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[[Image:Date_masamune_mounted.jpg||thumb|right|Date Masamune, with his trademark crescent moon helmet crest.]]

[[Image:Date_masamune_mounted.jpg||thumb|right|Date Masamune, with his trademark crescent moon helmet crest.]]

A general war ensued between the Date and Hatakeyama, the Hatakeyama drawing on support from the [[Satake clan|Satake]], Ashina, [[Soma clan|Soma]], and other local clans. The allies marched to within a half-mile of Masamune's Motomiya-jo, assembling some 30,000 troops for the attack. Masamune, having only 7,000 warriors of his owned, prepared a defensive strategy, relying on the series of forts that guarded the approaches to Motomiya. The fighting began on the 17th of November, and did not progress well for the Date. Three of his valuable forts were taken, and one of his chief retainers, [[Moniwa Yoshinao]], was killed in a duel with an opposing commander. The attackers pressed towards the Seto River, which was the last obstacle between them and Motomiya. Date attempted to turn them back at the Hitadori Bridge, but was driven back. Masamune brought his remaining forces within Motomiya's walls, and prepared for what would surely be a gallant but futile last stand. But the next morning, no doubt to the amazed relief of the Date warriors, the main enemy contingent picked up and marched away. These were [[Satake Yoshishige|Satake Yoshishige's]] men, their lord having received word that in his absence the Satomi had attacked his lands in [[Hitachi province|Hitachi]]. Apparently this left the allies with fewer men than they believed possible to bring down Motomiya, for they too had retreated by the end of the day. This brush with utter defeat was likely a factor in turning Masamune into the renowned general he would one day be known as. In his youth, Masamune had suffered a bout with small pox that caused an infection in his right eye-which he plucked out himself. Combined with his early aggressive and unstable demeanor, Masamune would earn the tag 'One-eyed Dragon'. That nickname would stick, but became one of respect.  

A general war ensued between the Date and Hatakeyama, the Hatakeyama drawing on support from the [[Satake clan|Satake]], Ashina, [[Soma clan|Soma]], and other local clans. The allies marched to within a half-mile of Masamune's Motomiya-jo, assembling some 30,000 troops for the attack. Masamune, having only 7,000 warriors of his own, prepared a defensive strategy, relying on the series of forts that guarded the approaches to Motomiya. The fighting began on the 17th of November, and did not progress well for the Date. Three of his valuable forts were taken, and one of his chief retainers, [[Moniwa Yoshinao]], was killed in a duel with an opposing commander. The attackers pressed towards the Seto River, which was the last obstacle between them and Motomiya. Date attempted to turn them back at the Hitadori Bridge, but was driven back. Masamune brought his remaining forces within Motomiya's walls, and prepared for what would surely be a gallant but futile last stand. But the next morning, no doubt to the amazed relief of the Date warriors, the main enemy contingent picked up and marched away. These were [[Satake Yoshishige|Satake Yoshishige's]] men, their lord having received word that in his absence the Satomi had attacked his lands in [[Hitachi province|Hitachi]]. Apparently this left the allies with fewer men than they believed possible to bring down Motomiya, for they too had retreated by the end of the day. This brush with utter defeat was likely a factor in turning Masamune into the renowned general he would one day be known as. In his youth, Masamune had suffered a bout with small pox that caused an infection in his right eye-which he plucked out himself. Combined with his early aggressive and unstable demeanor, Masamune would earn the tag 'One-eyed Dragon'. That nickname would stick, but became one of respect.  

In the wake of the battle, peace was struck with the Hatakeyama and Soma, although this was to prove short-lived.  

In the wake of the battle, peace was struck with the Hatakeyama and Soma, although this was to prove short-lived.  

In [[1592]], Date served in Hideyoshi's headquarters at Nagoya on Kyushu during the Korean invasion. Three years later, he found himself implicated in the suspected treason of [[Toyotomi Hidetsugu]] and was ordered to pack up and move his household to Iyo on Shikoku, an unthinkable fate (to Date) averted through the good offices of [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]]. All in all, it is not surprising that Date readily joined Tokugawa when war came between the latter and [[Ishida Mitsunari]] began in [[1600]]. He had already married a son to one of Ieyasu's daughters (an act which in itself had aggravated tensions between Ieyasu and his fellow san-bugyo members) and was likely contemplating how best his remote forces could aid Tokugawa when war began. In the event, he and [[Mogami Yoshiakira]] of [[Dewa province|Dewa]] held the forces of [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]] at bay, with Masamune's first contribution to the war effort being the [[Siege of Hataya]]. The battles in the north culminated with Masamune's attack on [[Fukushima castle|Fukushima Castle]]. Date and Mogami's efforts allowed Tokugawa to move west in confidence, and, of course, the campaign culminated in the total victory at [[Battle of Sekigahara|Sekigahara]] in October 1600. In the aftermath, Date's lands were enlarged to 600,000 koku, and he built a new castle town (Aoba-jo) at Sendai.  

In [[1592]], Date served in Hideyoshi's headquarters at Nagoya on Kyushu during the Korean invasion. Three years later, he found himself implicated in the suspected treason of [[Toyotomi Hidetsugu]] and was ordered to pack up and move his household to Iyo on Shikoku, an unthinkable fate (to Date) averted through the good offices of [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]]. All in all, it is not surprising that Date readily joined Tokugawa when war came between the latter and [[Ishida Mitsunari]] began in [[1600]]. He had already married a son to one of Ieyasu's daughters (an act which in itself had aggravated tensions between Ieyasu and his fellow san-bugyo members) and was likely contemplating how best his remote forces could aid Tokugawa when war began. In the event, he and [[Mogami Yoshiakira]] of [[Dewa province|Dewa]] held the forces of [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]] at bay, with Masamune's first contribution to the war effort being the [[Siege of Hataya]]. The battles in the north culminated with Masamune's attack on [[Fukushima castle|Fukushima Castle]]. Date and Mogami's efforts allowed Tokugawa to move west in confidence, and, of course, the campaign culminated in the total victory at [[Battle of Sekigahara|Sekigahara]] in October 1600. In the aftermath, Date's lands were enlarged to 600,000 koku, and he built a new castle town (Aoba-jo) at Sendai.  

In [[1613]] an interesting chain of events unfolded. Masamune, largely lenient towards the Christians in his lands, interceded on the behalf of a certain Father [[Soteho]] who had been condemned to death for preaching his faith in Japan in defiance of the anti-Christian edicts. Soteho was released and sent to Sendai, where Date asked if he might arrange for a trade mission to Europe, accompanied by a few Date retainers. Soteho agreed, and Ieyasu reluctantly consented to Masamune's requests for authorization, despite fears that the crafty Date was somehow fishing for European aid in a possible overthrow of the Tokugawa. Masamune dispatched [[Hasakura Tsunenaga]] ([[1571]]-[[1622]]) to head the mission, which returned seven years later. The long-time travelers found that Date had been pressured into initiating a persecution in his territory, and Soteho, arriving at Nagasaki, was once again condemned to death, and this time burned. Though Date's embassy had come to naught, he maintained his status as a first rate general, serving in the Osaka Campaigns ([[1614]],[[1615]]). His somewhat unusual and at times controversial manner of doing things was best demonstrated by an incident that occurred during the 1615 siege. Evidently, Masamune became frustrated at the lack of aggression on the part of friendly troops under [[Jinbo Sukemochi]], and ordered his own men to let off a few rifle volleys in their direction to goad them into action. Needless to say, this was not an act well looked upon by his fellow generals.

In [[1613]] an interesting chain of events unfolded. Masamune, largely lenient towards the Christians in his lands, interceded on the behalf of a certain Father [[Soteho]] who had been condemned to death for preaching his faith in Japan in defiance of the anti-Christian edicts. Soteho was released and sent to Sendai, where Date asked if he might arrange for a trade mission to Europe, accompanied by a few Date retainers. Soteho agreed, and Ieyasu reluctantly consented to Masamune's requests for authorization, despite fears that the crafty Date was somehow fishing for European aid in a possible overthrow of the Tokugawa. Masamune dispatched [[Hasekura Tsunenaga]] ([[1571]]-[[1622]]) to head the mission, which returned seven years later. The long-time travelers found that Date had been pressured into initiating a persecution in his territory, and Soteho, arriving at Nagasaki, was once again condemned to death, and this time burned. Though Date's embassy had come to naught, he maintained his status as a first rate general, serving in the Osaka Campaigns ([[1614]],[[1615]]). His somewhat unusual and at times controversial manner of doing things was best demonstrated by an incident that occurred during the 1615 siege. Evidently, Masamune became frustrated at the lack of aggression on the part of friendly troops under [[Jinbo Sukemochi]], and ordered his own men to let off a few rifle volleys in their direction to goad them into action. Needless to say, this was not an act well looked upon by his fellow generals.

When Ieyasu was on his deathbed in [[1616]], Masamune was one of the last of the great daimyo to see him, presenting his overlord with a piece of Zen poetry. Yet, while they were ostensibly on very good terms, Tokugawa (nor anyone else for that matter) never fully trusted the unfathomable lord of Sendai. A number of anecdotes have survived that paint the picture of a lord with an attitude both unreadable and outspoken. In addition, Masamune had a keen appreciation of the arts, despite his rustic background.  

When Ieyasu was on his deathbed in [[1616]], Masamune was one of the last of the great daimyo to see him, presenting his overlord with a piece of Zen poetry. Yet, while they were ostensibly on very good terms, Tokugawa (nor anyone else for that matter) never fully trusted the unfathomable lord of Sendai. A number of anecdotes have survived that paint the picture of a lord with an attitude both unreadable and outspoken. In addition, Masamune had a keen appreciation of the arts, despite his rustic background.  

==References==

==References==

* Initial text from [http://www.samurai-archives.com Samurai-Archives.com] FWSeal & CEWest, 2005

* Initial text from [http://www.samurai-archives.com Samurai-Archives.com] FWSeal & CEWest, 2005

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]