jokei-In|Jôkei-In]], to [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]] of [[Suruga province]], which would put Yoshimoto at odds with the Hôjô clan and result in the [[Kato no ran]]. Despite Un no kuchi, Nobutora favored a younger son, [[Takeda Nobushige|Nobushige]] over Harunobu and planned to name him heir. Perhaps as importantly to the coming events, Nobutora had alienated his retainers with his arbitrary style of leadership and burdened the people of Kai with heavy taxes and forced labor. In the summer of [[1541]] he was overthrown by Harunobu and his chief retainers (perhaps most notably [[Amari Torayasu]] and [[Itagaki Nobutaka]]), although the manner in which this played out is not entirely clear. According to one version of the so-called 'bloodless coup', Nobutora departed for [[Suruga province]] to visit his daughter, the wife of Imagawa Yoshimoto, and Harunobu seized power in his absence, possibly with the secret understanding of Yoshimoto. The people of Kai in any event celebrated his fall and the Takeda retainers accepted Shingen's rule without incident. Nobutora afterwards lived quietly in Suruga Province, at one point going to Kyoto to visit [[Ashikaga Yoshiteru]], and was watched first by the Imagawa and then by the Takeda when Suruga came under Takeda control after [[1569]]. <br />
<br />
After Harunobu (Shingen) died in [[1573]], [[Takeda Katsuyori]] came to visit Nobutora and then allowed him to take up residence in [[Shinano province]]. He died on 27 March [[1574]] in Shinano (almost all western sources state that he died in 1573, perhaps owing to some earlier confusion with the death of Shingen), and was buried in Kai and his grave may be seen in Kofu today. Nobutora was recorded as an intemperate and even unstable man who was not well-liked by his retainers, though he was a warrior of some ability. Katsuyori was said to have been taken aback at how fearsome his grandfather looked even at 80 years of age. His wife, the daughter of [[Oi Nobutatsu|Ôi Nobutatsu]] and the mother of all his sons until [[Ichijo Nobutatsu|Ichijô Nobutatsu]], died in [[1552]]. His eldest daughter (who died in [[1550]]), the wife of Imagawa Yoshimoto, produced the latter's heir, [[Imagawa Ujizane|Ujizane]]. Very little is known about his youngest son, Katsutora, except that he was possibly born around the time that Nobutora went into exile.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Kanaya, Shunichiro. ''Sengoku Jidai Ga Omoshiroi Hodo Wakaru Hon'', 2003 <br />
* Kuwada, Tadachika. ''Nihon Busho Retsuden Series #3'', 1989 <br />
* Narumoto, Tatsuya. ''Sengoku Bushou Omoshiro Jiten'', Japan, 1998<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #6: FuuRinKaZan.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BB%8A%E5%B7%9D%E7%BE%A9%E5%85%83 Imagawa Yoshimoto] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%9A%E6%81%B5%E9%99%A2 Joukei-In] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A6%B0%E3%80%85 Nene] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A6%E7%94%B0%E4%BF%A1%E8%99%8E Takeda Nobutora] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
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[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Takeda_Nobutora&diff=15945Takeda Nobutora2007-12-26T19:18:52Z<p>FWSeal: added 'sons', mention Takeda Katsutora</p>
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<div>* ''Born: [[1493]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1574]]''<br />
* ''Titles: Mutsu no kami, Sakyô-daibu''<br />
* Sons: [[Takeda Shingen]], [[Takeda Nobushige]], [[Takeda Nobutomo]], [[Takeda Nobukado]], [[Takeda Munetomo]], [[Ichijo Nobutatsu]], [[Kawakubo Nobuzane]], [[Takeda Katsutora]]<br />
* ''Other Names: Nobunao''<br />
* Japanese: [[武田]] 信虎 ''(Takeda Nobutora)''<br />
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Nobutora was the eldest son of [[Takeda Nobutsuna]], the lord of [[Kai Province]]. His mother was from the [[Iwashita clan|Iwashita]] family. Nobutsuna died in [[1507]] and Nobutora duly succeeded him, only to suffer the revolt of his uncle, [[Takeda Nobue|Nobue]]. Nobutora put the rebellion down in [[1512]] and brought all of Kai under his effective control by [[1519]]. In that year, having gained the support of such Kai notables as the [[Anayama clan|Anayama]] and [[Oyamada clan|Oyamada]], Nobutora built a castle he named [[Yogai castle|Yogai]] on [[Maruyama]] near [[Fuchu]]. Fuchu, better known as [[Kofu]], would remain the center of the Takeda clan for the next sixty years. He fought a series of battles defending Kai's borders, defeating [[Fukushima Masashige]] in [[1521]] and [[Hojo Ujitsuna|Hôjô Ujitsuna]] in [[1526]]. He clashed with his rival [[Hiraga Genshin]] in [[1536]], and captured [[Un no kuchi]] thanks, reportedly, to the efforts of his eldest son [[Takeda Shingen|Harunobu]].<br />
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The following year made peace with the [[Suwa clan]] by marrying his third daugther [[ Nene (b.1528)|Nene]] to [[Suwa Yorishige]], and married his oldest daughter, [[Jokei-In|Jôkei-In]], to [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]] of [[Suruga province]], which would put Yoshimoto at odds with the Hôjô clan and result in the [[Kato no ran]]. Despite Un no kuchi, Nobutora favored a younger son, [[Takeda Nobushige|Nobushige]] over Harunobu and planned to name him heir. Perhaps as importantly to the coming events, Nobutora had alienated his retainers with his arbitrary style of leadership and burdened the people of Kai with heavy taxes and forced labor. In the summer of [[1541]] he was overthrown by Harunobu and his chief retainers (perhaps most notably [[Amari Torayasu]] and [[Itagaki Nobutaka]]), although the manner in which this played out is not entirely clear. According to one version of the so-called 'bloodless coup', Nobutora departed for [[Suruga province]] to visit his daughter, the wife of Imagawa Yoshimoto, and Harunobu seized power in his absence, possibly with the secret understanding of Yoshimoto. The people of Kai in any event celebrated his fall and the Takeda retainers accepted Shingen's rule without incident. Nobutora afterwards lived quietly in Suruga Province, at one point going to Kyoto to visit [[Ashikaga Yoshiteru]], and was watched first by the Imagawa and then by the Takeda when Suruga came under Takeda control after [[1569]]. <br />
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After Harunobu (Shingen) died in [[1573]], [[Takeda Katsuyori]] came to visit Nobutora and then allowed him to take up residence in [[Shinano province]]. He died on 27 March [[1574]] in Shinano (almost all western sources state that he died in 1573, perhaps owing to some earlier confusion with the death of Shingen), and was buried in Kai and his grave may be seen in Kofu today. Nobutora was recorded as an intemperate and even unstable man who was not well-liked by his retainers, though he was a warrior of some ability. Katsuyori was said to have been taken aback at how fearsome his grandfather looked even at 80 years of age. His wife, the daughter of [[Oi Nobutatsu|Ôi Nobutatsu]] and the mother of all his sons until [[Ichijo Nobutatsu|Ichijô Nobutatsu]], died in [[1552]]. His eldest daughter (who died in [[1550]]), the wife of Imagawa Yoshimoto, produced the latter's heir, [[Imagawa Ujizane|Ujizane]]. Very little is known about his youngest son, Katsutora, except that he was possibly born around the time that Nobutora went into exile.<br />
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==References==<br />
* Kanaya, Shunichiro. ''Sengoku Jidai Ga Omoshiroi Hodo Wakaru Hon'', 2003 <br />
* Kuwada, Tadachika. ''Nihon Busho Retsuden Series #3'', 1989 <br />
* Narumoto, Tatsuya. ''Sengoku Bushou Omoshiro Jiten'', Japan, 1998<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #6: FuuRinKaZan.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BB%8A%E5%B7%9D%E7%BE%A9%E5%85%83 Imagawa Yoshimoto] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%9A%E6%81%B5%E9%99%A2 Joukei-In] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A6%B0%E3%80%85 Nene] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A6%E7%94%B0%E4%BF%A1%E8%99%8E Takeda Nobutora] ''From Japanese Wikipedia''<br />
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[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Sakakibara_Yasumasa&diff=15944Sakakibara Yasumasa2007-12-26T18:57:25Z<p>FWSeal: fixed Osuga links</p>
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<div>* ''Birth: [[1548]]''<br />
* ''Death: [[1606]]''<br />
* ''Other names: Sakikabara Heishichi, Sakikabara Koheita''<br />
* ''Titles: Shikibu-Taiyu, Daijuji''<br />
* ''Distinction: [[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa]] retainer<br />
* ''Sons: [[Osuga Tadamasa|Tadamasa]], [[Sakikabara Tadanaga]] [榊原忠長, 1585-1604], [[Sakikabara Yasukatsu|Yasukatsu]] [榊原康勝, 1590-1615]<br />
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[[Image:Sakikabara2.jpg|left|thumb|Sakikabara Yasumasa]]<br />
Yasumasa was the 2nd son of [[Sakikabara Nagamasa]] [榊原長政] and was born at Ueno in [[Mikawa province|Mikawa Province]]. He served [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] from childhood and rose to become one of his chief retainers. He was married to the daughter of [[Osuga Yasutaka]]. <br />
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Yasumasa, though young, was first recognized by Ieyasu for his talents in the 1564 suppression of the Mikawa ''monto'' and was granted the use of the charactor '康' (Yasu) in his name. Although the second son in the family, Yasumasa succeeded his father, the reasons for this remaining unclear. He came of age in [[1566]] and became one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's guard captains [旗本部隊の将].<br />
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He served in a notable capacity at the [[Battle of Anegawa]] (along with [[Honda Tadakatsu]] providing an attack on the flank of the Asai forces dangerously pressing [[Oda Nobunaga]]) and was present at [[Battle of Nagashino|Nagashino]], helping to defeat [[Naito Masatoyo]]. He was present at the [[Battle of Mikagahara]], the [[Battle of Nagashino]], and the capture of [[Takatenjin Castle]].<br />
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During the [[Komaki Campaign]] ([[1584]]) Yasumasa wrote up a statement attacking [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] and calling on support for the cause of [[Oda Nobuo]] and later accompanied Ieyasu to Osaka to meet with Hideyoshi himself ([[1586]]). During this trip he was awarded with the honorific title ''Shikibu-taiyu''. In [[1590]] he participated in the [[Odawara Campaign]]. Following Ieyasu's move to the Kanto Region that same year, Sakikabara was given the castle of Tatebayashi and made the head of a committee responsible with assigning fiefs. While Ieyasu was away on Kyushu during Hideyoshi's Korean Campaigns Sakakibara acted as one of [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]'s councilors. When the Sekigahara Campaign began in 1600, Yasumasa was assigned to [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]'s army and was thus present for the siege of [[Ueda castle|Ueda Castle]] in Shinano Province. He was afterwards given a 100,000-koku fief at [[Tatebayashi]] in [[Kozuke province|Kozuke Province]].<br />
He died at Tatebayashi in the 5th month of 1606.<br />
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Yasumasa was succeded by his 3rd son Yasukatsu, his 2nd son, Tadanaga, having died in 1604. One of his natural daughters married [[Ikeda Toshitaka]] [池田利隆] and another married [[Sakai Tadayo]] [酒井忠世]. An adopted daughter married [[Kizuregawa Yoshichika]] (喜連川義親正, 1599-1627)<br />
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The Sakikabara remained one of the Tokugawa's most trusted retainer houses into the [[Edo Period]]. <br />
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==References==<br />
{{biodict}}<br />
*Totman, Conrad ''Tokugawa Ieyasu, Shôgun'' Heian International Inc. 1990 <br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]] <br />
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[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Katsurayama_Nobusada&diff=15943Katsurayama Nobusada2007-12-26T18:42:07Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
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<div>* ''Born: ?''<br />
* ''Died: [[1582]]''<br />
* ''Distinction: Son of Takeda Shingen''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''葛山信貞'''<br />
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Nobusada was a son of Takeda Shigen of Kai, perhaps the 6th but this is unclear. He succeeded [[Katsuraya Ujimoto]], who died without an heir, and became the lord of [[Katsurayama Castle]] in [[Suruga province|Suruga Province]].<br />
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When the Oda and Tokugawa invaded the Takeda domain in 1582, Nobusada fled to Kai and then commited suicide at the [[Zenkouji]] [善光寺] in Kofu.<br />
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==References==<br />
{{biodict}}<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen'' Japan: Gakken, 1999<br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
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[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Takeda_Shingen&diff=15942Takeda Shingen2007-12-26T18:29:45Z<p>FWSeal: added 'sons'</p>
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<div>* ''Born: [[1521]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1573]]/4/12''<br />
* ''Title: Daizen-Daibu''<br />
* ''childhood name ([[Yomei|Yômei]]): Katsuchiyo''<br />
* ''Sons: [[Takeda Yoshinobu]], [[Unno Nobuchika]], [[Takeda Nobuyuki]], [[Takeda Katsuyori]], [[Nishina Morinobu]], [[Katsurayama Nobusada]], [[Yasuda Nobukiyo]]''<br />
* ''Other Name: Takeda Harunobu''<br />
* ''Japanese'': [[武田]] 信玄 ''(Takeda Shingen)''<br />
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==The Tiger of Kai==<br />
[[Image:Takeda_shingen.gif||thumb|left|The most famous portrait of Takeda Shingen, the authenticity of which has been questioned. Certain scholars have suggested that this was in fact a painting of a Hatakeyama lord from Noto province.]]<br />
Takeda Shingen was the eldest son of the aggressive warlord [[Takeda Nobutora]] ([[1493]]-1573).<ref>The Takeda clan had been powerful in Kai from the 12th Century, when Takeda Nobuyoshi (a grandson of Minamoto Yoshiie's brother Yoshimitsu, 1138-1186) had sided with Minamoto Yoritomo during the Gempei War. The Takeda's power had increased in the Ashikaga era, and branches became strong in Aki and Wakasa, as well as Kai. Mori Motonari eventually defeated the Aki branch in 1516; the Wakasa Takeda became vassals of the Asakura by 1560 and faded from history. <br />
</ref> A competent if not especially well-liked leader, Nobutora had secured the position of the Takeda in [[Kai province|Kai]] and established his headquarters in Fuchu in [[1519]], building a castle called Yogai-jo on Maruyama, an 820-meter height north of the town. In the course of his career Nobutora fended off attacks against her borders by the Imagawa (1521) and the Hojo ([[1526]]). During the campaign in 1521, Nobutora defeated an Imagawa general named Fukushima Ujikatsu at the [[Battle of Iidagawara]] and soon afterwards learned of the birth of his first son, whom he named Katsuchiyo.<ref>Katsuchiyo can be translated as '1000 Victories in Succession', or, as Hiroaki Sato does in Legends of the Samurai, 'Victory Forever'.</ref> <br />
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When Katsuchiyo turned 13, Nobutora arranged for him to marry the daughter of [[Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Tomooki]], who still held considerable lands in the [[Kanto]]. This unfortunate young woman would die the following year, terminating what would, in time, come to seem a highly ironic union. Katsuchiyo's coming of age ceremony (around [[1535]]) was something of an affair, and a number of court notables were in attendance, including a certain [[Sanjo Kinyori]], a retired Dainagon, whose daughter Katsuchiyo would soon marry. The Shogun, [[Ashikaga Yoshiharu]], sent permission for Katsuchiyo to incorporate 'Haru' in his adult name, and Katsuchiyo thus became known as Harunobu. He was also given the honorific title Shinano no Kami (an appropriate moniker, as it would turn out). Despite this memorable coming of age ceremony, it would seem that Nobutora took a disliking to his eldest son. The reasons for this (however embellished this part of Shingen's life may have become over the centuries) are not clear, but were not eased by Harunobu's valuable role in the defeat of [[Hiraga Genshin]] in [[1536]]. The events between 1536 and [[1540]] are entirely murky, with the Imagawa figuring into the controversy, possibly as agitators. It would appear that Nobutora planned to name his second son Nobushige heir, and perhaps ship Harunobu off to the Imagawa clan in Suruga (for adoption?). For years, Harunobu had been under the guardianship of [[Obu Toramasa]], a tough warrior who may well have been at the center of what transpired next. In [[1541]] Harunobu suddenly rebelled, supported by a great many of his father's retainers. Nobutora submitted with little bloodshed and Harunobu exiled his father to Suruga. In this act he had the aid of the top Takeda retainers, many of whom held personal grudges against Nobutora or at least saw some gain in assisting the young usurper to power. Nobushige, for his part, seems to have borne his brother no ill will, and became a valued retainer. Sources conflict on what the exact events where which led to the replacement of Nobuhide with Harunobu. One version of events is that in the 5th month of 1541, Nobutora and Harunobu went on a campaign together to attack [[Unno Munetsuna]] in [[Shinano province]]. Unno Munetsuna lost and fled the province, and by the 4th day of the 6th month, they were on their way back to Kai. However, on the 10th day of their trip back to Kai province, Harunobu suddenly rebelled in a coup supported by his ashigaru and retainers, forcing Nobutora to flee to [[Suruga province]], and in to the care of his daughter's husband, [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]]. This generally follows the Koyogunkan, which essentialy states that Harunobu uncovered a plot by Nobutora to dispose of him and eventually give control of the Takeda clan to his younger brother, Nobushige. According to the Koyogunkan, Harunobu and loyal vassals drove Nobutora out of Kai province into Suruga. Another version of events states that during the 6th month of 1541, Harunobu and Nobutora travelled to Suruga province to visit upon Nobutora's son in law, Imagawa Yoshimoto. Little did Nobutora know, Shingen and Yoshimoto had a secret agreement, and upon arrival, Nobutora was forcibly retired to Suruga castle, and his son Harunobu was given control of the Takeda clan. Although what really happened is not clear, historians seem to be in agreement that Imagawa Yoshimoto had a hand in the removal of Nobutora. Regardless, Harunobu took control of the clan in what is often specifically cited as a 'bloodless coup'. <br />
[[Image:Takeda_mon.jpg||thumb|right|The Takeda mon.]]<br />
Harunobu's chief ambition was the subjugation of Shinano but resistance in that quarter would prove fierce. A number of Shinano warlords, including [[Murakami Yoshikiyo]] ([[1510]]-[[1573]]), [[Ogasawara Nagatoki]] ([[1519]]-[[1583]]), [[Suwa Yorishige]] (? –[[1542]]), and [[Kiso Yoshiyasu]], made a move designed to hopefully nip any further Takeda aggression in the bud. In April 1542 the four daimyo combined forces and marched to the border of Kai, encouraged by news that Harunobu was strengthening his defenses and preparing to make a stand in [[Fuchu]]. In fact, Harunobu's activities had been a ruse - far from waiting passively in Kai, Harunobu led his men out and caught the Shinano warriors by surprise, defeating them at Sezawa. Emboldened by the results of Sezawa, Harunobu made a drive into Shinano later that same year, focusing on the territory of the Suwa clan. He first took Uehara in a surprise attack and then moved on to the Suwa headquarters at Kuwahara, located 2 kilometers to the east. Caught completely off-balance, Suwa Yorishige had little choice but to surrender when Harunobu made a promise of safe conduct. Yorishige and his brother were taken to Kai where the Takeda general [[Itagaki Nobutaka]] arranged for their deaths; both Suwa were either made to commit suicide or were murdered outright. <br />
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Harunobu, with the aid of [[Yamamoto Kansuke]]'s strategies, further expanded his territory through the defeat of both [[Tozawa Yorichika]] ([[1542]]) and [[Takato Yoritsugu]] of central Shinano ([[1544]]-[[1545|45]]). The acquisition of [[Takato castle]] was of particular value, as it provided a secure staging area into southern Shinano, as well as a buffer against any southern aggression. In 1544 the Takeda marched into Suruga in support of the Imagawa and faced Hojo Ujiyasu. No actual fighting occurred as a result of this confrontation, and later Harunobu was compelled to arrange for a peace treaty between the Hojo, Imagawa, and himself due to his wars in Shinano. Over the next decade Harunobu kept up a relentless pressure on the Shinano warlords. Only at Uehara would he be checked, if only briefly. In [[1548]] [[Murakami Yoshikiyo]], perhaps the most formidable of Harunobu's Shinano enemies, moved on Ueda and defeated the Takeda in a bitter clash which saw the use (on the part of the Murakami) of a number of Chinese arquebuses, the first such weapons ever deployed in a Japanese battle. While the defeat at Uehara left two of his best generals dead, Harunobu rebounded quickly, and by [[1552]] the Murakami and Ogasawara clans had fled Shinano outright to Echigo.<ref>The fallen generals in question were Amari Torayasu and Itagaki Nobutaka, both of whom were considered first-rate retainers by the Takeda clan. Shingen managed to score a counter-victory against the Ogasawara at Shiojiritoge the same year that restored the initiative to the Takeda.</ref><br />
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In [[1551]], Harunobu had adopted the name Shingen and a monk's habit, adding even more color to this up-and-coming Sengoku warlord, who was already known for his taste for women, penetrating judgment, skill at calligraphy, and wise government. Perhaps all that was now required was a great rival. This came, too, in the form of Uesugi Terutora of Echigo - the famed Kenshin. <br />
[[Image:Takeda_shingen2.jpg||thumb|left|Another view of Takeda Shingen, by artist [[Utagawa Kuniyoshi]]]]<br />
According to tradition, the defeated Murakami and Ogasawara presented themselves before Terutora and protested Shingen's aggressions. Terutora, uneasy at Shingen's northern expansion and obligated to the two refugees, took the field. That Murakami figures into the Uesugi's roll even many years later gives some substance to this belief, and, certainly, Terutora had reason to worry about Echigo's borders. In June and October [[1553]] The Takeda and Uesugi armies clashed near the Kawanakajima plain in northern Shinano, and while the two sides withdrew after a few rounds of inconclusive skirmishing, a legend was born. In total, the Takeda and Uesugi would face each other at the Kawanakajima five times ([[1554]], [[1555]], [[1557]], [[1561]], [[1564]]) and while not exactly the nearly annual staring matches as they are sometimes portrayed, only the 4th (1561) resulted in an all-out contest.<ref>Shingen also had to keep an eye on both the Imagawa and Hôjô clans to his south and southeast, which no doubt contributed to the caution he generally displayed when facing Kenshin at Kawanakajima. During the 1550's the Takeda, Imagawa, and Hôjô became involved in a series of alliances and counter-alliances that occasionally resulted in minor forays into one another's territory. These almost always came to an end when the clan that happened to hold third-party status at the time declared for the attacked, thus maintaining he balance.</ref> In that engagement, both sides suffered heavy losses and while not individually decisive, those losses no doubt slowed both warlords down for some years. In particular, Shingen must have felt the loss of Nobushige and [[Yamamoto Kansuke]], both killed in action at the battle. <br />
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Internally, the Takeda suffered two grim moments within the span of five years. In [[1560]] Shingen had uncovered a plot against him led by his cousin [[Katanuma Nobumoto]], whom he ordered put to death. In [[1565]], another plot came to light - this one headed by his own son Yoshinobu and [[Obu Toramasa]]. Tormasa was made to commit suicide, while Yoshinobu was confined to the Tokoji. Two years later Yoshinbou died, either from illness or, as many believe, because Shingen had forced him to commit suicide. The event left Shingen heirless for the time being and the Takeda retainers uneasy.<br />
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By [[1564]], Shingen had subdued all of Shinano and shifted his attention to Kozuke, where he took a number of castles from the Uesugi.<ref>These included Kuragano (1565) and Minowa (1566). The latter was taken from the Nagano family and provided a starting point for the career of [[Kamiizumi Hidetsuna]], who declined a personal invitation by Shingen to join the Takeda. He did accept the character 'Nobu' from Shingen's name and went off to become legendary as the swordsman Kamiizumi Nobutsuna.</ref> For the next five years, he limited himself to raids and local conquests (including land grabs in mountainous [[Hida province]]), concentrating on internal affairs. In the 1560's, Shingen's greatest achievement was the Fuji River damming project, the largest and most ambitious of his many innovative domestic endeavors. The benefit of the Fuji River project far-outlived its mastermind, and is ranked as one of the greatest domestic initiatives of the 16th Century.<br />
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==The Takeda expand==<br />
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[[Image:TakedaDomain.jpg|225px|thumb|right|The Takeda domain in 1569 ('''[http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6192/takeda2ot2.jpg CLICK HERE]''' for full size version of this map.)]]By 1568, the Takeda army was on the move again, this time to the south against the faltering Imagawa. The daimyo of that clan was Ujizane, the incompetent son of the late Imagawa Yoshimoto (killed in 1560 by [[Oda Nobunaga]]), whose political ineptness had already cost the Imagawa their Matsudaira (Tokugawa) vassals and Mikawa province. Years before, Shingen's son Yoshinobu had married Ujizane's sister but after the suicide of the former in [[1567]], relations between the families had grown sour. It would appear that Shingen and Tokugawa Ieyasu struck up a deal whereby the two would split up the Imagawa's remaining lands (Totomi and Suruga), an agreement that in the event quickly fell through. In addition, the Hojo of Sagami took a dim view to this shift in the balance of power, and sent troops to defy Shingen, which they did with varying degrees of success for a year or so. In [[1569]] Shingen responded by invading Sagami and besieging Odawara (the Hojo's capital). While this effort was quite short-lived (lasting around a week), the Takeda army did manage to crush an attempt at an ambush by the Hojo at Mimasetoge on their way back to Kai. <br />
[[Image:Takeda_domain.jpg||thumb|left|The Takeda domain in 1572.]]<br />
Thus, in [[1570]], the Takeda's lands now included Kai, Shinano, Suruga, and pieces of Kozuke, Totomi, and Hida. Shingen, at 49, was something more than a regional power - he was the most important warlord east of Mino, and the one who was in a position to derail Oda Nobunaga's march to national hegemony. Shingen alone possessed the strategic position, the generalship, and the solid retainer band necessary. In 1570, the formidable Hojo Ujiyasu died and his heir, Ujimasa, quickly made peace with Shingen, an act that might have all but assured the ultimate destruction of Tokugawa Ieyasu had not Shingen died in 1573.<ref>Conflict with Tokugawa Ieyasu began soon after Takeda consolidated his hold on Suruga, and was exacerbated when Ieyasu moved his headquarters to Hamamatsu in Tôtômi in 1570. Shingen considered this a provocative move, and even Nobunaga urged his impetuous ally to shift his standard back to Mikawa. Tokugawa, far from pulling back, opened up talks with Uesugi Kenshin, inflaming the situation even more and providing the Takeda with ample excuses to attack.</ref> In the meantime, the Takeda and Oda, after an abortive diplomatic courtship designed to check the Uesugi, initiated a war of words, possibly with the shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, at the center of the storm. Shingen stepped up the pressure against Tokugawa, and in [[1572]] launched an attack into Totomi that resulted in the capture of Futamata. The following January, Shingen returned to the province and enticed Tokugawa Ieyasu to come out and fight. The [[Battle of Mikatagahara]], conducted on 6 January to the north of Hamamatsu, ended in a near-complete defeat for Ieyasu (and the allied Oda troops present).<ref>The Battle of Mikatagahara left 1,180 of Tokugawa's men dead while the Takeda lost somewhat less then 400. The majority of Takeda's losses came about as the result of a bold raid ordered that same night by Tokugawa and led by Okubo Tadayo and Amano Yasukage. This action is sometimes known as the Battle of Saigadake. The Oda men present were under the command of Takigawa Kazumasu, Hirade Norihide, and Sakuma Nobumori - of these only Hirade, who was killed, stood before the Takeda onslaught. This battle has sometimes been recorded as occuring in December of 1572; this does not account, however, for the difference in the Japanese lunar calender.</ref><br />
<br />
Though often presented as the opening moves in a march on Kyôto, Shingen's intentions were no doubt more conservative. He probably aimed to test the responses of both Ieyasu and Nobunaga and deal the two a defeat if possible. Either way, within days of winning the battle, he received news that Asakura Yoshikage had elected not to take the field against Nobunaga at this time. Shingen is reported to have been displeased, and might have counted on Yoshikage - and [[Asai Nagamasa]] - to keep Nobunaga preoccupied. This may have played a role in his decision to strike camp and return to Kai - thus granting the bloodied Tokugawa a reprieve.<br />
<br />
==The Death of Shingen==<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, time ran out on the man who had come to epitomize the best and, in some ways, the worst qualities of the Sengoku warlord. In 1573, while laying siege to [[Noda castle]] in Mikawa, Shingen was either wounded by a sniper or fell sick (possibly with tuberculosis); a point modern scholars are divided on<ref>The [[Koyo Gunkan]] gives no indication that Shingen was ever wounded by a sniper at Noda castle.</ref>. He died at Kobama in Shinano on the night of the 12th day of the 4th month of 1573, to be succeded by his fourth son, [[Takeda Katsuyori]]. <br />
<br />
Shingen had been a warlord of great domestic skill and competent military leadership. He was a complicated figure, at times utterly cruel. Earlier in his life, he had forced [[Suwa Yorishige]] to commit suicide (or had him murdered) after the two warlords had signed a peace treaty, and then proceeded to take Suwa's daughter as a mistress, ignoring the fact that she was technically his own niece. In [[1565]], as mentioned above, he ordered his own son, Yoshinobu, confined to a temple and evidently made him commit suicide for treasonous activity, as well as the man who had once been his guardian, Obu Toramasa. His domestic policies demonstrate the duality of Takeda Shingen. On one hand, he kept two iron cauldrons on hand to boil alive certain criminals (a practice considered sufficiently cruel enough to provoke Tokugawa Ieyasu to have the cauldrons destroyed years later). On the other, he did away with corporal punishment for most minor offences, instituting in it's place a system of fines - an act that earned him considerable praise from the peasants and townspeople of Kai. Shingen's law was not considered overly harsh, and his was one of the few Sengoku Period administrations prior to [[1582]] to tax most of his subjects evenly (most exempted powerful samurai families and/or religious establishments) and with the option of payment in either gold or rice (a forerunner, in some ways, to the later Kandaka system). <br />
<br />
An enduring legend describes Kenshin's reaction to Shingen's death. When the event was reported to him during a meal, he threw down his chopsticks and said, "He was my rival for many years, but the great general who was a pillar of the Kanto warrior families has been lost. It is truly a shame." He then ordered that no music be played at [[Kasugayama castle]] for a span of three days. In addition, he resisted a call to attack the Takeda domain to take advantage of the situation.<ref>See: Narumoto, Tatsuya. "Sengoku Bushou Omoshiro Jiten", Japan, 1998</ref><br />
<br />
Perhaps the greatest praise paid Shingen was by Tokugawa Ieyasu himself. Following the defeat of Katsuyori in 1582 and the death of Oda Nobunaga, Ieyasu assumed control of Kai, and borrowed freely from Shingen's style and techniques of governance, which he later included in his model for the Tokugawa Shogunate. <br />
<br />
Just prior to his death, Shingen had called from his bed for [[Yamagata Masakage]], one of ablest men, to raise his flags at Seta Bridge (the traditional eastern gate to Kyoto). He then collapsed back into his bed and died soon afterwards. In lieu of a death poem, he left the following words, borrowed from Zen literature, "It is largely left to her own natural bodily perfection, and she has no special need to resort to artificial coloring and powdering to look beautiful."<ref>Suzuki, Zen and Japanese Culture pg. 82. The 'she' in the passage is a reference to life, or reality.</ref><br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Takeda Shingen's 24 Generals]]<br />
<br />
==Notes to the Text==<br />
<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Hall, John Whitney, et al. (ed.) ''Japan Before Tokugawa.'' Princeton, 1981 <br />
* Kanaya, Shunichiro. ''Sengoku Jidai Ga Omoshiroi Hodo Wakaru Hon'', 2003 <br />
* ''[[Koyo Gunkan|The Koyo Gunkan]]'' (Edited by Yoshida Toyo) 19th edition, Tokyo, August 2005.<br />
* Kuwada, Tadachika. ''Nihon Busho Retsuden Series #3'', 1989 <br />
* Narumoto, Tatsuya. ''Sengoku Bushou Omoshiro Jiten'', Japan, 1998<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #6: FuuRinKaZan.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999 <br />
* Sadler, A. L. ''The Maker of Modern.'' Japan Tuttle, 1978 <br />
* Sato, Hiroaki. ''[[Legends of the Samurai]].'' Overlook, 1995 <br />
* Suzuki, D. T. ''Zen and Japanese Culture.'' Princeton, 1993 <br />
* Turnbull, Stephen. ''Samurai Warlords.'' London: Blandford, 1992<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Sakakibara_Yasumasa&diff=15936Sakakibara Yasumasa2007-12-26T02:59:04Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Birth: [[1548]]''<br />
* ''Death: [[1606]]''<br />
* ''Other names: Sakikabara Heishichi, Sakikabara Koheita''<br />
* ''Titles: Shikibu-Taiyu, Daijuji''<br />
* ''Distinction: [[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa]] retainer<br />
* ''Sons: [[Oosuga Tadamasa|Tadamasa]], [[Sakikabara Tadanaga]] [榊原忠長, 1585-1604], [[Sakikabara Yasukatsu|Yasukatsu]] [榊原康勝, 1590-1615]<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Image:Sakikabara2.jpg|left|thumb|Sakikabara Yasumasa]]<br />
Yasumasa was the 2nd son of [[Sakikabara Nagamasa]] [榊原長政] and was born at Ueno in [[Mikawa province|Mikawa Province]]. He served [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] from childhood and rose to become one of his chief retainers. He was married to the daughter of [[Oosuga Yasutaka]]. <br />
<br />
Yasumasa, though young, was first recognized by Ieyasu for his talents in the 1564 suppression of the Mikawa ''monto'' and was granted the use of the charactor '康' (Yasu) in his name. Although the second son in the family, Yasumasa succeeded his father, the reasons for this remaining unclear. He came of age in [[1566]] and became one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's guard captains [旗本部隊の将].<br />
<br />
He served in a notable capacity at the [[Battle of Anegawa]] (along with [[Honda Tadakatsu]] providing an attack on the flank of the Asai forces dangerously pressing [[Oda Nobunaga]]) and was present at [[Battle of Nagashino|Nagashino]], helping to defeat [[Naito Masatoyo]]. He was present at the [[Battle of Mikagahara]], the [[Battle of Nagashino]], and the capture of [[Takatenjin Castle]].<br />
<br />
During the [[Komaki Campaign]] ([[1584]]) Yasumasa wrote up a statement attacking [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] and calling on support for the cause of [[Oda Nobuo]] and later accompanied Ieyasu to Osaka to meet with Hideyoshi himself ([[1586]]). During this trip he was awarded with the honorific title ''Shikibu-taiyu''. In [[1590]] he participated in the [[Odawara Campaign]]. Following Ieyasu's move to the Kanto Region that same year, Sakikabara was given the castle of Tatebayashi and made the head of a committee responsible with assigning fiefs. While Ieyasu was away on Kyushu during Hideyoshi's Korean Campaigns Sakakibara acted as one of [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]'s councilors. When the Sekigahara Campaign began in 1600, Yasumasa was assigned to [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]'s army and was thus present for the siege of [[Ueda castle|Ueda Castle]] in Shinano Province. He was afterwards given a 100,000-koku fief at [[Tatebayashi]] in [[Kozuke province|Kozuke Province]].<br />
He died at Tatebayashi in the 5th month of 1606.<br />
<br />
Yasumasa was succeded by his 3rd son Yasukatsu, his 2nd son, Tadanaga, having died in 1604. One of his natural daughters married [[Ikeda Toshitaka]] [池田利隆] and another married [[Sakai Tadayo]] [酒井忠世]. An adopted daughter married [[Kizuregawa Yoshichika]] (喜連川義親正, 1599-1627)<br />
<br />
The Sakikabara remained one of the Tokugawa's most trusted retainer houses into the [[Edo Period]]. <br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{biodict}}<br />
*Totman, Conrad ''Tokugawa Ieyasu, Shôgun'' Heian International Inc. 1990 <br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]] <br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Sakakibara_Yasumasa&diff=15935Sakakibara Yasumasa2007-12-26T02:00:12Z<p>FWSeal: expanded text, links, etc</p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Birth: [[1548]]''<br />
* ''Death: [[1606]]''<br />
* ''Other names: Sakikabara Heishichi''<br />
* ''Titles: Shikibu-Taiyu, Daijuji, Koheida''<br />
* ''Distinction: [[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa]] retainer<br />
* ''Sons: [[Oosuga Tadamasa|Tadamasa]], [[Sakikabara Tadanaga]] [榊原忠長, 1585-1604], [[Sakikabara Yasukatsu|Yasukatsu]] [榊原康勝, 1590-1615]<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Image:Sakikabara2.jpg|left|thumb|Sakikabara Yasumasa]]<br />
Yasumasa was the 2nd son of [[Sakikabara Nagamasa]] [榊原長政] and was born at Ueno in [[Mikawa province|Mikawa Province]]. He served [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] from childhood and rose to become one of his chief retainers. He was married to the daughter of [[Oosuga Yasutaka]]. <br />
<br />
Yasumasa, though young, was first recognized by Ieyasu for his talents in the 1564 suppression of the Mikawa ''monto'' and was granted the use of the charactor '康' (Yasu) in his name. Although the second son in the family, Yasumasa succeeded his father, the reasons for this remaining unclear. He came of age in [[1566]] and became one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's guard captains [旗本部隊の将].<br />
<br />
He served in a notable capacity at the [[Battle of Anegawa]] (along with [[Honda Tadakatsu]] providing an attack on the flank of the Asai forces dangerously pressing [[Oda Nobunaga]]) and was present at [[Battle of Nagashino|Nagashino]], helping to defeat [[Naito Masatoyo]]. He was present at the [[Battle of Mikagahara]], the [[Battle of Nagashino]], and the capture of [[Takatenjin Castle]].<br />
<br />
During the [[Komaki Campaign]] ([[1584]]) Yasumasa wrote up a statement attacking [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] and calling on support for the cause of [[Oda Nobuo]] and later accompanied Ieyasu to Osaka to meet with Hideyoshi himself ([[1586]]). During this trip he was awarded with the honorific title ''Shikibu-taiyu''. In [[1590]] he participated in the [[Odawara Campaign]]. Following Ieyasu's move to the Kanto Region that same year, Sakikabara was given the castle of Tatebayashi and made the head of a committee responsible with assigning fiefs. While Ieyasu was away on Kyushu during Hideyoshi's Korean Campaigns Sakakibara acted as one of [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]'s councilors. When the Sekigahara Campaign began in 1600, Yasumasa was assigned to [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]'s army and was thus present for the siege of [[Ueda castle|Ueda Castle]] in Shinano Province. He was afterwards given a 100,000-koku fief at [[Tatebayashi]] in [[Kozuke province|Kozuke Province]].<br />
He died at Tatebayashi in the 5th month of 1606.<br />
<br />
Yasumasa was succeded by his 3rd son Yasukatsu, his 2nd son, Tadanaga, having died in 1604.<br />
<br />
The Sakikabara remained one of the Tokugawa's most trusted retainer houses into the [[Edo Period]]. <br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{biodict}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Osuga_Tadamasa&diff=15934Osuga Tadamasa2007-12-26T01:06:27Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>*''Birth:[[1581]]''<br />
*''Death:[[1607]]''<br />
*''Titles: Dewa no kami''<br />
*''Distinction: Tokugawa retainer''<br />
* ''Son: [[Oosuga Tadatsugu'']] [大須賀忠次]<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''大須賀忠政'''<br />
<br />
<br />
Tadamasa was the eldest son of [[Sakikabara Yasumasa]]. His grandfather on his mother's side, [[Oosuga Yasutaka]] [大須賀康高], had no sons of his own and so Tadamasa was adopted by him to carry on the Oosuga name. Yasutaka died in [[1589]] and Yasumasa succeeded him, also being given the use of the name 'Matsudaira' [松平] by [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]]. When the Tokugawa house was relocated to the [[Kanto]] following [[1590]] the young Yasutaka was established in [[Kazusa province|Kazusa Province]] with a 30,000-koku fief. In 1601 his fief was moved to [[Totomi province|Tôtômi]] and increased to 60,000 koku. He fell ill in 1607 and died in Kyoto in the 9th month.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Osuga_Tadamasa&diff=15933Osuga Tadamasa2007-12-26T01:05:06Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>*''Birth:1581''<br />
*''Death:1607''<br />
*''Titles: Dewa no kami''<br />
*''Distinction: Tokugawa retainer''<br />
* ''Son: Oosuga Tadatsugu'' [大須賀忠次]<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''大須賀忠政'''<br />
<br />
<br />
Tadamasa was the eldest son of [[Sakikabara Yasumasa]]. His grandfather on his mother's side, [[Oosuga Yasutaka]] [大須賀康高], had no sons of his own and so Tadamasa was adopted by him to carry on the Oosuga name. Yasutaka died in [[1589]] and Yasumasa succeeded him, also being given the use of the name 'Matsudaira' [松平] by Tokugawa Ieyasu. When the Tokugawa house was relocated to the [[Kanto]] following [[1590]] the young Yasutaka was established in [[Kazusa province|Kazusa Province]] with a 30,000-koku fief. In 1601 his fief was moved to Tôtômi and increased to 60,000 koku. He fell ill in 1607 and died in Kyoto in the 9th month.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Osuga_Tadamasa&diff=15932Osuga Tadamasa2007-12-26T01:04:31Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>*''Birth:1581''<br />
*''Death:1607''<br />
*''Titles: Dewa no kami''<br />
*''Distinction: Tokugawa retainer''<br />
* ''Son: Oosuga Tadatsugu'' [大須賀忠次]<br />
* ''Japanese:'' [[大須賀忠政]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Tadamasa was the eldest son of [[Sakikabara Yasumasa]]. His grandfather on his mother's side, [[Oosuga Yasutaka]] [大須賀康高], had no sons of his own and so Tadamasa was adopted by him to carry on the Oosuga name. Yasutaka died in [[1589]] and Yasumasa succeeded him, also being given the use of the name 'Matsudaira' [松平] by Tokugawa Ieyasu. When the Tokugawa house was relocated to the [[Kanto]] following [[1590]] the young Yasutaka was established in [[Kazusa province|Kazusa Province]] with a 30,000-koku fief. In 1601 his fief was moved to Tôtômi and increased to 60,000 koku. He fell ill in 1607 and died in Kyoto in the 9th month.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Sakakibara_Yasumasa&diff=15931Sakakibara Yasumasa2007-12-26T01:01:32Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Birth: [[1548]]''<br />
* ''Death: [[1606]]''<br />
* ''Other names: Sakikabara Heishichi''<br />
* ''Titles: Shikibu-Taiyu, Daijuji, Koheida''<br />
* ''Distinction: [[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa]] retainer<br />
* ''Sons: [[Oosuga Tadamasa|Tadamasa]], [[Sakikabara Yasukatsu|Yasukatsu]]<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Image:Sakikabara2.jpg|left|thumb|Sakikabara Yasumasa]]<br />
A younger son of [[Sakikabara Nagamasa]], Yasumasa served [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] from childhood and rose to become one of his chief retainers. He served in a notable capacity at the [[Battle of Anegawa]] (along with [[Honda Tadakatsu]] providing an attack on the flank of the Asai forces dangerously pressing [[Oda Nobunaga]]) and was present at [[Battle of Nagashino|Nagashino]], helping to defeat [[Naito Masatoyo]]. <br />
<br />
During the [[Komaki Campaign]] ([[1584]]) Yasumasa wrote up a statement attacking Hideyoshi and calling on support for the cause of [[Oda Nobuo]] and later accompanied Ieyasu to Osaka to meet with Hideyoshi himself ([[1586]]). During this trip he was awarded with the honorific title Shikibu-taiyu. In [[1590]] he participated in the [[Odawara Campaign]]. Following Ieyasu's move to the Kanto Region that same year, Sakikabara was given the castle of Tatebayashi and made the head of a committee responsible with assigning fiefs. While Ieyasu was away on Kyushu during Hideyoshi's Korean Campaigns Sakakibara acted as one of [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]'s councilors and later was involved in the campaign against [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]] ([[1600]]). <br />
<br />
Yasumasa was succeded by his son Yasukatsu, who fought at [[Osaka Castle]] ([[1614]], [[1615]]). The Sakikabara remained one of the Tokugawa's most trusted retainer houses into the [[Edo Period]]. <br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{biodict}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Sakakibara_Yasumasa&diff=15930Sakakibara Yasumasa2007-12-26T00:47:43Z<p>FWSeal: corrected link (Oosuga Tadamasa)</p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Birth: [[1548]]''<br />
* ''Death: [[1606]]''<br />
* ''Other names: Sakikabara Heishichi''<br />
* ''Titles: Shikibu-Taiyu, Daijuji, Koheida''<br />
* ''Distinction: [[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa]] retainer<br />
* ''Sons: [[Ousuga Tadamasa|Tadamasa]], [[Sakikabara Yasukatsu|Yasukatsu]]<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Image:Sakikabara2.jpg|left|thumb|Sakikabara Yasumasa]]<br />
A younger son of [[Sakikabara Nagamasa]], Yasumasa served [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] from childhood and rose to become one of his chief retainers. He served in a notable capacity at the [[Battle of Anegawa]] (along with [[Honda Tadakatsu]] providing an attack on the flank of the Asai forces dangerously pressing [[Oda Nobunaga]]) and was present at [[Battle of Nagashino|Nagashino]], helping to defeat [[Naito Masatoyo]]. <br />
<br />
During the [[Komaki Campaign]] ([[1584]]) Yasumasa wrote up a statement attacking Hideyoshi and calling on support for the cause of [[Oda Nobuo]] and later accompanied Ieyasu to Osaka to meet with Hideyoshi himself ([[1586]]). During this trip he was awarded with the honorific title Shikibu-taiyu. In [[1590]] he participated in the [[Odawara Campaign]]. Following Ieyasu's move to the Kanto Region that same year, Sakikabara was given the castle of Tatebayashi and made the head of a committee responsible with assigning fiefs. While Ieyasu was away on Kyushu during Hideyoshi's Korean Campaigns Sakakibara acted as one of [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]'s councilors and later was involved in the campaign against [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]] ([[1600]]). <br />
<br />
Yasumasa was succeded by his son Yasukatsu, who fought at [[Osaka Castle]] ([[1614]], [[1615]]). The Sakikabara remained one of the Tokugawa's most trusted retainer houses into the [[Edo Period]]. <br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{biodict}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Kuroda_Nagamasa&diff=15929Kuroda Nagamasa2007-12-26T00:36:43Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Birth: [[1568]]''<br />
* ''Death: [[1623]]''<br />
* ''Title: Kai no kami'', ''Chikuzen no kami''<br />
* ''Sons: [[Tadayuki]] [黒田忠之] (Chikuzen no kami; Uemonnosuke; 1602-1654), [[Nagaoki]] [黒田長興] (1610-1665), Jinshiro [甚四郎], [[Tadamasa]][黒田高政] (1612-1639)''<br />
* ''Childhood name: Matsujumaru<br />
* ''Distinction: [[Toyotomi clan|Toyotomi]], [[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa]] retainer''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''黒田長政''' <br />
<br />
Nagamasa was the son of [[Kuroda Yoshitaka]] and was born in the 12th month of 1568 at [[Himeji Castle]] in [[Harima province|Harima Province]]. His mother was a daughter of [[Kushihashi Yoshiyasu]] [櫛橋伊定] and his future wife was a daughter of [[Hachisuka Masakatsu]].<br />
<br />
At the age of eight he was sent as a hostage to Oda Nobunaga, who had him established at Nagahama Castle [長浜城] in Omi Province. In the fall of [[1578]] [[Araki Murashige]] of [[Settsu province|Settsu]] rebelled against Nobunaga and shut himself up in [[Itami castle]]. Kuroda Yoshitaka was dispatched to Itami in an effort to negotiate a settlement but failed to return. Nobunaga believed that Yoshitaka had betrayed him, although in fact the latter had been detained against his will. Nobunaga accordingly ordered that the young Nagamasa be executed at once, an order that was luckily circumvented by [[Takenaka Shigeharu]]. Nobunaga later granted the use of the character Naga [長] in Nagamasa's adult name.<br />
<br />
Following the death of Nobunaga in [[1582]], the Kuroda, including Nagamasa, experienced steady growth under Hideyoshi owing to the talents of Yoshitaka and the favor that he enjoyed with Hideyoshi as a trusted confidante. Nagamasa distinguished himself in the [[1597]] invasion of Kyushu at [[Takarabe Castle]] [財部城]. Afterwards the Kuroda were established in [[Buzen province|Buzen Province]] with a fief valued at around 50,000 [[koku]], Nagamasa himself being awarded the title 'Kai no kami' [甲斐守] and succeeding his father when the latter went into retirement in [[1589]].<br />
<br />
Nagamasa led 6,000 men in the [[First Korean Campaign]] ([[1592]]-[[1593|93]]). He acted as a rearguard of sorts when the Japanese finally withdrew from Korea in [[1598]], holding the port of [[Pusan]] open until all his countrymen could embark. He was given a 120,000-koku fief at Nakatsu in [[Buzen province]]. <br />
<br />
In [[1600]] he and his father sided with [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] against [[Ishida Mitsunari]]. While Yoshitaka fought against Ishida's allies on [[Kyushu]], Nagamasa led 5,400 men in the Tokugawa vanguard at [[Battle of Sekigahara|Sekigahara]] and was afterwards praised for his efforts by Ieyasu. In the aftermath of the Tokugawa victory, he was given a 520,000-koku fief in [[Chikuzen province]] at Najima [名島] and built [[Fukuoka castle]]. He contributed to the construction of [[Edo castle]], personally overseeing the building of the keep. He next went on to serve in the [[Osaka Castle Campaigns]] and fought under [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]. <br />
<br />
Nagamasa fell ill in Kyoto in advance of a visit by [[Tokugawa Hidetada]] and died at the Chionji [知恩寺] in the 8th month. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Tadayuki, who was to assist in the defeat of the [[Shimabara Rebellion]] ([[1638]]).<br />
<br />
Of Nagamasa's three daughters, one married into the Inoue [井上], one married [[Sakikabara Tadatsugu]], and the other married [[Ikeda Teruoki]].<br />
<br />
Like his father, Nagamasa had been a Christian but readily gave it up when ordered to do so by the Tokugawa.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{biodict}}<br />
*Bryant, Anthony ''Sekigahara 1600'' Osprey Military 1995 <br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
*Kuwata, Tadachika ''Sengoku no Bushô Sanjûnin'' Koizumi Seihon, Inc. 1996 <br />
*Sadler, A. L. ''The Maker of Modern Japan'' Tuttle 1989 <br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Christians]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Kuroda_Nagamasa&diff=15928Kuroda Nagamasa2007-12-26T00:25:38Z<p>FWSeal: expanded text, kanji, sources</p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Birth: [[1568]]''<br />
* ''Death: [[1623]]''<br />
* ''Title: Kai no kami'', ''Chikuzen no kami''<br />
* ''Sons: [[Tadayuki]] [黒田忠之] (Chikuzen no kami; Uemonnosuke; 1602-1654), [[Nagaoki]] [黒田長興] (1610-1665), Jinshiro [甚四郎], [[Tadamasa]][黒田高政] (1612-1639)''<br />
* ''Childhood name: Matsujumaru<br />
* ''Distinction: [[Toyotomi clan|Toyotomi]], [[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa]] retainer''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''黒田長政''' <br />
<br />
Nagamasa was the son of [[Kuroda Yoshitaka]] and was born in the 12th month of 1568 at [[Himeji Castle]] in [[Harima province|Harima Province]]. His mother was a daughter of [[Kushihashi Yoshiyasu]] [櫛橋伊定] and his future wife was a daughter of [[Hachisuka Masakatsu]].<br />
<br />
At the age of eight he was sent as a hostage to Oda Nobunaga, who had him established at Nagahama Castle [長浜城] in Omi Province. In the fall of [[1578]] [[Araki Murashige]] of [[Settsu province|Settsu]] rebelled against Nobunaga. Kuroda Yoshitaka was dispatched to attempt to negotiate a settlement and failed to return. Nobunaga believed that Yoshitaka, too, had betrayed him, although in fact the latter had been detained against his will. Nobunaga accordingly ordered that the young Nagamasa be executed at once, an order that was luckily circumvented by [[Takenaka Shigeharu]].<br />
Following the death of Nobunaga in [[1582]], the Kuroda, including Nagamasa, experienced steady growth under Hideyoshi owing to the talents of Yoshitaka and the favor that he enjoyed with Hideyoshi as a trusted confidante. Nagamasa distinguished himself in the [[1597]] invasion of Kyushu at [[Takarabe Castle]] [財部城]. Afterwards the Kuroda were established in Buzen Province with a fief valued at around 50,000 [[koku]], Nagamasa himself being awarded the title 'Kai no kami' [甲斐守] and succeeding his father when the latter went into retirement in [[1589]].<br />
<br />
Nagamasa led 6,000 men in the [[First Korean Campaign]] ([[1592]]-[[1593|93]]). He acted as a rearguard of sorts when the Japanese finally withdrew from Korea in [[1598]], holding the port of [[Pusan]] open until all his countrymen could embark. He was given a 120,000-koku fief at Nakatsu in [[Buzen province]]. <br />
<br />
In [[1600]] he and his father sided with [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] against [[Ishida Mitsunari]]. While Yoshitaka fought with Ishida's allies on [[Kyushu]], Nagamasa led 5,400 in the Tokugawa vanguard at [[Battle of Sekigahara|Sekigahara]] and was afterwards praised for his efforts by Ieyasu. In the aftermath of the Tokugawa victory, he was given a 520,000-koku fief in [[Chikuzen province]] at Najima [名島] and built [[Fukuoka castle]]. He contributed to the construction of [[Edo castle]], personally overseeing the building of the keep. He next went on to serve in the [[Osaka Castle Campaigns]] and fought under [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]. His son Tadayuki assisted in the defeat of the [[Shimabara Rebellion]] ([[1638]]). Like his father, Nagamasa had been a Christian but readily gave it up when ordered to do so by the Tokugawa.<br />
<br />
Nagamasa fell ill in Kyoto in advance of a visit by [[Tokugawa Hidetada]] and died at the Chionji [知恩寺] in the 8th month. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Tadayuki. Among his three daughters, one married into the Inoue [井上], one married [[Sakikabara Tadatsugu]], and the other married [[Ikeda Teruoki]].<br />
<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{biodict}}<br />
*Bryant, Anthony ''Sekigahara 1600'' Osprey Military 1995 <br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
*Kuwata, Tadachika ''Sengoku no Bushô Sanjûnin'' Koizumi Seihon, Inc. 1996 <br />
*Sadler, A. L. ''The Maker of Modern Japan'' Tuttle 1989 <br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Christians]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Maeno_Tadayasu&diff=15927Maeno Tadayasu2007-12-25T22:48:41Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: ?''<br />
* ''Died: [[1600]]?''<br />
* ''Distinction: Toyotomi and Ishida retainer''<br />
* ''Other Name: Mai Hyôgo'' [舞兵庫]<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''前野忠康'''<br />
<br />
Tadayasu was married to a daughter of [[Maeno Nagayasu]]. He at first served [[Toyotomi Hidetsugu]] and impressed [[Ishida Mitsunari]] with his loyalty. When Hidetsugu fell from power in 1595 and many of his associates were made to commit suicide, Tadayasu was spared through the efforts of Mitsunari, who later offered him a position. Tadayasu accepted and joined Mitsunari at [[Sawayama Castle]]. He was in the vanguard at the [[Battle of Sekigahara]] and fought fearlessly against troops under [[Tanaka Yoshimasa]] and [[Kuroda Nagamasa]]. Whether or not he survived the battle is unknown.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Shimazu_Toshihisa&diff=15926Shimazu Toshihisa2007-12-25T21:23:45Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1537]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1592]]''<br />
* ''Titles: Saemon no kami''<br />
* ''Other names: Matarokurô''<br />
* ''Distinction: [[Shimazu clan|Shimazu]] retainer''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''島津歳久'''<br />
<br />
<br />
Toshihisa was the 3rd son of [[Shimazu Takahisa]]. A reliable soldier, he fought in a number of his elder brother [[Shimazu Yoshihisa|Yoshihisa's]] campaigns and in [[1580]] was awarded the former domain of the [[Keto-in]] in [[Satsuma province]] as his fief. He adopted [[Shimazu Tadachika]], the 2nd son of [[Shimazu Yoshitora]], as his heir and married his eldest daughter to him.<br />
<br />
In [[1592]], when summoned for service in the [[1st Korean Campaign]], he declined, pleading illness. As many of Toshihisa's retainers had recently participated in an armed resistance to service in Korea, Hideyoshi suspected him of also defying his commands and sent Yoshihisa to punish him. Toshihisa committed suicide before Yoshihisa arrived, saying in his death note that while he had not contemplated rebellion, he chose to commit suicide for the sake of the Shimazu house.<br />
<br />
His adopted son Tadachika having been killed in Hideyoshi's Invasion of Kyushu in 1587, Toshihisa was succeeded by Tadachika's son, [[Shimazu Tsunehisa|Tsunehisa]] [島津常久].<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{biodict}}<br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Shimazu_Toshihisa&diff=15925Shimazu Toshihisa2007-12-25T21:01:38Z<p>FWSeal: added further data</p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1537]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1592]]''<br />
* ''Titles: Saemon no kami''<br />
* ''Other names: Matarokurô''<br />
* ''Distinction: [[Shimazu clan|Shimazu]] retainer''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''島津歳久'''<br />
<br />
<br />
Toshihisa was the 3rd son of [[Shimazu Takahisa]]. A reliable soldier, he fought in a number of his elder brother [[Shimazu Yoshihisa|Yoshihisa's]] campaigns and in [[1580]] was awarded the former domain of the [[Keto-in]] in [[Satsuma province]] as his fief. He adopted [[Shimazu Tadachika]], the 2nd son of [[Shimazu Yoshitora]], as his heir, as well as marrying a daughter to him.<br />
<br />
In [[1592]], when summoned for service in the [[1st Korean Campaign]], he declined, pleading illness. As many of Toshihisa's retainers had recently participated in an armed resistance to service in Korea, Hideyoshi suspected him of also defying his commands and sent Yoshihisa to punish him. Toshihisa committed suicide before Yoshihisa arrived, saying in his death note that while he had not contemplated rebellion, he chose to commit suicide for the sake of the Shimazu house.<br />
<br />
His adopted son Tadachika having been killed in Hideyoshi's Invasion of Kyushu in 1587, Toshihisa was succeeded by Tadachika's son, [[Shimazu Tsunehisa|Tsunehisa]] [島津常久].<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{biodict}}<br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Shimazu_Toshihisa&diff=15924Shimazu Toshihisa2007-12-25T20:44:01Z<p>FWSeal: text edit, minor additions, kanji</p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1537]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1592]]''<br />
* ''Titles: Saemon no kami''<br />
* ''Other names: Matarokurô''<br />
* ''Distinction: [[Shimazu clan|Shimazu]] retainer''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''島津歳久'''<br />
<br />
<br />
Toshihisa was the 3rd son of [[Shimazu Takahisa]]. A reliable soldier, he fought in a number of his elder brother [[Shimazu Yoshihisa|Yoshihisa's]] campaigns and in [[1580]] was awarded the former domain of the [[Keto-in]] in [[Satsuma province]] as his fief. In [[1592]], when summoned for service in the [[1st Korean Campaign]], he declined, pleading illness. As many of Toshihisa's retainers had recently participated in an armed resistance to service in Korea, Hideyoshi suspected him of also defying his commands and sent Yoshihisa to punish him. Toshihisa committed suicide before Yoshihisa arrived, saying in his death note that while he had not contemplated rebellion, he chose to commit suicide for the sake of the Shimazu house.<br />
<br />
One of Toshihisa's daughters married [[Sata Hisayoshi]] [佐多久慶].<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{biodict}}<br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Shimazu_Iehisa&diff=15923Shimazu Iehisa2007-12-25T20:01:30Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1547]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1587]]''<br />
* ''Sons: [[Shimazu Toyohisa]]''<br />
* ''Titles: Nakatsukasa taiyu''<br />
* ''Childhood name:'' ''Matashichirô'' [又七郎]<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''島津家久'''<br />
<br />
<br />
Iehisa was the 4th son of [[Shimazu Takahisa]]. He was the younger half-brother of Shimazu [[Shimazu Yoshihisa]], lord of the Shimazu clan, and [[Shimazu Yoshihiro|Yoshihiro]] and [[Shimazu Toshihisa|Toshihisa]]. He was one of the most famed [[Shimazu clan|Shimazu]] commanders and fought in numerous battles for Yoshihisa. <br />
<br />
In 1575 he went to the [[Kyoto]] region to give thanks at the Ise Shrine [伊勢神宮] for the Shimazu's conquest of Satsuma, Ôsumi, and Hyuga and visited the capital, there seeing [[Oda Nobunaga]] and his army returning from Osaka and being entertained by [[Akechi Mitsuhide]] at [[Sakamoto]]. In [[1578]] he held [[Taka castle]] in [[Hyuga province|Hyûga]] against a powerful [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo]] army, allowing his brothers time to raise a relief army and rush to his aid. The Ôtomo were crushed at the [[Battle of Mimigawa]], which Iehisa joined by leading his men out of the castle and into the enemy's rear. He especially distinguished himself at the [[Battle of Okitanawate]] [沖田畷の戦い], where he led 2,000 Shimazu and 1,000 [[Arima clan|Arima]] troops in a victory over [[Ryuzoji Takanobu|Ryûzôji Takanobu]] that resulted in the latter's death. He fought bravely against the invading [[Toyotomi clan|Toyotomi]] forces in [[1587]] but died suddenly at his [[Sadowara castle]] in Hyûga in the 7th month, possibly as the result of poisoning but more probably from illness. He was possibly the finest commander the Shimazu produced in the [[Sengoku Period]]. <br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{biodict}}<br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Shimazu_Yoshihisa&diff=15922Shimazu Yoshihisa2007-12-25T19:20:40Z<p>FWSeal: edited text (long Os, etc), links, kanji, sources</p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1533]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1611]]''<br />
''* Distinction: 16th Lord of the Shimazu Clan''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''島津義久'''<br />
<br />
==Yoshihisa's Advance==<br />
Shimazu Yoshihisa was the eldest son of [[Shimazu Takahisa]] ([[1514]]-[[1571]]). His mother was the daughter of Iriki-In Tadashige. As talented as his father, whom he succeeded in [[1566]], Yoshihisa continued the long struggle to unify the fragmented Shimazu domain. To this end he was compelled to subdue both the Tomotsuki and Hisikari within the borders of [[Satsuma province|Satsuma]] and [[Osumi province|Ôsumi]] while fighting hard to fend off advances from the outside lords [[Sagara Yoshihi]] and [[Ito Yoshisuke]]. In these difficult endeavors Yoshihisa was well-served by his brothers ([[Shimazu Yoshihiro|Yoshihiro]], [[Shimazu Iehisa|Iehisa]], and Toshihisa) and his steadily growing retainer band, which included the noted generals [[Ijuin Tadamune]], [[Niiro Tadamoto]], and [[Uwai Akitane]]. His first wife was the daughter of his grandfather, [[Shimazu Takayoshi]] and thus his aunt. He was very fond of her, as evidenced by his grief when she died. His second wife was the daughter of [[Tanegashima Tokitada]]. The existence of a third wife is presumed but her identity is uncertain.<br />
<br />
Once he had defeated his rivals in Satsuma and Ôsumi, and brought around the Iriki-in and Togo to his side, Yoshihisa was able to concentrate on his greatest threat: [[Ito Yoshisuke|Itô Yoshisuke]]. The latter controlled much of southern [[Hyuga province|Hyûga]], and from the vital castle of Obi was threatening the borders of the Shimazu domain. In [[1572]] [[Shimazu clan|the Shimazu]] and Ito fought a fierce battle at [[Battle of Kizakihara|Kizakihara]] [木崎原の戦い] that saw 300 Shimazu defeat an Ito army of as many as 3,000. The conclusion of this battle saw the Itô seriously battered and Yoshihisa in a position to expand northward. Four years later Yoshihisa and his brothers led some 6,000 men into Hyûga and defeated the Itô again at Takabaru. The war was decisively turned against Yoshisuke in January [[1578]], when he suffered yet another defeat at Kamiya. Largely abandoned by his followers, the once-proud Itô lord fled to the lands of the Ôtomo and begged asylum. His former capital, Sadowara, was occupied soon afterwards by the Shimazu. <br />
<br />
The battles in southern Hyûga in 1578 had established Yoshihisa as a great warrior and had the additional benefit of increasing the confidence of his followers. Almost overnight, the ranks of the Shimazu swelled - and not a moment too soon, for the Otomo had taken notice of the disturbance on their southern border. Determined to nip the Shimazu menace in the bud, the father and son team of [[Otomo Sorin|Ôtomo Sôrin]] and Yoshimune gathered a great army from the considerable Ôtomo domain (which included much of northern Kyushu) and marched into southern Hyûga. <br />
<br />
Yoshihisa had by now returned to Satsuma, having left his brother Iehisa with a thousand men to watch the border at Taka Castle [高城]. The advancing Ôtomo quickly crushed the pro-Shimazu lord (and former Ito vassal) [[Tsuchimochi Chikanari]] and occupied [[Matsuo castle]]. The two Ôtomo lords lingered there after sending a relative, [[Tawara Chikataka]], ahead with the main body. This invested Takajo, defended fiercely by Iehisa. <br />
<br />
[[Image:Mimigawa.jpg|thumb|left|Battle of Mimigawa, (1578)]]<br />
Learning of the dire threat in Hyûga, Yoshihisa hastily rallied his kinsmen and marched north to Sadowara, where he was briefly held up by bad weather. Meanwhile, his brother Yoshihiro, who was advancing along a different route, encountered and scattered an advance Ôtomo force, following up this success with the destruction of an enemy fort at Matsuyama. Yoshihisa then advanced to the Taka area, and joined with the rest of the Shimazu clan. The following battle was one of the lesser-known but more decisive of the 16th Century. Yoshihisa, with as many as 30,000 warriors, adopted a defensive posture, inviting an attack from the impetuous Tawara, who had no less then 60,000 men at his command. The attack did come, and it was nearly ruinous for the Shimazu: a number of generals including [[Hongo Hisamori]] [北郷久盛] were killed under the sheer weight of the charge, which tore deeply into the Shimazu army. It was at this moment, however, that Yoshihisa revealed his true qualities as a leader. Refusing to move his standard back, the lord of the Shimazu rallied his faltering men and turned the tables on the Ôtomo. With the enemy spearhead ground to a halt in front of him, Yoshihisa signaled for the men on the flanks to charge the Ôtomo flanks in a pincer movement while at this key moment, Iehisa led out a spirited foray from Takajo. The Ôtomo levies panicked and suddenly the battle had developed into a rout, with the Shimazu mercilessly riding down their defeated enemy as they fled north. Hundreds if not thousands were drowned attempting to cross the Mimigawa [耳川], after which the [[Battle of Mimigawa|battle]] is called. Sources differ on the results of the slaughter but the cost to the Ôtomo may have been as many as 20,000 killed. Certainly, the Ôtomo would never again command the power they once had. <br />
<br />
Yoshihisa's reputation soared after Mimigawa, and the Shimazu strength grew. Confident that the Ôtomo would be of no account for the time being, he proceeded to strike a truce with them and marched into [[Higo province|Higo]]. Many of the warriors there were in fact wise enough to see which way the wind was blowing and offered their fealty. An exception was [[Sagara Yoshiaki]], who resisted a Shimazu request to march through his land in [[1581]]. The result was the [[Siege of Minamata]], which is described in the Iriki-in documents… <br />
<br />
''The story of this campaign is as follows:'' <br />
<br />
''The lord sent a message to Sagara dono, by the two envoys, saying that, since it was inconvenient to send by sea guards to Utsu dono and Zho dono [the lord's allies at Kumamoto], he wished to make them take a direct route overland [through Sagara's territory] in their journey to Higo; and that, if [the latter] agreed to this, he would henceforth be at peace with him. [Sagara] replied that that would never be permitted. Accordingly, with a view to cutting through the land route and sending guards to Utsu dono and Zho dono, first of all the lord pitched three camps at Minamata. Minamata was carried, and Ashikita, Nanaura, even Yatsushiro, were possessed [by the lord]. This was the first step of his entry into Higo."''<br />
<br />
The motivations for the Shimazu drive were simple but compelling. A larger - and hard-fighting - retainer band needed lands to be rewarded, and these could be gotten only through war. Of course, pure ambition likely played a significant role in Yoshihisa's wars; there is an enduring legend that Takahisa called on his son from his deathbed to bring all of Kyushu under the Shimazu banner. <br />
<br />
The Shimazu movements in Higo brought them up against the third of Kyushu's great warrior houses: the Ryûzôji. Led by the ruthless [[Ryuzoji Takanobu|Takanobu]], the latter had already subdued most of Hizen and Chikuzen and, taking advantage of the Ôtomo's woes, was happily claiming districts in Higo. In Takanobu Yoshihisa would find himself well matched, and their rivalry would develop into a stalemate. <br />
<br />
While the Shimazu worked to consolidate their hold over Southern Kyushu and hold on to their forts in Higo, the Ryûzôji were active on another front, forcing the smaller clans of the Shimabara area of Hizen to submit. Of these, the Arima offered a spirited but seemingly doomed resistance, with their lord Harunobu even converting to Christianity in the hope of receiving aid from the Jesuits. Receiving only marginal assistance from that quarter, he then sent messengers to the Shimazu pleading for help. In fact, Yoshihisa was skeptical that anything could be done for such a stricken clan, and that in any event sending assistance would not be worth the effort. However, Iehisa prevailed on him to accept the possibilities of using the Arima's plea to open a second front against the Ryûzôji. Nonetheless, an opportunity to actually dispatch a relief force to the Shimabara Peninsula did not present itself for some years, and by then Harunobu's straits were dire indeed. He had lost his main castle, and was reduced to a thin strip of land facing the sea. It was right into this difficult situation that Iehisa came, personally leading a contingent of 2,000 men across the waters. The Shimazu had finally moved just in time, as it turned out. Takanobu, perhaps aware of the Arima's dealings with the Shimazu, had organized a campaign to finish off the former once and for all. In early May [[1584]] some 20,000 Ryûzôji warriors marched south and into the Shimabara area, where they were opposed by a total of 3,000 Shimazu and Arima troops. Once again, the Shimazu were destined to prove themselves the master underdogs, winning a remarkable victory at the [[Battle of Okinawate]]. In the midst of the fighting, Takanobu and a number of his great retainers were struck down and the result was that the Shimazu had effectively eliminated the last real opposition on Kyushu to their dreams of conquest. Takanobu's successor, the ineffectual Masaie, offered a truce (that included the surrender of Ryûzôji lands in Higo), which Yoshihisa accepted as a prelude to a final push to destroy the Ôtomo. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately for the Shimazu, the aging Ôtomo Sôrin played the final card in his hand, traveling to Osaka to beg for succor from [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] himself in [[1585]]. Hideyoshi, who had conquered Shikoku the year before, saw this as a useful opportunity to interpose his own ever-growing authority onto Kyushu and sent a letter to Shimazu demanding that he cease his activities. To this first letter, the Shimazu merely responded that their campaign was in fact what might be called a matter of proactive defense and was justified. The following year Hideyoshi issued an even stronger ultimatum that was nonetheless generous, allowing that if Yoshihisa would show his compliance, he would be allowed to retain half of Chikugo and Higo in addition to his lands in Hyuga, Satsuma, and Ôsumi. Yoshihisa rashly penned in reply a dismissive letter that contrasted the Shimazu's long history and Hideyoshi's humble roots. After all, this was not the first time that an outsider had attempted to interfere with affairs on Kyushu: [[Oda Nobunaga]] had made similar demands (perhaps hoping to keep the Ôtomo alive-and a threat to the Môri) before his death in [[1582]].<br />
<br />
==Hideyoshi Intervenes==<br />
Yoshihisa had made a grave mistake in his underestimation of Hideyoshi, but as 1586 drew to a close, the latter's threats may have seemed a moot point. With the Ôtomo everywhere retreating or switching sides, the occupation of the Ôtomo capital in Bungo, [[Funai]], was only a matter of time. Perhaps hoping to buy back a little of that time to rally his great hosts, Hideyoshi dispatched a force to Bungo commanded by [[Chosokabe Motochika]] and [[Sengoku Hidehisa]]. Though these men were under orders to sit tight in the Ôtomo capital, Sengoku and [[Otomo Yoshimune|Ôtomo Yoshimune]], over Motochika's objections, decided to take the fight to the Shimazu. Their reasoning was that the Shimazu seemed to have drawn back to rest (as indeed they had) and this presented a fine opportunity to relieve Toshimitsu, a nearby castle currently under siege by [[Niiro Tadamoto]]. Unfortunately for the allies, Yoshihisa learned of their movements and hastened to the area. Toshimitsu was overrun, and Ôtomo and his allies were confronted with a Shimazu army. Motochika suggested they retreat to Funai, but was again ignored. Instead, Yoshimune decided to have a go at what seemed to be a reasonably manageable enemy force (unaware as he was that the bulk of the Shimazu were hidden in the hills across the Hetsugigawa). The [[Battle of Hetsugigawa]] [戸次川の戦い] commenced with [[Sogo Nagayasu]] (a Shikoku warrior like Motochika) falling for a feint across the river by [[Ijuin Hisanori]]. The result of the battle was another Ôtomo defeat and the occupation of Bungo. Unfortunately for Yoshihisa, his moment of glory would be brief indeed. On 20 January [[1587]] [[Hashiba Hidenaga]] landed on Kyushu with as many as 60,000 men, followed by [[Kobayakawa Takakage]] and the Môri, who had with them a further 90,000. Faced with this mighty host and already stretched to the limit, the Shimazu withdrew south rapidly, allowing Hidenaga to proceed with an advance along the eastern coast of the island. Hideyoshi himself arrived with yet another 30,000 in February and secured the submission of most of the warlords of the provinces conquered by the Shimazu in the past decade, including the [[Akizuki clan|Akizuki]], [[Arima clan|Arima]], [[Goto clan|Goto]], [[Nabeshima clan|Nabeshima]], Omura, and Ryûzôji. The Toyotomi progress was almost leisurely, especially since the only real Shimazu resistance would come at the Sendai River on 6 June, and this was in essence a show of simple defiance by the proud Shimazu warriors. By this point, the approaches to Kagoshima lay open, and Toyotomi troops were pouring into Satsuma. <br />
<br />
Yoshihisa was faced with two alternatives: a doomed last stand at Kagoshima or surrender. He wisely chose the latter. On 14 June [[1587]], he shaved his head and appeared in Hideyoshi's headquarters at Taiheiji in Satsuma. All things considered, Hideyoshi was lenient in his treatment of the humiliated Shimazu, allowing Yoshihisa to keep his head and his clan to keep Satsuma, Ôsumi, and southern Hyûga. Yoshihisa was naturally expected to retire (and indeed he had hastily taken up a monk's habit and the priestly name Ryuhaku [竜伯]), and he turned over leadership of the clan to his brother Yoshihiro. He lived in more-or-less quiet retirement until his death in 1611, having seen his clan defeated once again, this time in the fighting at [[Battle of Sekigahara|Sekigahara]] in [[1600]]. <br />
<br />
Like his father a leader of great energy, Yoshihisa was probably the greatest general Kyushu produced in the 16th Century, though his victories owed much to the skill of his brothers and the pure fighting qualities of the Satsuma warriors. <br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{saref}}<br />
*Asakawa, Kan'ichi ''The Documents of Iriki'' Yale 1929 <br />
*Berry, Mary Elizabeth ''Hideyoshi'' Harvard University Press 1982 <br />
*Rekishi Gunzô Shirizu ''Sengoku no Kassen Taizen'' Gakken 1997<br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Shimazu_Yoshihisa&diff=15921Shimazu Yoshihisa2007-12-25T18:57:11Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1533]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1611]]''<br />
''* Distinction: 16th Lord of the Shimazu Clan''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''島津義久'''<br />
<br />
==Yoshihisa's Advance==<br />
Shimazu Yoshihisa was the eldest son of [[Shimazu Takahisa]] ([[1514]]-[[1571]]). His mother was the daughter of Iriki-In Tadashige. As talented as his father, whom he succeeded in [[1566]], Yoshihisa continued the long struggle to unify the fragmented Shimazu domain. To this end he was compelled to subdue both the Tomotsuki and Hisikari within the borders of [[Satsuma province|Satsuma]] and [[Osumi province|Ôsumi]] while fighting hard to fend off advances from the outside lords [[Sagara Yoshihi]] and [[Ito Yoshisuke]]. In these difficult endeavors Yoshihisa was well-served by his brothers ([[Shimazu Yoshihiro|Yoshihiro]], [[Shimazu Iehisa|Iehisa]], and Toshihisa) and his steadily growing retainer band, which included the noted generals [[Ijuin Tadamune]], [[Niiro Tadamoto]], and [[Uwai Akitane]]. His first wife was the daughter of his grandfather, [[Shimazu Takayoshi]] and thus his aunt. He was very fond of her, as evidenced by his grief when she died. His second wife was the daughter of [[Tanegashima Tokitada]]. The existence of a third wife is presumed but her identity is uncertain.<br />
<br />
Once he had defeated his rivals in Satsuma and Ôsumi, and brought around the Iriki-in and Togo to his side, Yoshihisa was able to concentrate on his greatest threat: [[Ito Yoshisuke]]. The latter controlled much of southern [[Hyuga province|Hyûga]], and from the vital castle of Obi was threatening the borders of the Shimazu domain. In [[1572]] [[Shimazu clan|the Shimazu]] and Ito fought a fierce battle at [[Battle of Kizakihara|Kizakihara]] [木崎原の戦い] that saw 300 Shimazu defeat an Ito army of as many as 3,000. The conclusion of this battle saw the Ito seriously battered and Yoshihisa in a position to expand northward. Four years later Yoshihisa and his brothers led some 6,000 men into Hyûga and defeated the Ito again at Takabaru. The war was decisively turned against Yoshisuke in January [[1578]], when he suffered yet another defeat at Kamiya. Largely abandoned by his followers, the once-proud Ito lord fled to the lands of the Ôtomo and begged asylum. His former capital, Sadowara, was occupied soon afterwards by the Shimazu. <br />
<br />
The battles in southern Hyûga in 1578 had established Yoshihisa as a great warrior and had the additional benefit of increasing the confidence of his followers. Almost overnight, the ranks of the Shimazu swelled - and not a moment too soon, for the Otomo had taken notice of the disturbance on their southern border. Determined to nip the Shimazu menace in the bud, the father and son team of [[Otomo Sorin|Ôtomo Sôrin]] and Yoshimune gathered a great army from the considerable Ôtomo domain (which included much of northern Kyushu) and marched into southern Hyûga. <br />
<br />
Yoshihisa had by now returned to Satsuma, having left his brother Iehisa with a thousand men to watch the border at Takajo. The advancing Ôtomo quickly crushed the pro-Shimazu lord (and former Ito vassal) [[Tsuchimochi Chikanari]] and occupied [[Matsuo castle]]. The two Ôtomo lords lingered there after sending a relative, [[Tawara Chikataka]], ahead with the main body. This invested Takajo, which Iehisa defended fiercely. <br />
<br />
[[Image:Mimigawa.jpg|thumb|left|Battle of Mimigawa, (1578)]]<br />
Learning of the dire threat in Hyuga, Yoshihisa hastily rallied his kinsmen and marched north to Sadowara, where he was briefly held up by bad weather. Meanwhile, his brother Yoshihiro, who was advancing along a different route, encountered and scattered an advance Ôtomo force, following up this success with the destruction of an enemy fort at Matsuyama. Yoshihisa then advanced to the Taka area, and joined with the rest of the Shimazu clan. The following battle was one of the lesser-known but more decisive of the 16th Century. Yoshihisa, with as many as 30,000 warriors, adopted a defensive posture, inviting an attack from the impetuous Tawara, who had no less then 60,000 men at his command. The attack did come, and it was nearly ruinous for the Shimazu: a number of generals were killed under the sheer weight of the charge, which tore deeply into the Shimazu army. It was at this moment, however, that Yoshihisa revealed his true qualities as a leader. Refusing to move his standard one-inch back, the lord of the Shimazu rallied his faltering men and turned the tables on the Ôtomo. With the enemy spearhead ground to a halt in front of him, Yoshihisa signaled for the men on the flanks to charge the Ôtomo flanks in a pincer movement while at this key moment, Iehisa led out a spirited foray from Takajo. The Ôtomo levies panicked and suddenly the battle had developed into a rout, with the Shimazu mercilessly riding down their defeated enemy as they fled north. Hundreds if not thousands were drowned attempting to cross the Mimigawa [耳川], after which the [[Battle of Mimigawa|battle]] is called. Sources differ on the results of the slaughter but the cost to the Ôtomo may have been as many as 20,000 killed. Certainly, the Ôtomo would never again command the power they once had. <br />
<br />
Yoshihisa's reputation soared after Mimigawa, and the Shimazu strength grew. Confident that the Ôtomo would be of no account for the time being, he proceeded to strike a truce with them and marched into [[Higo province|Higo]]. Many of the warriors there were in fact wise enough to see which way the wind was blowing and offered their fealty. An exception was [[Sagara Yoshiaki]], who resisted a Shimazu request to march through his land in [[1581]]. The result was the [[Siege of Minamata]], which is described in the Iriki-in documents… <br />
<br />
''The story of this campaign is as follows:'' <br />
<br />
''The lord sent a message to Sagara dono, by the two envoys, saying that, since it was inconvenient to send by sea guards to Utsu dono and Zho dono [the lord's allies at Kumamoto], he wished to make them take a direct route overland [through Sagara's territory] in their journey to Higo; and that, if [the latter] agreed to this, he would henceforth be at peace with him. [Sagara] replied that that would never be permitted. Accordingly, with a view to cutting through the land route and sending guards to Utsu dono and Zho dono, first of all the lord pitched three camps at Minamata. Minamata was carried, and Ashikita, Nanaura, even Yatsushiro, were possessed [by the lord]. This was the first step of his entry into Higo."''<br />
<br />
The motivations for the Shimazu drive were simple but compelling. A larger - and hard-fighting - retainer band needed lands to be rewarded, and these could be gotten only through war. Of course, pure ambition likely played a significant role in Yoshihisa's wars; there is an enduring legend that Takahisa called on his son from his deathbed to bring all of Kyushu under the Shimazu banner. <br />
<br />
The Shimazu movements in Higo brought them up against the third of Kyushu's great warrior houses: the Ryûzôji. Led by the ruthless [[Ryuzoji Takanobu|Takanobu]], the latter had already subdued most of Hizen and Chikuzen and, taking advantage of the Ôtomo's woes, was happily claiming districts in Higo. In Takanobu Yoshihisa would find himself well matched, and their rivalry would develop into a stalemate. <br />
<br />
While the Shimazu worked to consolidate their hold over Southern Kyushu and hold on to their forts in Higo, the Ryûzôji were active on another front, forcing the smaller clans of the Shimabara area of Hizen to submit. Of these, the Arima offered a spirited but seemingly doomed resistance, with their lord Harunobu even converting to Christianity in the hope of receiving aid from the Jesuits. Receiving only marginal assistance from that quarter, he then sent messengers to the Shimazu pleading for help. In fact, Yoshihisa was skeptical that anything could be done for such a stricken clan, and that in any event sending assistance would not be worth the effort. However, Iehisa prevailed on him to accept the possibilities of using the Arima's plea to open a second front against the Ryûzôji. Nonetheless, an opportunity to actually dispatch a relief force to the Shimabara Peninsula did not present itself for some years, and by then Harunobu's straits were dire indeed. He had lost his main castle, and was reduced to a thin strip of land facing the sea. It was right into this difficult situation that Iehisa came, personally leading a contingent of 2,000 men across the waters. The Shimazu had finally moved just in time, as it turned out. Takanobu, perhaps aware of the Arima's dealings with the Shimazu, had organized a campaign to finish off the former once and for all. In early May [[1584]] some 20,000 Ryûzôji warriors marched south and into the Shimabara area, where they were opposed by a total of 3,000 Shimazu and Arima troops. Once again, the Shimazu were destined to prove themselves the master underdogs, winning a remarkable victory at the [[Battle of Okinawate]]. In the midst of the fighting, Takanobu and a number of his great retainers were struck down and the result was that the Shimazu had effectively eliminated the last real opposition on Kyushu to their dreams of conquest. Takanobu's successor, the ineffectual Masaie, offered a truce (that included the surrender of Ryûzôji lands in Higo), which Yoshihisa accepted as a prelude to a final push to destroy the Ôtomo. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately for the Shimazu, the aging Ôtomo Sôrin played the final card in his hand, traveling to Osaka to beg for succor from [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] himself in [[1585]]. Hideyoshi, who had conquered Shikoku the year before, saw this as a useful opportunity to interpose his own ever-growing authority onto Kyushu and sent a letter to Shimazu demanding that he cease his activities. To this first letter, the Shimazu merely responded that their campaign was in fact what might be called a matter of proactive defense and was justified. The following year Hideyoshi issued an even stronger ultimatum that was nonetheless generous, allowing that if Yoshihisa would show his compliance, he would be allowed to retain half of Chikugo and Higo in addition to his lands in Hyuga, Satsuma, and Ôsumi. Yoshihisa rashly penned in reply a dismissive letter that contrasted the Shimazu's long history and Hideyoshi's humble roots. After all, this was not the first time that an outsider had attempted to interfere with affairs on Kyushu: [[Oda Nobunaga]] had made similar demands (perhaps hoping to keep the Ôtomo alive-and a threat to the Môri) before his death in [[1582]].<br />
<br />
==Hideyoshi Intervenes==<br />
Yoshihisa had made a grave mistake in his underestimation of Hideyoshi, but as 1586 drew to a close, the latter's threats may have seemed a moot point. With the Ôtomo everywhere retreating or switching sides, the occupation of the Ôtomo capital in Bungo, [[Funai]], was only a matter of time. Perhaps hoping to buy back a little of that time to rally his great hosts, Hideyoshi dispatched a force to Bungo commanded by [[Chosokabe Motochika]] and [[Sengoku Hidehisa]]. Though these men were under orders to sit tight in the Ôtomo capital, Sengoku and [[Otomo Yoshimune|Ôtomo Yoshimune]], over Motochika's objections, decided to take the fight to the Shimazu. Their reasoning was that the Shimazu seemed to have drawn back to rest (as indeed they had) and this presented a fine opportunity to relieve Toshimitsu, a nearby castle currently under siege by [[Niiro Tadamoto]]. Unfortunately for the allies, Yoshihisa learned of their movements and hastened to the area. Toshimitsu was overrun, and Ôtomo and his allies were confronted with a Shimazu army. Motochika suggested they retreat to Funai, but was again ignored. Instead, Yoshimune decided to have a go at what seemed to be a reasonably manageable enemy force (unaware as he was that the bulk of the Shimazu were hidden in the hills across the Hetsugigawa). The fighting commenced with [[Sogo Nagayasu]] (a Shikoku warrior like Motochika) falling for a feint across the river by [[Ijuin Hisanori]]. The result of the battle was another Ôtomo defeat and the occupation of Bungo. Unfortunately for Yoshihisa, his moment of glory would be brief indeed. On 20 January [[1587]] [[Hashiba Hidenaga]] landed on Kyushu with as many as 60,000 men, followed by [[Kobayakawa Takakage]] and the Môri, who had with them a further 90,000. Faced with this mighty host and already stretched to the limit, the Shimazu withdrew south rapidly, allowing Hidenaga to proceed with an advance along the eastern coast of the island. Hideyoshi himself arrived with yet another 30,000 in February and secured the submission of most of the warlords of the provinces conquered by the Shimazu in the past decade, including the [[Akizuki clan|Akizuki]], [[Arima clan|Arima]], [[Goto clan|Goto]], [[Nabeshima clan|Nabeshima]], Omura, and Ryûzôji. The Toyotomi progress was almost leisurely, especially since the only real Shimazu resistance would come at the Sendai River on 6 June, and this was in essence a show of simple defiance by the proud Shimazu warriors. By this point, the approaches to Kagoshima lay open, and Toyotomi troops were pouring into Satsuma. <br />
<br />
Yoshihisa was faced with two alternatives: a doomed last stand at Kagoshima or surrender. He wisely chose the latter. On 14 June [[1587]], he shaved his head and appeared in Hideyoshi's headquarters at Taiheiji in Satsuma. All things considered, Hideyoshi was lenient in his treatment of the humiliated Shimazu, allowing Yoshihisa to keep his head and his clan to keep Satsuma, Ôsumi, and southern Hyûga. Yoshihisa was naturally expected to retire (and indeed he had hastily taken up a monk's habit and the priestly name Ryuhaku [竜伯]), and he turned over leadership of the clan to his brother Yoshihiro. He lived in more-or-less quiet retirement until his death in 1611, having seen his clan defeated once again, this time in the fighting at [[Battle of Sekigahara|Sekigahara]] in [[1600]]. <br />
<br />
Like his father a leader of great energy, Yoshihisa was probably the greatest general Kyushu produced in the 16th Century, though his victories owed much to the skill of his brothers and the pure fighting qualities of the Satsuma warriors. <br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{saref}}<br />
*Asakawa, Kan'ichi ''The Documents of Iriki'' Yale 1929 <br />
<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Shimazu_Yoshihisa&diff=15920Shimazu Yoshihisa2007-12-24T21:55:16Z<p>FWSeal: minor edits</p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1533]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1611]]''<br />
''* Distinction: 16th Lord of the Shimazu Clan''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''島津義久'''<br />
<br />
==Yoshihisa's Advance==<br />
Shimazu Yoshihisa was the eldest son of [[Shimazu Takahisa]] ([[1514]]-[[1571]]). His mother was the daughter of Iriki-In Tadashige. As talented as his father, whom he succeeded in [[1566]], Yoshihisa continued the long struggle to unify the fragmented Shimazu domain. To this end he was compelled to subdue both the Tomotsuki and Hisikari within the borders of [[Satsuma province|Satsuma]] and [[Osumi province|Osumi]] while fighting hard to fend off advances from the outside lords [[Sagara Yoshihi]] and [[Ito Yoshisuke]]. In these difficult endeavors Yoshihisa was well-served by his brothers ([[Shimazu Yoshihiro|Yoshihiro]], [[Shimazu Iehisa|Iehisa]], and Toshihisa) and his steadily growing retainer band, which included the noted generals [[Ijuin Tadamune]], [[Niiro Tadamoto]], and [[Uwai Akitane]]. <br />
<br />
Once he had defeated his rivals in Satsuma and Osumi, and brought around the Iriki-in and Togo to his side, Yoshihisa was able to concentrate on his greatest threat: [[Ito Yoshisuke]]. The latter controlled much of southern [[Hyuga province|Hyuga]], and from the vital castle of Obi was threatening the borders of the Shimazu domain. In [[1572]] [[Shimazu clan|the Shimazu]] and Ito fought a fierce battle at [[Battle of Kizakihara|Kizakihara]] [木崎原の戦い] that saw 300 Shimazu defeat an Ito army of as many as 3,000. The conclusion of this battle saw the Ito seriously battered and Yoshihisa in a position to expand northward. Four years later Yoshihisa and his brothers led some 6,000 men into Hyuga and defeated the Ito again at Takabaru. The war was decisively turned against Yoshisuke in January [[1578]], when he suffered yet another defeat at Kamiya. Largely abandoned by his followers, the once-proud Ito lord fled to the lands of the Otomo and begged asylum. His former capital, Sadowara, was occupied soon afterwards by the Shimazu. <br />
<br />
The battles in southern Hyuga in 1578 had established Yoshihisa as a great warrior and had the additional benefit of increasing the confidence of his followers. Almost overnight, the ranks of the Shimazu swelled - and not a moment too soon, for the Otomo had taken notice of the disturbance on their southern border. Determined to nip the Shimazu menace in the bud, the father and son team of [[Otomo Sorin]] and Yoshimune gathered a great army from the considerable Otomo domain (which included much of northern Kyushu) and marched into southern Hyuga. <br />
<br />
Yoshihisa had by now returned to Satsuma, having left his brother Iehisa with a thousand men to watch the border at Takajo. The advancing Otomo quickly crushed the pro-Shimazu lord (and former Ito vassal) [[Tsuchimochi Chikanari]] and occupied [[Matsuo castle]]. The two Otomo lords lingered there after sending a relative, [[Tawara Chikataka]], ahead with the main body. This invested Takajo, which Iehisa defended fiercely. <br />
<br />
[[Image:Mimigawa.jpg|thumb|left|Battle of Mimigawa, (1578)]]<br />
Learning of the dire threat in Hyuga, Yoshihisa hastily rallied his kinsmen and marched north to Sadowara, where he was briefly held up by bad weather. Meanwhile, his brother Yoshihiro, who was advancing along a different route, encountered and scattered an advance Otomo force, following up this success with the destruction of an enemy fort at Matsuyama. Yoshihisa then advanced to the Taka area, and joined with the rest of the Shimazu clan. The following battle was one of the lesser-known but more decisive of the 16th Century. Yoshihisa, with as many as 30,000 warriors, adopted a defensive posture, inviting an attack from the impetuous Tawara, who had no less then 60,000 men at his command. The attack did come, and it was nearly ruinous for the Shimazu: a number of generals were killed under the sheer weight of the charge, which tore deeply into the Shimazu army. It was at this moment, however, that Yoshihisa revealed his true qualities as a leader. Refusing to move his standard one-inch back, the lord of the Shimazu rallied his faltering men and turned the tables on the Otomo. With the enemy spearhead ground to a halt in front of him, Yoshihisa signaled for the men on the flanks to charge the Otomo flanks in a pincer movement while at this key moment, Iehisa led out a spirited foray from Takajo. The Otomo levies panicked and suddenly the battle had developed into a rout, with the Shimazu mercilessly riding won their defeated enemy as they fled north. Hundreds if not thousands were drowned attempting to cross the Mimigawa [耳川], after which the [[Battle of Mimigawa|battle]] is called. Sources differ on the results of the slaughter but the cost to the Otomo may have been as many as 20,000 killed. Certainly, the Otomo would never again command the power they once had. <br />
<br />
Yoshihisa's reputation soared after Mimigawa, and the Shimazu strength grew. Confident that the Otomo would be of no account for the time being, he proceeded to strike a truce with them and marched into [[Higo province|Higo]]. Many of the warriors there were in fact wise enough to see which way the wind was blowing and offered their fealty. An exception was [[Sagara Yoshiaki]], who resisted a Shimazu request to march through his land in [[1581]]. The result was the [[Siege of Minamata]], which is described in the Iriki-in documents… <br />
<br />
The story of this campaign is as follows: <br />
<br />
The lord sent a message to Sagara dono, by the two envoys, saying that, since it was inconvenient to send by sea guards to Utsu dono and Zho dono [the lord's allies at Kumamoto], he wished to make them take a direct route overland [through Sagara's territory] in their journey to Higo; and that, if [the latter] agreed to this, he would henceforth be at peace with him. [Sagara] replied that that would never be permitted. Accordingly, with a view to cutting through the land route and sending guards to Utsu dono and Zho dono, first of all the lord pitched three camps at Minamata. Minamata was carried, and Ashikita, Nanaura, even Yatsushiro, were possessed [by the lord]. This was the first step of his entry into Higo." <br />
<br />
The motivations for the Shimazu drive were simple but compelling. A larger - and hard-fighting - retainer band needed lands to be rewarded, and these could be gotten only through war. Of course, pure ambition likely played a significant role in Yoshihisa's wars; there is an enduring legend that Takahisa called on his son from his deathbed to bring all of Kyushu under the Shimazu banner. <br />
<br />
The Shimazu movements in Higo brought them up against the third of Kyushu's great warrior houses: the Ryuzoji. Led by the ruthless Takanobu, the latter had already subdued most of Hizen and Chikuzen and, taking advantage of the Otomo's woes, was happily claiming districts in Higo. In Takanobu Yoshihisa would find himself well matched, and their rivalry would develop into a stalemate. <br />
<br />
While the Shimazu worked to consolidate their hold over Southern Kyushu and hold on to their forts in Higo, the Ryuzoji were active on another front, forcing the smaller clans of the Shimabara area of Hizen to submit. Of these, the Arima offered a spirited but seemingly doomed resistance, with their lord Harunobu even converting to Christianity in the hope of receiving aid from the Jesuits. Receiving only marginal assistance from that quarter, he then sent messengers to the Shimazu pleading for help. In fact, Yoshihisa was skeptical that anything could be done for such a stricken clan, and that in any event sending assistance would not be worth the effort. However, Iehisa prevailed on him to accept the possibilities of using the Arima's plea to open a second front against the Ryuzoji. Nonetheless, an opportunity to actually dispatch a relief force to the Shimabara Peninsula did not present itself for some years, and by then Harunobu's straits were dire indeed. He had lost his main castle, and was reduced to a thin strip of land facing the sea. It was right into this difficult situation that Iehisa came, personally leading a contingent of 2,000 men across the waters. The Shimazu had finally moved just in time, as it turned out. Takanobu, perhaps aware of the Arima's dealings with the Shimazu, had organized a campaign to finish off the former once and for all. In early May [[1584]] some 20,000 Ryuzoji warriors marched south and into the Shimabara area, where they were opposed by a total of 3,000 Shimazu and Arima troops. Once again, the Shimazu were destined to prove themselves the master underdogs, winning a remarkable victory at the [[Battle of Okinawate]]. In the midst of the fighting, Takanobu and a number of his great retainers were struck down and the result was that the Shimazu had effectively eliminated the last real opposition on Kyushu to their dreams of conquest. Takanobu's successor, the rotund and ineffectual Masaie, offered a truce (that included the surrender of Ryuzoji lands in Higo), which Yoshihisa accepted as a prelude to a final push to destroy the Otomo. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately for the Shimazu, the aging Otomo Sorin played the final card in his hand, traveling to Osaka to beg for succor from [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] himself in [[1585]]. Hideyoshi, who had conquered Shikoku the year before, saw this as a useful opportunity to flex some of his considerable political muscle and sent a letter demanding Shimazu cease his activities. To this first letter, the Shimazu merely responded that their campaign was in fact what might be called a proactive defensive move. The following year Hideyoshi issued an even stronger ultimatum that was nonetheless generous - if Yoshihisa would show his compliance, he would be allowed to retain half of Chikugo and Higo in addition to his lands in Hyuga, Satsuma, and Osumi. Yoshihisa rashly penned in reply a dismissive letter that contrasted the Shimazu's long history and Hideyoshi's humble roots. After all, this was not the first time that an outsider had attempted to interfere with affairs on Kyushu: [[Oda Nobunaga]] had made similar demands (perhaps hoping to keep the Otomo alive-and a threat to the Mori) before his death in [[1582]].<br />
<br />
==Hideyoshi Intervenes==<br />
Yoshihisa had made a grave mistake in his underestimation of Hideyoshi, but as 1586 drew to a close, the latter's threats may have seemed a moot point. With the Otomo everywhere retreating or switching sides, the occupation of the Otomo capital in Bungo, [[Funai]], was only a matter of time. Perhaps hoping to buy back a little of that time to rally his great hosts, Hideyoshi dispatched a force to Bungo commanded by [[Chosokabe Motochika]] and [[Sengoku Hidehisa]]. Though these men were under orders to sit tight in the Otomo capital, Sengoku and [[Otomo Yoshimune]], over Motochika's objections, decided to take the fight to the Shimazu. Their reasoning was that the Shimazu seemed to have drawn back to rest (as indeed they had) and this presented a fine opportunity to relieve Toshimitsu, a nearby castle currently under siege by [[Niiro Tadamoto]]. Unfortunately for the allies, Yoshihisa learned of their movements and hastened to the area. Toshimitsu was overrun, and Otomo and his allies were confronted with a Shimazu army. Motochika suggested they retreat to Funai, but was again ignored. Instead, Yoshimune decided to have a go at what seemed to be a reasonably manageable enemy force (unaware as he was that the bulk of the Shimazu were hidden in the hills across the Hetsugigawa). The fighting commenced with [[Sogo Nagayasu]] (a Shikoku warrior like Motochika) falling for a feint across the river by [[Ijuin Hisanori]]. The result of the battle was another Otomo defeat and the occupation of Bungo. Unfortunately for Yoshihisa, his moment of glory would be brief indeed. On 20 January [[1587]] [[Hashiba Hidenaga]] landed on Kyushu with as many as 60,000 men, followed by [[Kobayakawa Takakage]] and the Mori, who had with them a further 90,000. Faced with this mighty host and already stretched to the limit, the Shimazu withdrew south rapidly, allowing Hidenaga to proceed with an advance along the eastern coast of the island. Hideyoshi himself arrived with yet another 30,000 in February and secured the submission of most of the warlords of the provinces conquered by the Shimazu in the past decade, including the [[Akizuki clan|Akizuki]], [[Arima clan|Arima]], [[Goto clan|Goto]], [[Nabeshima clan|Nabeshima]], Omura, and Ryuzoji. The Toyotomi progress was almost leisurely, especially since the only real Shimazu resistance would come at the Sendai River on 6 June, and this was in essence a show of simple defiance by the proud Shimazu warriors. By this point, the approaches to Kagoshima lay open, and Toyotomi troops were pouring into Satsuma. <br />
<br />
Yoshihisa was faced with two alternatives: a doomed last stand at Kagoshima or surrender. He wisely chose the latter. On 14 June [[1587]], he shaved his head and appeared in Hideyoshi's headquarters at Taiheiji in Satsuma. All things considered, Hideyoshi was lenient in his treatment of the humiliated Shimazu, allowing Yoshihisa to keep his head and his clan to keep Satsuma, Osumi, and southern Hyuga. Yoshihisa was naturally expected to retire (and indeed he had hastily taken up a monk's habit and the priestly name Ryuhaku), and he turned over leadership of the clan to his brother Yoshihiro. He lived in more-or-less quiet retirement until his death in 1611, having seen his clan defeated once again, this time in the fighting at [[Battle of Sekigahara|Sekigahara]] in [[1600]]. <br />
<br />
Like his father a leader of great energy, Yoshihisa was probably the greatest general Kyushu produced in the 16th Century, though his victories owed much to the skill of his brothers and the pure fighting qualities of the Satsuma warriors. <br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{saref}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Mori_Motonari&diff=15919Mori Motonari2007-12-24T01:25:15Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: 16 April [[1497]] (Meiou 2/4/16)''<br />
* ''Died: 6 July [[1571]] (Genki 2/6/14)''<br />
* ''Sons: [[Mori Takamoto|Môri Takamoto]], [[Kikkawa Motoharu]], [[Kobayakawa Takakage]], [[Mori Motokiyo|Môri (Hoida) Motokiyo]], [[Mori Motoaki|Môri (Tomita) Motoaki]], [[Dewa Mototomo]] (1555-1571), [[Amano Motomasa]] (1559-1609), [[Kobayakawa Hidekane]]''<br />
* ''Titles: Mutsu no kami''<br />
* ''Childhood Name: Shoujumaru'' (松寿丸)<br />
* ''Japanese'': 毛利 元就 ''(Mouri Motonari)''<br />
<br />
<br />
==The Lord of Koriyama==<br />
[[Image:Mori_motonari.jpg|thumb|right|Mori Motonari.]]<br />
Motonari inherited a clan that claimed direct descent from [[Oie Hiromoto|Ôie Hiromoto]] (大江広元, 1148-1225), an advisor to [[Minamoto Yoritomo]] who served the [[Hojo clan|Hôjô]] well after Yoritomo's death. Hiromoto's son assumed the name Môri, and in [[1336]] Aki province became the clan's homeland when [[Mori Tokichika|Môri Tokichika]] was appointed Jito there. The clan experienced a power struggle in the 1470's that saw the main [[Mori clan|Môri]] line absorb both its branch families. <br />
<br />
Motonari was the second son of [[Mori Hiromoto|Môri Hiromoto]], a daimyo in Aki Province who struggled against the local [[Takeda clan]] and the encroaching [[Ouchi clan|Ôuchi]]. His mother was a daughter of [[Fukubara Hirotoshi]] [福原広俊]. In [[1499]], Hiromoto found himself in the path of a looming Amako invasion from Izumo, and allied with Oûchi. At the time, [[Ouchi Yoshioki|Ôuchi Yoshioki]] was becoming involved in the gunboat politics of Kyoto and while he was away, the Amako grew stronger. In [[1506]] Hiromoto died, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Okimoto, who ended up assisting Yoshioki in Kyoto for a short period. Motonari, meanwhile, was given his manhood ceremony in 1511. It happened that Okimoto died in [[1516]], and Motonari was named to act as guardian to the late lord's young son, [[Mori Komatsumaru|Komatsumaru]] [幸松丸]. The most powerful daimyo in Aki, [[Takeda Motoshige]], took advantage of Okimoto's death to launch an attack on the Môri and Kikkawa domains, bringing 5,000 men to attack [[Arita Castle]] [有田城]. Motonari led an allied army of some 1,000 out to contest the Takeda. The Takeda's vanguard commander, [[Kumagai Motonao]] [熊谷元直] killed in the first action and in response Motoshige himself lead the army against Motonari but was himself killed by an arrow crossing the Mataouchigawa (又打川). This [[Battle of Arita-Nakaide]] [有田中井手の戦い], possibly Motonari's first action, was a pivotal moment for the Môri and increased their influence in Aki Province greatly. However, some time after this, the Amako, as part of their ongoing conflict with the Ôuchi, compelled the Môri to ally with them. In 1522, Motonari married the daughter of [[Kikkawa Kunitsune]], known today as [[Myoukyuu]] [妙玖]. This match secured the friendship of the Kikkawa and would in time produce three fine sons.<br />
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In 1523 the Amako launced an attack against Ôuchi holdings in Aki and Motonari led the Môri in service in Amako Tsunehisa's army. The Amako were initally repulsed in their attempts to bring down [[Kagamiyama Castle]], held by [[Kurata Fusanobu]] (蔵田房信). Motonari suggested a trick that resulted in Fusanobu's murder. The castle fell and Motonari himself gained further prestige. Later that same year, Komatsumaru died. Motonari was nominated by the family's retainers to become the official head of the clan. His younger brother, [[Sogo Motostuna|Sôgô Mototsuna]] (相合元綱, d.1524), resented the decision and plotted against Motonari, only to be discovered and at length forced to commit suicide. His supporter [[Katsura Hirozumi]] and others were also killed or committed suicide. Relations between the Môri and the Amako declined over the next few years and Motonari decided to cut his ties with the Amako and allied his clan with the Ôuchi.<br />
<br />
In [[1528]], Ôuchi Yoshioki passed away and was succeeded by his son Yoshitaka. The Amako made an effort to capitalize on this turn of events, but with only minimal success. Meanwhile, Motonari set about consolidating the Môri's holdings in Aki, and gathering local allies, chief among these being the [[Shisido clan|Shisido]], [[Kumagai clan|Kumagai]], and [[Amano clan|Amano]]. Efforts by the Amako to bring the Môri back under their sway failed, and in [[1540]] (Tenbun 9/8/10) [[Amako Akihisa]] (Haruhisa) dispatched a sizable army drawn from all his holdings into Aki with the intention of bringing down Koriyama Castle. Motonari was heavily outnumbered and shut himself up in Koriyama, sending out raids to harrass the Amako troops under cover of darkness and fog and calling for aid from the Ôuchi. The Amako destroyed a number of Koriyama's outlying forts and burned Koriyama's accompanying town, Yoshida, to the ground. Still unable to convince Motonari to submit, the Amako attempted to besiege Koriyama. Ôuchi Yoshitaka dispatched his general [[Sue Takafusa]] (Harukata) to relieve Koriyama, and in early October Sue arrived and combined forces with Motonari and a number of hard-fought battles ensued. The [[Siege of Koriyama|Battle of Yoshida-Koriyama Castle]] [吉田郡山城の戦い], a term generally applied to the overall campaign but consisting of a number of stages and engagements that lasted for the rest of the year, ended in defeat for the Amako with the withdrawal of their battered army out of Aki at the beginning of 1541. The defeat of the Amako had the benefit of isolating the Môri's enemies, the Takeda, who had come to rely on the Amako for aid. Motonari threatened [[Aki Kanayama Castle|Kanayama Castle]] [銀山城] and [[Takeda Nobusane]] [武田信実] fled to Izumo and the castle was afterwards surrendered. This marked the end of the Aki Takeda's power.<br />
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[[Amako Tsunehisa]] died in November 1541. Sensing a great opportunity in the passing of this formidable and considering Haruhisa's damaging defeat at Koriyama, Oûchi Yoshitaka and Môri planned a campaign to bring down Gassan-Toda Castle. The combined forces mobilized in January of 1542 (Tenbun 11/1). The Oûchi brought down [[Akana Castle]] [赤穴城] on the Iwami-Izumo border after a three month siege and eventually the allies approached Gassan-Toda, well into the year. By this time their troops were weary and at the absolute limits of their supply lines and numerically not powerful enough to storm the castle. After some fighting after the new year, the allies conceded defeat and withdrew, harried as they went by the Amako. The [[First Siege of Gassan-Toda|1st Battle of Gassan-Toda Castle]] [月山富田城の戦い] marked a turning point in the fortunes of the western provinces. Motonari returned to Koriyama to lick his wounds while Yoshitaka, his confidence said to have been forever shattered by the fiasco, withdrew into Yamaguchi and increasingly relied on his senior retainers to manage the Oûchi domain. In fact, the failed expedition could be seen as benefiting the Môri in the long run. With Yoshitaka's lapse into inactivity, Motonari had more room to expand throughout Aki and consolidate his power. In the meantime, the Amako took advantage of their recent victory to push their influence into the lands to their east, [[Hôki province|Hôki Province]], [[Mimasaka province|Mimasaka Province]], and [[Bitchû province|Bitchû Province]]. <br />
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Over the next few years, Motonari concluded alliances with such powers as the Kumagai and [Western Murakami clan|Murakami], the latter a family consisting of three branches that was essentially an Inland Sea pirate organization. Môri's alliance with [[Murakami Torayasu]] would pay dividends for years to come. In 1550 Motonari arranged for his sons to assume the leadership of two powerful Aki clans-the [[Kikkawa clan|Kikkawa]] and [[Kobayakawa clan|Kobayakawa]]. His second son [[Kikkawa Motoharu|Motoharu]] went to the Kikkawa, and his third son, [[Kobayakawa Takakage|Takakage]], went to the Kobayakawa. Motonari's eldest son and heir, a onetime goodwill hostage of the Oûchi, was [[Môri Takamoto|Takamoto]], the father of the future [[Mori Terumoto|Môri Terumoto]]. By [[1550]], both Motoharu and Takakage had become the lords of their respective clans, and not a moment too soon, for turmoil erupted in [[Suo province|Suo]]. <br />
<br />
==The Battle of Miyajima==<br />
<br />
As mentioned, Oûchi Yoshitaka had retreated from affairs of state following the Izumo debacle in 1543. During the next seven years, he handed over most martial matters to his retainers, notably the [[Western Naitô clan|Naitô]] and [[Sue Harukata]] (Takafusa). It would seem that Sue had attempted again and again to warn his lord against neglecting military affairs, going so far as to insinuate that someone close to the Ôuchi might rebel. In 1550, Sue himself revolted. When Harukata revolted, Yoshikata was forced to flee Yamaguchi and, finding that none of his major retainers were willing to help him, committed suicide. Sue quickly made a thin attempt to legitimize his actions by arranging for Ôtomo Haruhide, a son of [[Otomo Sorin|Ôtomo Sôrin]] whose mother was the daughter of Ôuchi Yoshioki, to be installed in Yamaguchi as [[Ouchi Yoshinaga|Ôuchi Yoshinaga]].<br />
Môri's immediate reaction to Sue's rebellion is unknown, but for the next few years he paid the new lord of the Ôuchi lip service. Motonari contented himself with expanding the Môri presence in [[Bingo province]], taking [[Takiyama Castle]] in 1552.<br />
<br />
In [[1554]] Motonari dropped all pretenses and broke from Sue, prompting the latter to gather a large army of as many as 30,000 men. Motonari, while stronger then ever, could scarcely muster half that. Nonetheless, he fared well in the early stages of their conflict, defeating Sue troops at [[Battle of Oshikihata|Oshikihata]] in June. By using what had already become hallmark Môri trickery and by bribing a number of Sue's men, Motonari managed to balance out the odds somewhat. For his part, Sue made no major moves against Koriyama, and with the end of the year's campaigning season, Motonari was allowed some breathing space. <br />
<br />
In the early summer of [[1555]], Sue was again threatening, and Motonari was hard-pressed. Harukata was by no means a poor fighter, and the danger of his retainers and allies deserting the Môri led Motonari to adopt a bold and unorthodox scheme. His plan involved Miyajima, home to the [[Itskushima Shrine]] and a place combatants had traditionally avoided on religious grounds. The suggestion to occupy this place, which was strategically located just off the Aki coast in the Inland Sea, actually came from Môri's generals. Initially, Motonari refused the idea on tactical grounds. For Miyajima to be a viable base of operations, [[Sakurao castle]] [桜尾城], the nearest fort on the mainland to Miyajima, would also have to be held. Should Sakurao fall, any army on Miyajima risked being isolated. Yet Môri's own doubts led him to attempt to lure Sue into just such a tactical dilemma. Naturally, for the plan to work Sue would have to act accordingly, and for inducement, Motonari immediately gave orders that Miyajima was to be occupied, and a fort thrown up quite near the Itskushima shrine. In September, Sue fell into the trap. He landed with the bulk of his army on Miyajima and attacked [[Miyao Castle]] [宮尾城]. When the island had been secured, Sue threw up a few fortifications on To-no-oka (Pagoda Hill) and sat down to plot strategy. From his point of view, it should be noted, the capture of Miyajima was a strategic boon. From this secure springboard he could embark to almost any point along the Aki coast, as well as Bingo. Since the following autumn, Môri had assumed a largely defensive posture, and Sue had some reason to feel comfortable in his new forward headquarters. Sue grew complacent. <br />
<br />
Môri retook Sakurao and called on the support of his naval ally, Murakami Torayoshi. Gathering the pirate's naval strength, he set out to surprise Sue on Miyajima, and picked a perfect night on which to do so. On the night of 16 October (Tenbun 24 10/1), in a driving thunderstorm, Motonari and his sons put to sea. As a diversion, Takakage sailed straight past the Sue positions on To-no-oka while Motonari, Takamoto, and Motoharu landed just to the east and out of sight. Takakage doubled back around and landed at dawn, attacking the Sue forces practically in the shadow of Miyajima's great Torii Gate. Motonari then assaulted the confused Sue troops from behind, and the result was a rout for Harukata, who committed suicide at Oe Bay (Oe no ura, 大江浦), a small island inlet. Many of his troops followed suit, and for Motonari, the [[Battle of Miyajima|Battle of Itsukushima]] [厳島の戦い] was utterly decisive. While it would take the Môri until [[1557]] to force [[Ouchi Yoshinaga|Oûchi Yoshinaga]] to commit suicide and years longer to completely bring Suo and Nagato under their control, Motonari was now the most powerful lord in western Japan. He officially retired in favor of Takamoto in 1557 although he retained substainal authority over most clan affairs. <br />
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<br />
==Command of the Western Provinces==<br />
[[Image:Mori_domain.jpg|thumb|left|]]<br />
The next five years were occupied with reorganizing the newly acquired Ôuchi territories. In addition, a string of battles with the powerful Kyushu daimyô [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo]], allies of the Ôuchi and then the Amako. Fighting centered around [[Moji castle]], a vital stronghold in the extreme northern tip of Buzen province. Moji would change hands a number of times until finally being secured by Takamoto in [[1561]]. Motonari continued his efforts in Iwami and in 1560, Honjô Tsunemitsu [本城常光] abandoned the Amako and joined Môri. Tsunemitsu had changed sides a number of times over the years, between the Ôuchi and Amako, and in 1562, when it became practical, Motonari had him murdered to avoid being betrayed himself. [[Amako Haruhisa]] died suddenly in the 1st month of 1561, leaving his weaker son Yoshihisa to carry on the struggle. Little assistance was forthcoming from Gassan-Toda to the Amako's retainers in Iwami and in 1562 the Iwami Silver Mines were taken.<br />
<br />
Motonari pushed into Izumo and a campaign was then directed to cut Gassan-Toda off from its supply lines. In the 9th month of [[1563]], Takamoto, returning from Kyushu on his way to join his father in Izumo, died suddenly at the mansion of [[Watchi Saneharu]] [和智誠春] in Bingo Province. Motonari, grief-stricken by the news, later named Takamoto's young son, Terumoto, as the heir and in the meantime continued to rule despite his advancing years. Although no specific cause of Takamoto's death was ever given, foul play was suspected as Takamoto had fallen ill shortly after dinner. The suddeness of his death does suggest that he ingested poison of some kind. Motonari was sufficiently suspicious of Watchi to have both him and his younger brother murdered some years later, although his son was spared and the Watchi house was allowed to continue.<br />
<br />
In the fall of 1563 the Môri invested [[Shiraga Castle]] [白鹿城], a vital 'satellite' of Gassan-Toda in Izumo held by [[Matsuda Michihisa]] [松田満久]. An Amako effort led by Yoshihisa's younger brother [[Amako Tomohisa|Tomohisa]] to relieve the garrison failed and the castle surrendered after 70 days when its water supply was cut. Michihisa committed suicide but his son [[Matsuda Masayasu|Masayasu]] [誠保] escaped and would reemerge with the attempted Amako restoration years later. In the meantime, Shiraga's fall all but isolated Gassan-Toda and Môri led his 15,000 men on to the Amako stronghold in the spring of 1564. This campaign is known as the [[Second Siege of Gassan-Toda|2nd Battle of Gassan-Toda]]. Heavily outnumbered and facing starvation, Yoshihisa nonetheless managed to resist one Môri assault in April that cost Motonari some moderate losses and forced him to withdraw to reorganize. In the 8th month of 1565, Motonari returned, and this time resolved to starve Gassan-Toda into submission. To assist in this policy, Motonari let it be known that the Môri would accept no deserters from the castle, content to keep all of the besieged within the walls and eating up the Amako's dwindling supplies. Yoshihisa then falsely accused his retainer [[Uyama Hisakane]] [宇山久兼] of treason in the 1st month of 1566 and had him killed. The morale of the starving defenders crumbled. Finally, in the 11th month, Yoshihisa surrendered and was exiled to the Enmyouji [円明寺] in Aki Province.<br />
<br />
Motonari lived for five more years, passing away at the age of 74 at Koriyama Castle, having become one of the greatest warlords of the mid-16th Century. Under his leadership the Môri had expanded from a few districts in Aki to rule over ten of the Chugoku's eleven provinces. Motonari was known even in his day as a master of wiles and trickery, a warlord whose schemes won as many battles as his soldiers. His greatest victories: Arita-Nakaide, Yoshida-Koriyama, and Itskushima had all been against numerically superior foes and involved bold action on Motonari's part. Interestingly, he is possibly best remembered, at least outside Japan, for an event that probably never took place-the 'lesson of the three arrows'. In this parable, Motonari gives each of his three sons an arrow to break. He then gives them three arrows bundled, and points out that while one may be broken easily, not so three united as one. The three sons were of course [[Mori Takamoto|Takamoto]], [[Mori Motoharu|Motoharu]], and [[Mori Takakage|Takakage]], and the lesson is one that Japanese children still learn in school today. He in fact had a total of six other sons, two of which appear to have died in childhood. The others included [[Mori Motoaki|Motoaki]], [[Mori Motokiyo|Motokiyo]], [[Mori Motomasa|Motomasa]] and [[Mori Hidekane|(Kobayakawa) Hidekane]]. <br />
<br />
[[Shiji Hiroyoshi]], [[Kuchiba Michiyoshi]], [[Kumagai Nobunao]], [[Fukuhara Sadatoshi]], [[Katsura Motozumi]], [[Kodama Naritada]], [[Kokushi Motosuke]], [[Hiraga Hirosuke]], and [[Ichikawa Tsuneyoshi]] assisted Môri Motonari in his rule. His greatest generals, however, were his own sons [[Kobayakawa Takakage]] and [[Kikkawa Motoharu]], the 'Two Rivers' (a play on the 'Kawa' charactors in their names). <br />
<br />
The well known 'one line, three stars' emblem of the Môri was inherited from the family's descendant, Ôe Hiromoto. <br />
<br />
In addition to being a gifted general Motonari was also a noted poet and patron of the arts. Surviving letters written by his grandson [[Mori Terumoto|Môri Terumoto]] describe Motonari as a strict and demanding man with a sharp eye. He was succeeded by Terumoto, who was the son of the late Takamoto. <br />
<br />
==Motonari in Fiction==<br />
<br />
===Television===<br />
* ''Mori Motonari'' 36th NHK Taiga Drama 1997<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
*Bessatsu Rekishi Tokuhon ''Sengoku no Kassen'' Shin Jinbutsu Ôrai Co. 1998 <br />
* Hall, John Whitney, Nagahara Keiji and Kozo Yamamura, eds. ''Japan Before Tokugawa'' Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey 1981<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô Shirizu #49, ''Môri Senki'' Gakken, Japan, 1997<br />
{{saref}}<br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
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[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Mori_Motonari&diff=15917Mori Motonari2007-12-24T00:30:33Z<p>FWSeal: added more text</p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: 16 April [[1497]] (Meiou 2/4/16)''<br />
* ''Died: 6 July [[1571]] (Genki 2/6/14)''<br />
* ''Sons: [[Mori Takamoto|Môri Takamoto]], [[Kikkawa Motoharu]], [[Kobayakawa Takakage]], [[Mori Motokiyo|Môri (Hoida) Motokiyo]], [[Mori Motoaki|Môri (Tomita) Motoaki]], [[Dewa Mototomo]] (1555-1571), [[Amano Motomasa]] (1559-1609), [[Kobayakawa Hidekane]]''<br />
* ''Titles: Mutsu no kami''<br />
* ''Childhood Name: Shoujumaru'' (松寿丸)<br />
* ''Japanese'': 毛利 元就 ''(Mouri Motonari)''<br />
<br />
<br />
==The Lord of Koriyama==<br />
[[Image:Mori_motonari.jpg|thumb|right|Mori Motonari.]]<br />
Motonari inherited a clan that claimed direct descent from [[Oie Hiromoto|Ôie Hiromoto]] (大江広元, 1148-1225), an advisor to [[Minamoto Yoritomo]] who served the [[Hojo clan|Hôjô]] well after Yoritomo's death. Hiromoto's son assumed the name Môri, and in [[1336]] Aki province became the clan's homeland when [[Mori Tokichika|Môri Tokichika]] was appointed Jito there. The clan experienced a power struggle in the 1470's that saw the main [[Mori clan|Môri]] line absorb both its branch families. <br />
<br />
Motonari was the second son of [[Mori Hiromoto|Môri Hiromoto]], a daimyo in Aki Province who struggled against the local [[Takeda clan]] and the encroaching [[Ouchi clan|Ôuchi]]. His mother was a daughter of [[Fukubara Hirotoshi]] [福原広俊]. In [[1499]], Hiromoto found himself in the path of a looming Amako invasion from Izumo, and allied with Oûchi. At the time, [[Ouchi Yoshioki|Ôuchi Yoshioki]] was becoming involved in the gunboat politics of Kyoto and while he was away, the Amako grew stronger. In [[1506]] Hiromoto died, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Okimoto, who ended up assisting Yoshioki in Kyoto for a short period. Motonari, meanwhile, was given his manhood ceremony in 1511. It happened that Okimoto died in [[1516]], and Motonari was named to act as guardian to the late lord's young son, [[Mori Komatsumaru|Komatsumaru]] [幸松丸]. The most powerful daimyo in Aki, [[Takeda Motoshige]], took advantage of Okimoto's death to launch an attack on the Môri and Kikkawa domains, bringing 5,000 men to attack [[Arita Castle]] [有田城]. Motonari led an allied army of some 1,000 out to contest the Takeda. The Takeda's vanguard commander, [[Kumagai Motonao]] [熊谷元直] killed in the first action and in response Motoshige himself lead the army against Motonari but was himself killed by an arrow crossing the Mataouchigawa (又打川). This [[Battle of Arita-Nakaide]] [有田中井手の戦い], possibly Motonari's first action, was a pivotal moment for the Môri and increased their influence in Aki Province greatly. However, some time after this, the Amako, as part of their ongoing conflict with the Ôuchi, compelled the Môri to ally with them. In 1522, Motonari married the daughter of [[Kikkawa Kunitsune]], known today as [[Myoukyuu]] [妙玖]. This match secured the friendship of the Kikkawa and would in time produce three fine sons.<br />
<br />
In 1523 the Amako launced an attack against Ôuchi holdings in Aki and Motonari led the Môri in service in Amako Tsunehisa's army. The Amako were initally repulsed in their attempts to bring down [[Kagamiyama Castle]], held by [[Kurata Fusanobu]] (蔵田房信). Motonari suggested a trick that resulted in Fusanobu's murder. The castle fell and Motonari himself gained further prestige. Later that same year, Komatsumaru died. Motonari was nominated by the family's retainers to become the official head of the clan. His younger brother, [[Sogo Motostuna|Sôgô Mototsuna]] (相合元綱, d.1524), resented the decision and plotted against Motonari, only to be discovered and at length forced to commit suicide. His supporter [[Katsura Hirozumi]] and others were also killed or committed suicide. Relations between the Môri and the Amako declined over the next few years and Motonari decided to cut his ties with the Amako and allied his clan with the Ôuchi.<br />
<br />
In [[1528]], Ôuchi Yoshioki passed away and was succeeded by his son Yoshitaka. The Amako made an effort to capitalize on this turn of events, but with only minimal success. Meanwhile, Motonari set about consolidating the Môri's holdings in Aki, and gathering local allies, chief among these being the [[Shisido clan|Shisido]], [[Kumagai clan|Kumagai]], and [[Amano clan|Amano]]. Efforts by the Amako to bring the Môri back under their sway failed, and in [[1540]] (Tenbun 9/8/10) [[Amako Akihisa]] (Haruhisa) dispatched a sizable army drawn from all his holdings into Aki with the intention of bringing down Koriyama Castle. Motonari was heavily outnumbered and shut himself up in Koriyama, sending out raids to harrass the Amako troops under cover of darkness and fog and calling for aid from the Ôuchi. The Amako destroyed a number of Koriyama's outlying forts and burned Koriyama's accompanying town, Yoshida, to the ground. Still unable to convince Motonari to submit, the Amako attempted to besiege Koriyama. Ôuchi Yoshitaka dispatched his general [[Sue Takafusa]] (Harukata) to relieve Koriyama, and in early October Sue arrived and combined forces with Motonari and a number of hard-fought battles ensued. The [[Siege of Koriyama|Battle of Yoshida-Koriyama Castle]] [吉田郡山城の戦い], a term generally applied to the overall campaign but consisting of a number of stages and engagements that lasted for the rest of the year, ended in defeat for the Amako with the withdrawal of their battered army out of Aki at the beginning of 1541. The defeat of the Amako had the benefit of isolating the Môri's enemies, the Takeda, who had come to rely on the Amako for aid. Motonari threatened [[Aki Kanayama Castle|Kanayama Castle]] [銀山城] and [[Takeda Nobusane]] [武田信実] fled to Izumo and the castle was afterwards surrendered. This marked the end of the Aki Takeda's power.<br />
<br />
[[Amako Tsunehisa]] died in November 1541. Sensing a great opportunity in the passing of this formidable and considering Haruhisa's damaging defeat at Koriyama, Oûchi Yoshitaka and Môri planned a campaign to bring down Gassan-Toda Castle. The combined forces mobilized in January of 1542 (Tenbun 11/1). The Oûchi brought down [[Akana Castle]] [赤穴城] on the Iwami-Izumo border after a three month siege and eventually the allies approached Gassan-Toda, well into the year. By this time their troops were weary and at the absolute limits of their supply lines and numerically not powerful enough to storm the castle. After some fighting after the new year, the allies conceded defeat and withdrew, harried as they went by the Amako. The [[First Siege of Gassan-Toda|1st Battle of Gassan-Toda Castle]] [月山富田城の戦い] marked a turning point in the fortunes of the western provinces. Motonari returned to Koriyama to lick his wounds while Yoshitaka, his confidence said to have been forever shattered by the fiasco, withdrew into Yamaguchi and increasingly relied on his senior retainers to manage the Oûchi domain. In fact, the failed expedition could be seen as benefiting the Môri in the long run. With Yoshitaka's lapse into inactivity, Motonari had more room to expand throughout Aki and consolidate his power. In the meantime, the Amako took advantage of their recent victory to push their influence into the lands to their east, [[Hôki province|Hôki Province]], [[Mimasaka province|Mimasaka Province]], and [[Bitchû province|Bitchû Province]]. <br />
<br />
Over the next few years, Motonari concluded alliances with such powers as the Kumagai and [Western Murakami clan|Murakami], the latter a family consisting of three branches that was essentially an Inland Sea pirate organization. Môri's alliance with [[Murakami Torayasu]] would pay dividends for years to come. In 1550 Motonari arranged for his sons to assume the leadership of two powerful Aki clans-the [[Kikkawa clan|Kikkawa]] and [[Kobayakawa clan|Kobayakawa]]. His second son [[Kikkawa Motoharu|Motoharu]] went to the Kikkawa, and his third son, [[Kobayakawa Takakage|Takakage]], went to the Kobayakawa. Motonari's eldest son and heir, a onetime goodwill hostage of the Oûchi, was [[Môri Takamoto|Takamoto]], the father of the future [[Mori Terumoto|Môri Terumoto]]. By [[1550]], both Motoharu and Takakage had become the lords of their respective clans, and not a moment too soon, for turmoil erupted in [[Suo province|Suo]]. <br />
<br />
==The Battle of Miyajima==<br />
<br />
As mentioned, Oûchi Yoshitaka had retreated from affairs of state following the Izumo debacle in 1543. During the next seven years, he handed over most martial matters to his retainers, notably the [[Western Naitô clan|Naitô]] and [[Sue Harukata]] (Takafusa). It would seem that Sue had attempted again and again to warn his lord against neglecting military affairs, going so far as to insinuate that someone close to the Ôuchi might rebel. In 1550, Sue himself revolted. When Harukata revolted, Yoshikata was forced to flee Yamaguchi and, finding that none of his major retainers were willing to help him, committed suicide. Sue quickly made a thin attempt to legitimize his actions by arranging for Ôtomo Haruhide, a son of [[Otomo Sorin|Ôtomo Sôrin]] whose mother was the daughter of Ôuchi Yoshioki, to be installed in Yamaguchi as [[Ouchi Yoshinaga|Ôuchi Yoshinaga]].<br />
Môri's immediate reaction to Sue's rebellion is unknown, but for the next few years he paid the new lord of the Ôuchi lip service. Motonari contented himself with expanding the Môri presence in [[Bingo province]], taking [[Takiyama Castle]] in 1552.<br />
<br />
In [[1554]] Motonari dropped all pretenses and broke from Sue, prompting the latter to gather a large army of as many as 30,000 men. Motonari, while stronger then ever, could scarcely muster half that. Nonetheless, he fared well in the early stages of their conflict, defeating Sue troops at [[Battle of Oshikihata|Oshikihata]] in June. By using what had already become hallmark Môri trickery and by bribing a number of Sue's men, Motonari managed to balance out the odds somewhat. For his part, Sue made no major moves against Koriyama, and with the end of the year's campaigning season, Motonari was allowed some breathing space. <br />
<br />
In the early summer of [[1555]], Sue was again threatening, and Motonari was hard-pressed. Harukata was by no means a poor fighter, and the danger of his retainers and allies deserting the Môri led Motonari to adopt a bold and unorthodox scheme. His plan involved Miyajima, home to the [[Itskushima Shrine]] and a place combatants had traditionally avoided on religious grounds. The suggestion to occupy this place, which was strategically located just off the Aki coast in the Inland Sea, actually came from Môri's generals. Initially, Motonari refused the idea on tactical grounds. For Miyajima to be a viable base of operations, [[Sakurao castle]] [桜尾城], the nearest fort on the mainland to Miyajima, would also have to be held. Should Sakurao fall, any army on Miyajima risked being isolated. Yet Môri's own doubts led him to attempt to lure Sue into just such a tactical dilemma. Naturally, for the plan to work Sue would have to act accordingly, and for inducement, Motonari immediately gave orders that Miyajima was to be occupied, and a fort thrown up quite near the Itskushima shrine. In September, Sue fell into the trap. He landed with the bulk of his army on Miyajima and attacked [[Miyao Castle]] [宮尾城]. When the island had been secured, Sue threw up a few fortifications on To-no-oka (Pagoda Hill) and sat down to plot strategy. From his point of view, it should be noted, the capture of Miyajima was a strategic boon. From this secure springboard he could embark to almost any point along the Aki coast, as well as Bingo. Since the following autumn, Môri had assumed a largely defensive posture, and Sue had some reason to feel comfortable in his new forward headquarters. Sue grew complacent. <br />
<br />
Môri retook Sakurao and called on the support of his naval ally, Murakami Torayoshi. Gathering the pirate's naval strength, he set out to surprise Sue on Miyajima, and picked a perfect night on which to do so. On the night of 16 October (Tenbun 24 10/1), in a driving thunderstorm, Motonari and his sons put to sea. As a diversion, Takakage sailed straight past the Sue positions on To-no-oka while Motonari, Takamoto, and Motoharu landed just to the east and out of sight. Takakage doubled back around and landed at dawn, attacking the Sue forces practically in the shadow of Miyajima's great Torii Gate. Motonari then assaulted the confused Sue troops from behind, and the result was a rout for Harukata, who committed suicide at Oe Bay (Oe no ura, 大江浦), a small island inlet. Many of his troops followed suit, and for Motonari, the [[Battle of Miyajima|Battle of Itsukushima]] [厳島の戦い] was utterly decisive. While it would take the Môri until [[1557]] to force [[Ouchi Yoshinaga|Oûchi Yoshinaga]] to commit suicide and years longer to completely bring Suo and Nagato under their control, Motonari was now the most powerful lord in western Japan. <br />
<br />
<br />
==Command of the Western Provinces==<br />
[[Image:Mori_domain.jpg|thumb|left|]]<br />
The next five years were occupied with reorganizing the newly acquired Ôuchi territories. In addition, a string of battles with the powerful Kyushu daimyô [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo]], allies of the Ôuchi and then the Amako. Fighting centered around [[Moji castle]], a vital stronghold in the extreme northern tip of Buzen province. Moji would change hands a number of times until finally being secured by Takamoto in [[1561]]. Motonari continued his efforts in Iwami and in 1560, Honjô Tsunemitsu [本城常光] abandoned the Amako and joined Môri. Tsunemitsu had changed sides a number of times over the years, between the Ôuchi and Amako, and in 1562, when it became practical, Motonari had him murdered to avoid being betrayed himself. [[Amako Haruhisa]] died suddenly in the 1st month of 1561, leaving his weaker son Yoshihisa to carry on the struggle. Little assistance was forthcoming from Gassan-Toda to the Amako's retainers in Iwami and in 1562 the Iwami Silver Mines were taken.<br />
<br />
Motonari pushed into Izumo and a campaign was then directed to cut Gassan-Toda off from its supply lines. In the 9th month of [[1563]], Takamoto, returning from Kyushu on his way to join his father in Izumo, died suddenly at the mansion of [[Watchi Saneharu]] [和智誠春] in Bingo Province. Motonari, grief-stricken by the news, later named Takamoto's young son, Terumoto, as the heir and in the meantime continued to rule despite his advancing years. Although no specific cause of Takamoto's death was ever given, foul play was suspected as Takamoto had fallen ill shortly after dinner. The suddeness of his death does suggest that he ingested poison of some kind. Motonari was sufficiently suspicious of Watchi to have both him and his younger brother murdered some years later, although his son was spared and the Watchi house was allowed to continue.<br />
<br />
In the fall of 1563 the Môri invested [[Shiraga Castle]] [白鹿城], a vital 'satellite' of Gassan-Toda in Izumo held by [[Matsuda Michihisa]] [松田満久]. An Amako effort led by Yoshihisa's younger brother [[Amako Tomohisa|Tomohisa]] to relieve the garrison failed and the castle surrendered after 70 days when its water supply was cut. Michihisa committed suicide but his son [[Matsuda Masayasu|Masayasu]] [誠保] escaped and would reemerge with the attempted Amako restoration years later. In the meantime, Shiraga's fall all but isolated Gassan-Toda and Môri led his 15,000 men on to the Amako stronghold in the spring of 1564. This campaign is known as the [[Second Siege of Gassan-Toda|2nd Battle of Gassan-Toda]]. Heavily outnumbered and facing starvation, Yoshihisa nonetheless managed to resist one Môri assault in April that cost Motonari some moderate losses and forced him to withdraw to reorganize. In the 8th month of 1565, Motonari returned, and this time resolved to starve Gassan-Toda into submission. To assist in this policy, Motonari let it be known that the Môri would accept no deserters from the castle, content to keep all of the besieged within the walls and eating up the Amako's dwindling supplies. Yoshihisa then falsely accused his retainer [[Uyama Hisakane]] [宇山久兼] of treason in the 1st month of 1566 and had him killed. The morale of the starving defenders crumbled. Finally, in the 11th month, Yoshihisa surrendered and was exiled to the Enmyouji [円明寺] in Aki Province.<br />
<br />
Motonari lived for five more years, passing away at the age of 74 at Koriyama Castle, having become one of the greatest warlords of the mid-16th Century. Under his leadership the Môri had expanded from a few districts in Aki to rule over ten of the Chugoku's eleven provinces. Motonari was known even in his day as a master of wiles and trickery, a warlord whose schemes won as many battles as his soldiers. His greatest victories: Arita-Nakaide, Yoshida-Koriyama, and Itskushima had all been against numerically superior foes and involved bold action on Motonari's part. Interestingly, he is possibly best remembered, at least outside Japan, for an event that probably never took place-the 'lesson of the three arrows'. In this parable, Motonari gives each of his three sons an arrow to break. He then gives them three arrows bundled, and points out that while one may be broken easily, not so three united as one. The three sons were of course [[Mori Takamoto|Takamoto]], [[Mori Motoharu|Motoharu]], and [[Mori Takakage|Takakage]], and the lesson is one that Japanese children still learn in school today. He in fact had a total of six other sons, two of which appear to have died in childhood. The others included [[Mori Motoaki|Motoaki]], [[Mori Motokiyo|Motokiyo]], [[Mori Motomasa|Motomasa]] and [[Mori Hidekane|(Kobayakawa) Hidekane]]. <br />
<br />
[[Shiji Hiroyoshi]], [[Kuchiba Michiyoshi]], [[Kumagai Nobunao]], [[Fukuhara Sadatoshi]], [[Katsura Motozumi]], [[Kodama Naritada]], [[Kokushi Motosuke]], [[Hiraga Hirosuke]], and [[Ichikawa Tsuneyoshi]] assisted Môri Motonari in his rule. His greatest generals, however, were his own sons [[Kobayakawa Takakage]] and [[Kikkawa Motoharu]], the 'Two Rivers' (a play on the 'Kawa' charactors in their names). <br />
<br />
The well known 'one line, three stars' emblem of the Môri was inherited from the family's descendant, Ôe Hiromoto. <br />
<br />
In addition to being a gifted general Motonari was also a noted poet and patron of the arts. Surviving letters written by his grandson [[Mori Terumoto|Môri Terumoto]] describe Motonari as a strict and demanding man with a sharp eye. He was succeeded by Terumoto, who was the son of the late Takamoto. <br />
<br />
==Motonari in Fiction==<br />
<br />
===Television===<br />
* ''Mori Motonari'' 36th NHK Taiga Drama 1997<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
*Bessatsu Rekishi Tokuhon ''Sengoku no Kassen'' Shin Jinbutsu Ôrai Co. 1998 <br />
* Hall, John Whitney, Nagahara Keiji and Kozo Yamamura, eds. ''Japan Before Tokugawa'' Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey 1981<br />
* Rekishi Gunzô Shirizu #49, ''Môri Senki'' Gakken, Japan, 1997<br />
* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Amako_Kunihisa&diff=15907Amako Kunihisa2007-12-23T04:17:30Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Birth: [[1492]]?''<br />
* ''Death: [[1554]]''<br />
* ''Dinstiction: [[Amako clan|Amako]] retainer''<br />
* ''Title: Gyoubu Shosuke'' (刑部少輔), ''Kii no kami''<br />
* ''Children: [[Amako Sanehisa]], [[Amako Toyohisa]], and [[Amako Takahisa]]<br />
* ''Japanese'': 尼子 国久 ''(Amako Kunihisa)''<br />
<br />
<br />
Kunihisa was a son of [[Amako Tsunehisa]] and was known in his youth as Magoshirô [孫四郎]. He was a principle Amako general while Tsunehisa was alive, leading a force that came to be nicknamed the 'Shingu [新宮] army' (after the valley to the north-east of Gassan-Toda where Kunihisa's mansion was located). He also acted as the guardian for [[Amako Haruhisa]] (Akihisa) after the latter's father, [[Amako Masahisa|Masahisa]], was killed in 1518. He fought under his father in campaigns in [[Aki province|Aki]] and [[Bingo province|Bingo]] provinces during the 1520's and alongside [[Amako Haruhisa]] at the [[Siege of Koriyama Castle]] in [[1540]]. He defeated a [[Mori clan|Môri]] army in [[1544]] but lost his second son, [[Amako Toyohisa|Toyohisa]], at the hard-fought [[Battle of Hashizugawa]] [橋津川] in [[1546]] fighting against [[Takeda Kuninobu]] of [[Inaba province]]. <br />
<br />
Despite his many services, Kunihisa came to be distrusted by Haruhisa, his nephew and the daimyô after Tsunehisa's death. For reasons unclear, Kunihisa was executed at Gassan-Toda by Haruhisa on the suspicion of treason on 25 November [[1554]] (Tembun 23 11/1), along with his eldest son [[Amako Sanehisa|Sanehisa]] and two grandsons, as well as a number of his associates. His third son Takahisa commited suicide the next day. His death is often represented as a contributing factor in the eventual fall of the Amako, although modern thinking is that Haruhisa purged the Shingu faction as a way of cementing his personal control of the clan. One reason typically given for Haruhisa's hostility towards Kunihisa and the Shingu faction is that they comported themselves with increasing arrogance as their fame from their war service grew.<br />
<br />
Kunihisa had been married to the daughter of Amako retainer [[Tako Tadashige]]. He was a grandfather of [[Amako Katsushige]].<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{biodict}}<br />
[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/尼子国久 Amako Kunihisa] Japanese Wikipedia<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Amako_Haruhisa&diff=15906Amako Haruhisa2007-12-23T02:39:58Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Birth: [[1514?]]<br />
* ''Death: [[1561]]<br />
* ''Distinction: Lord of Izumo''<br />
* ''Other name: Amako Akihisa'' [尼子詮久]<br />
* ''Title: Minbu shôyu''<br />
* ''Children: [[Amako Yoshihisa]], [[Amako Tomohisa]], and [[Amako Hidehisa]]<br />
<br />
Haruhisa was known first as Akihisa, changing his name to Haruhisa with the blessing of shôgun [[Ashikaga Yoshiharu]] in [[1541]]. <br />
<br />
Haruhisa was the eldest son of [[Amako Masahisa]] and the grandson of [[Amako Tsunehisa]]. In [[1518]] Masahisa was slain attacking the castle of the rebellious Amako retainer [[Sakurai Soteki]] [桜井宗的]. He was then placed in the care of his uncle, [[Amako Kunihisa]], who acted as his guardian until he came of age.<br />
<br />
He assumed control of the [[Amako clan|Amako]] in [[1537]] when his grandfather [[Amako Tsunehisa|Tsunehisa]] retired in the wake of the revolt and death of [[Amako Okihisa]]. Haruhisa took the silver mines of [[Iwami province]] from the [[Ouchi clan|Ôuchi]] in 1537, lost them in 1539, and would again take them in 1541. He expanded Amako influence eastward and marched as far as [[Harima province]] in [[1538]] and fought the [[Akamatsu clan|Akamatsu]] at [[Ojio castle|Ojio]] and [[Akashi castle|Akashi]] castles. <br />
<br />
Determined to finally eliminate the [[Mori clan (Aki)|Môri]] of [[Aki province]], he gathered an army of some 30,000 men and attacked Koriyama Castle in 1540. Despite outnumbering the Môri heavily, he failed to bring the castle down and retreated when attacked by both [[Mori Motonari|Môri Motonari]] and an Ôuchi relief force. [''see:'' [[Siege of Koriyama]]<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, Haruhisa was able to resist the Ôuchi's efforts to bring down [[Gassan-Toda castle|Gassan-Toda]] in [[1542]]-[[1543|43]]. In the aftermath of that Ôuchi defeat, Haruhisa was free to consolidate his possessions to the east of Izumo. He was further granted latitude of activity by the overthrown of [[Ouchi Yoshitaka|Ôuchi Yoshitaka]] by [[Sue Harukata]] in [[1551]]. In [[1552]] the shôgun [[Ashikaga Yoshiteru]] acknowledged Haruhisa's power over Izumo, Bingo, Bizen, Bittchu, Hoki, Inaba, Mimasaka, and Oki Island and this in fact was the period at which the Amako enjoyed their widest influence. Yet, in 1553, the Amako's influence in Bingo was diminished by the surrender of the [[Eda clan|Eda Clan]] to Môri Motonari. Haruhisa had led a force down to assist them but arrived too late. <br />
<br />
At Gassan-Toda, two factions had come into being, one of them including Haruhisa and his immediate supporters and the other, nicknamed the 'Shingu faction' [新宮党] that surrounded Amako Kunihisa. The Shingu faction had long been the core of the Amako army and was centered at Kunihisa's mansion, located on the north base of Gassan-Toda in the Shingu valley. In the 11th month of [[1554]] Haruhisa suddenly ordered the murder of Kunihisa, his son [[Amako Sanehisa|Sanehisa]], and various other Shingu members and a general purge of the Shingu faction. Despite the long-standing belief that Môri Motonari somehow had a hand in the purge, it now seems more likely that Haruhisa took this step to consolidate his authority over the Amako. Sanehisa's son survived, however, and would eventually emerge as [[Amako Katsuhisa]]. [[Edo period]] works often took the view that the Shingu purge was the cause of the Amako's decline in years to come but this theory carries a strongly Confucian tone. <br />
<br />
After 1556 the Amako and Mori fought for control of [[Iwami province|Iwami Province]] and although Haruhisa was able to maintain control of the silver mines there Motonari siezed the eastern part of the province. The Mori were again threatening the silver mines (and would take them) when Haruhisa suddenly died at Gassan-Toda on 9 January 1561 (Eiroku 3/12/24.) He was succeeded by his son [[Amako Yoshihisa|Yoshihisa]]. <br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* Initial text from ''Sengoku Biographical Dictionary'' ([http://www.samurai-archives.com Samurai-<br />
*Abe; Nishimura, eds. ''Sengoku Jinmei'' Shinjinbutsu Oraisha 1990 <br />
*[ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/尼子晴久 Amako Haruhisa] Japanese Wikipedia<br />
<br />
Archives.com]) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Amako_Tsunehisa&diff=15905Amako Tsunehisa2007-12-23T02:22:57Z<p>FWSeal: minor tweaks</p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Born: [[1458]]''<br />
* ''Died: [[1541]]''<br />
* ''Japanese:'' '''尼子 経久''' ''(Amako Tsunehisa)''<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Image: Amako_tsunehisa.jpg ||thumb|right|Amako Tsunehisa.]]<br />
Established in [[1392]], the [[Amako clan|Amako]] were relatively minor family of [[Izumo Province]] and served the [[Kyogoku family]] at the time of the [[Onin War|Ônin War]]. Tsunehisa would secure their status as daimyo and ruled from his headquarters at [[Gassan-Toda castle|Gassan-Toda Castle]] [月山富田城].<br />
<br />
Tsunehisa was born in March [[1458]], the eldest son of [[Amako Kiyosada]] (d.1478, 尼子清定), guardian of Gassan-Toda Castle from around 1467, and at first a retainer of [[Kyogoku Masatsune]] [京極政経]. He was expelled along with his father from Gassan-Toda in 1484 and was forced to wander while he gained the support of [[Yamanaka Katsushige]] [山中勝重] and other Amako allies. Gassan-Toda meanwhile came into the possession of the Enya family. During a New Year's celebration in 1486 Tsunehisa snuck a handful of men into Gassan-Toda and killed the lord of the castle and his family, thus reclaiming the place as his own. Under Tsunehisa's leadership the Amako clan became powerful in Izumo and came into conflict with the [[Ouchi Clan|Ôuchi clan|]], taking advantage of the latter's preoccuptation with events in Kyoto to expand their power. In October of 1518 (Eisho 15/9/6; a less likely tradition holds that this event occured in 1513), as the Amako were moving against Hoki Province, the Amako vassal [[Sakurai Soteki]] [桜井宗的] rebelled and was besieged by Tsunehisa's eldest son, Masahisa, who was shot and killed by a defending archer. Tsunehisa was overcome by grief and thought of retiring in favor his brother [[Amako Hisayuki|Hisayuki]], giving up the notion when Hisayuki refused to consider it. Tsunehisa would later name Masahisa's son, [[Amako Akihisa|Akihisa]], as his heir. Tsunehisa entered [[Aki province|Aki Province]] and made [[Mori Motonari|Môri Motonari]] a vassal. In 1523 Tsunehisa attempted to bring down [[Kagamiyama Castle|Kagamiyama Castle]] [鏡山城], held by [[Kurata Fusanobu]] [蔵田房信]. Fusanobu resisted strongly and it was owing to the strategms of [[Mori Motonari|Motonari]] that he was killed and the castle taken. However, within the next few years the Ôuchi reasserted their power in Aki Province and Mori Motonari turned from the Amako and reentered their camp.<br />
<br />
When Tsunehisa's great rival, [[Ouchi Yoshioki|Ôuchi Yoshioki]], died in [[1528]], Tsuenhisa took the opportunity to expand Amako influence eastward and into Iwami, always an area of contention for its valuable silver mines. In [[1532]] his 3rd son [[Amako Okihisa|Okihisa]] (? – [[1534]]; also known as Enya Okihisa, 塩冶興久)was encouraged by his retainers to rebel over the issue of the Amako succession. Okihisa's troops were defeated by an army led by Tsunehisa's bother, Haruyuki. Okihisa afterwards committed suicide. Soon after, Tsunehisa retired in favor of his grandson Akihisa (Haruhisa) but continued to make most important decisions. During this period, the Amako captured the Iwami silver mines [石見銀山] in 1537 and then lost them to the Ôuchi temporarily in 1539 (the Amako would reclaim them two years later.) He died on [[1541]]/11/30 (Tenbun 10/11/13). His remaining son [[Amako Kunihisa]] [1492-1554; 尼子国久] remained a pillar of the Amako house for some years.<br />
<br />
A noted strategist and competent ruler overshadowed by later warlords, Tsunehisa left as his legacy the [[Kitsugi Grand Shrine]] in Izumo, which he had built in the 1530's. <br />
==References==<br />
* Initial text from [http://www.samurai-archives.com Samurai-Archives.com] FWSeal & CEWest, 2005<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Amako_Haruhisa&diff=15904Amako Haruhisa2007-12-23T02:02:15Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
<hr />
<div>* ''Birth: [[1514?]]<br />
* ''Death: [[1562]]<br />
* ''Distinction: Lord of Izumo''<br />
* ''Other name: Amako Akihisa'' [尼子詮久]<br />
* ''Title: Minbu shôyu''<br />
* ''Children: [[Amako Yoshihisa]], [[Amako Tomohisa]], and [[Amako Hidehisa]]<br />
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Haruhisa was known first as Akihisa, changing his name to Haruhisa with the blessing of shôgun [[Ashikaga Yoshiharu]] in [[1541]]. <br />
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Haruhisa was the eldest son of [[Amako Masahisa]] and the grandson of [[Amako Tsunehisa]]. In [[1518]] Masahisa was slain attacking the castle of the rebellious Amako retainer [[Sakurai Soteki]] [桜井宗的]. He was then placed in the care of his uncle, [[Amako Kunihisa]], who acted as his guardian until he came of age.<br />
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He assumed control of the [[Amako clan|Amako]] in [[1537]] when his grandfather [[Amako Tsunehisa|Tsunehisa]] retired in the wake of the revolt and death of [[Amako Okihisa]]. Haruhisa retook the silver mines of [[Iwami province]] from the [[Ouchi clan|Ôuchi]] and afterwards expanded Amako influence eastward. He marched as far as [[Harima province]] in [[1538]] and fought the [[Akamatsu clan|Akamatsu]] at [[Ojio castle|Ojio]] and [[Akashi castle|Akashi]] castles. <br />
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Determined to finally eliminate the [[Mori clan (Aki)|Môri]] of [[Aki province]], he gathered an army of some 30,000 men and attacked Koriyama Castle in 1540. Despite outnumbering the Môri heavily, he failed to bring the castle down and retreated when attacked by both [[Mori Motonari|Môri Motonari]] and an Ôuchi relief force. [''see:'' [[Siege of Koriyama]]<br />
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Nonetheless, Haruhisa was able to resist the Ôuchi's efforts to bring down [[Gassan-Toda castle|Gassan-Toda]] in [[1542]]-[[1543|43]]. In the aftermath of that Ôuchi defeat, Haruhisa was free to consolidate his possessions to the east of Izumo. He was further granted latitude of activity by the overthrown of [[Ouchi Yoshitaka|Ôuchi Yoshitaka]] by [[Sue Harukata]] in [[1551]]. In [[1552]] the shôgun [[Ashikaga Yoshiteru]] acknowledged Haruhisa's power over Izumo, Bingo, Bizen, Bittchu, Hoki, Inaba, Mimasaka, and Oki Island and this in fact was the period at which the Amako enjoyed their widest influence. Yet, in 1553, the Amako's influence in Bingo was diminished by the surrender of the [[Eda clan|Eda Clan]] to Môri Motonari. Haruhisa had led a force down to assist them but arrived too late. <br />
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At Gassan-Toda, two factions had come into being, one of them including Haruhisa and his immediate supporters and the other, nicknamed the 'Shingu faction' [新宮党] that surrounded Amako Kunihisa. The Shingu faction had long been the core of the Amako army and was centered at Kunihisa's mansion, located on the north base of Gassan-Toda in the Shingu valley. In the 11th month of [[1554]] Haruhisa suddenly ordered the murder of Kunihisa, his son [[Amako Sanehisa|Sanehisa]], and various other Shingu members and a general purge of the Shingu faction. Despite the long-standing belief that Môri Motonari somehow had a hand in the purge, it now seems more likely that Haruhisa took this step to consolidate his authority over the Amako. Sanehisa's son survived, however, and would eventually emerge as [[Amako Katsuhisa]]. [[Edo period]] works often took the view that the Shingu purge was the cause of the Amako's decline in years to come but this theory carries a strongly Confucian tone.<br />
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After his sudden death in March [[1562]], Haruhisa was succeeded by his son Yoshihisa. <br />
==References==<br />
* Initial text from ''Sengoku Biographical Dictionary'' ([http://www.samurai-archives.com Samurai-Archives.com]) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005<br />
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[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSealhttps://samurai-archives.com/w/index.php?title=Amako_Hisayuki&diff=15903Amako Hisayuki2007-12-23T00:26:14Z<p>FWSeal: </p>
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<div>*''Born:'' ?<br />
*''Died:'' [[1541]]<br />
*''Son: [[Amako Ujihisa]]''<br />
*''Titles: Shimotsuke no kami'' 下野守<br />
*''Japanese:'''''尼子久幸'''<br />
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Hisayuki was the 2nd son of [[Amako Kiyosada]] and the younger brother of [[Amako Tsunehisa]]. He was considered a capable if cautious leader.<br />
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When Amako Tsunehisa was banished from [[Gassan-Toda Castle]] in 1486 after plotting to split from the [[Kyogoku clan]], Hisayuki, who had not yet come of age, was at length placed under the protection of the [[Takeda clan (Aki)|Takeda]] at [[Kanayama Castle]], where he was given his manhood ceremony. When Tsunehisa retook Gassan-Toda, Hisayuki returned and went on to become a valuable asset to his brother. In 1516 he married the daughter of [[Takeda Motoshige]] when the latter broke off ties to the [[Ouchi|Ôuchi]] and allied with the Amako. In 1525, eight years after the death of Motoshige, Hisayuki led a force to assist the Takeda when they were threatened by the <br />
Ôuchi.<br />
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In 1518, Tsunehisa's son [[Amako Masahisa|Masahisa]] was killed attacking the castle of the rebellious Amako retainer [[Sakurai Soteki]] [桜井宗的]. Tsunehisa became grief-stricken when he heard the news and considered retiring in favor of Hisayuki. When Hisayuki protested, Tsunehisa at length changed his mind.<br />
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In 1540, after Tsunehisa had retired in favor of his grandson [[Amako Haruhisa|Haruhisa]], the latter concieved of a great campaign to destroy the [[Mori clan|Môri]] of [[Aki province|Aki Province]]. When a council of the Amako retainers was called to discuss the planned expedition, almost all spoke in favor of the attack. Hisayuki, however, considered the risks to be too great and spoke out against it, arguing that a more methodical approach would need to be taken to defeat Motonari. For his troubles he was derided by Tsunehisa as a coward and publicly humiliated. He and his nephew [[Amako Kunihisa|Kunihisa]] were dispatched against the [[Shishido clan]] of Aki Province in what was a secondary operation of the coming campaign against the Môri's capital at Yoshida-Koriyama. At the end of what became Haruhisa's failed [[Siege of Yoshida|Battle of Yoshida-<br />
Koriyama]], the Môri and Ôuchi troops attacked the Amako as they were withdrawing and caused such chaos in the ranks that Haruhisa himself was threatened. Hisayuki threw himself into the fray and was killed. <br />
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His body was buried at Koriyama by the Môri. His gravestone bears the name Yoshikatsu [義勝].<br />
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==References==<br />
* Initial text from ''Sengoku Biographical Dictionary'' ([http://www.samurai-archives.com Samurai-Archives.com]) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005<br />
*Abe; Nishimura, eds. ''Sengoku Jinmei'' Shinjinbutsu Oraisha 1990 <br />
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/尼子久幸 Amako Hisayuki] Japanese Wikipedia<br />
[[Category:Samurai]]<br />
[[Category:Sengoku Period]]</div>FWSeal