Changes

* ''Born: [[1546]]''

* ''Born: [[1546]]''

* ''Died: [[1582]]''

* ''Died: [[1582]]''

* ''Distinction: 20th Lord of the Kai Takeda clan."

* ''Distinction: 20th Lord of the Kai Takeda clan''

* ''Other Names:'' ''Suwa Katsuyori''

* ''Other Names:'' ''Suwa Katsuyori''

* ''Childhood Name:'' ''Shirô'' [四郎]

* ''Childhood Name:'' ''Shirô'' [四郎]

[[Image:Takeda_katsuyori_nagashino.jpg||thumb|left|The allied forces of Oda and Tokugawa at Nagashino. (1575)]]

[[Image:Takeda_katsuyori_nagashino.jpg||thumb|left|The allied forces of Oda and Tokugawa at Nagashino. (1575)]]

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.

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.

[[Image:Katsuyori.jpg||thumb|right|Graves of Nobukatsu, Katsuyori, and Katsuyori's wife at the Keitokuin temple.]]

[[Image:Katsuyori.jpg||thumb|right|Graves of Nobukatsu, Katsuyori, and Katsuyori's wife at the Keitokuin temple.]]

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.

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.

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.

In [[1578]], following the death of Uesugi Kenshin, civil war broke out between his two successors, [[Uesugi Kagetora]] 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.

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.

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.

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==References==

==References==

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[ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/武田勝頼 Takeda Katsuyori] Japanese Wikipedia

[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/武田勝頼 Takeda Katsuyori] Japanese Wikipedia

* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999  

* Rekishi Gunzô. ''Shirizu #5: Takeda Shingen.'' Japan: Gakken, 1999  

* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]

* [[Sengoku Jinmei Jiten]]