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As the power of the Takeda declined, Masayuki expanded from northern [[Shinano province|Shinano]] into [[Kozuke province|Kôzuke]] in [[1580]] and took [[Numata castle|Numata]] from the [[Go-Hojo clan|Hôjô]], who controlled most of the [[Kanto|Kantô]]. Numata is in northern Kôzuke on the Tone River 利根川, which flows into the Kantô plain, so the Sanada had access to all three [[highways]] between Kantô and [[Echigo province]].  

As the power of the Takeda declined, Masayuki expanded from northern [[Shinano province|Shinano]] into [[Kozuke province|Kôzuke]] in [[1580]] and took [[Numata castle|Numata]] from the [[Go-Hojo clan|Hôjô]], who controlled most of the [[Kanto|Kantô]]. Numata is in northern Kôzuke on the Tone River 利根川, which flows into the Kantô plain, so the Sanada had access to all three [[highways]] between Kantô and [[Echigo province]].  

In [[1582]][[Oda Nobunaga]] attacked the Takeda, and as their cause was hopeless, Masayuki wrote the Hôjô requesting to become their vassal.[fn 1] and after Nobunaga’s death, sent hostages to them. But Shinano was semi-controlled in quick succession by various warlords, and Masayuki accepted whoever was in control. He ended up serving [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], who now ruled the former Takeda center of [[Kai province|Kai]].  

In [[1582]] [[Oda Nobunaga]] attacked the Takeda, and as their cause was hopeless, Masayuki wrote the Hôjô requesting to become their vassal.<ref>Letter from [[Hojo Ujikuni|Hôjô Ujikuni]] to Masayuki dated 1582/3/12 ([[Sanada Family Materials]], p. 57).</ref> and after Nobunaga’s death, sent hostages to them. But Shinano was semi-controlled in quick succession by various warlords, and Masayuki accepted whoever was in control. He ended up serving [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], who now ruled the former Takeda center of [[Kai province|Kai]].  

Masayuki now worked on consolidating control of the Chiisagata district of Shinano. He had built a number of mountain castles as Sanada-yama castle and Matsuo castle and still held on to Numata castle, but in [[1583]] started the construction of the flatland  [[Ueda castle]] on the junction of the Tôsendô 東山道 (Nakasendô) and the Hokkoku Highway 北国街道.

Masayuki now worked on consolidating control of the Chiisagata district of Shinano. He had built a number of mountain castles as Sanada-yama castle and Matsuo castle and still held on to Numata castle, but in [[1583]] started the construction of the flatland  [[Ueda castle]] on the junction of the Tôsendô 東山道 (Nakasendô) and the Hokkoku Highway 北国街道.

In [[1585]]  Ieyasu demanded that Numata be returned to the Hôjô as part of a Tokugawa-Hôjô agreement signed that year. Masayuki refused, allied with [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]] of Echigo, and sent his second son [[Sanada Yukimura|Nobushige]] as a hostage to Kaizu in the 8th month in return for assistance at Numata against the Hôjô. In the intercalary 8th month (int. 8) he defeated a Tokugawa army sent to chastise him near Ueda. Also, the Hôjô failed to bring down Numata, which was held by Masayuki's uncle, [[Yasawa Yoritsuna]]. Masayuki asked [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hideyoshi]] to intervene [fn] and finally made peace with the Tokugawa by sending his elder son [[Sanada Nobuyuki|Nobuyuki]] as a hostage to Hamamatsu.

In [[1585]]  Ieyasu demanded that Numata be returned to the Hôjô as part of a Tokugawa-Hôjô agreement signed that year. Masayuki refused, allied with [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]] of Echigo, and sent his second son [[Sanada Yukimura|Nobushige]] as a hostage to Kaizu in the 8th month in return for assistance at Numata against the Hôjô. In the intercalary 8th month (int. 8) he defeated a Tokugawa army sent to chastise him near Ueda. Also, the Hôjô failed to bring down Numata, which was held by Masayuki's uncle, [[Yasawa Yoritsuna]]. Masayuki asked [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hideyoshi]] to intervene <ref>Letter from Hideyoshi to Masayuki dated 1585/10/17 ([[Sanada Family Materials]], p. 84).</ref> and finally made peace with the Tokugawa by sending his elder son [[Sanada Nobuyuki|Nobuyuki]] as a hostage to Hamamatsu.

In [[1589]] Hideyoshi arbitrated the dispute over Numata, and gave it to the Hôjô, but let the Sanada keep [[Nagurumi castle]] and the Azuma district of Kôzuke, and also gave them part of the Ina district of  Shinano as a replacement for Numata. However, in the eleventh month the commander in Numata, attacked and took Nagurumi castle. Hideyoshi immediately announced he would attack the Hôjô, and the next year carried out the [[Odawara Campaign]]. Masayuki participated by attacking Hôjô forts in Kôzuke and saw his territories increased somewhat as a result. Numata was given to his elder son Nobuyuki, however.

In [[1589]] Hideyoshi arbitrated the dispute over Numata, and gave it to the Hôjô, but let the Sanada keep [[Nagurumi castle]] and the Azuma district of Kôzuke, and also gave them part of the Ina district of  Shinano as a replacement for Numata. However, in the eleventh month the commander in Numata attacked and took Nagurumi castle. Hideyoshi immediately announced he would attack the Hôjô, and the next year carried out the [[Odawara Campaign]]. Masayuki participated by attacking Hôjô forts in Kôzuke and saw his territories increased somewhat as a result. Numata was given to his elder son Nobuyuki, however.

In [[1600]] during the [[Sekigahara campaign]] Masayuki and his two sons accompanied the Tokugawa on their march against Uesugi Kagekatsu, but [[Ishida Mitsunari]]’s call to arms of 7/17 reached them in Shimotsuke. Masayuki was furious that he had not been informed beforehand,[3] but he and Nobushige declared for the 'western' cause and returned to Ueda, though Nobuyuki joined the Tokugawa camp, probably with his father’s encouragement to preserve the family whichever side won. Masayuki and Nobushige were besieged in Ueda by [[Tokugawa Hidetada]] but succesfully resisted the Eastern forces, doing so in such a staunch manner that Ueda is considered one of the 'classic' sieges of Japanese history.  

In [[1600]] during the [[Sekigahara campaign]] Masayuki and his two sons accompanied the Tokugawa on their march against Uesugi Kagekatsu, but [[Ishida Mitsunari]]’s call to arms of 7/17 reached them in [[Shimotsuke province]]. Masayuki was furious that he had not been informed beforehand, <ref>Letter from Mitsunari to Masayuki dated 1600/7/30 ([[Sanada Family Materials]], p. 94).</ref> but he and Nobushige declared for the 'western' cause and returned to Ueda, though Nobuyuki joined the Tokugawa camp, probably with his father’s encouragement to preserve the family whichever side won. Masayuki and Nobushige were besieged in Ueda by [[Tokugawa Hidetada]] but succesfully resisted the Eastern forces, doing so in such a staunch manner that Ueda is considered one of the 'classic' sieges of Japanese history.  

Having won control of the country, at the end of the year, Tokugawa Ieyasu banished both Masayuki and Yukimura to Kudoyama of Kôyazan in [[Kai province]]. Nobuyuki, who had been given Ueda, supported them, but Masayuki often complained of debt.  Apparently thought he would soon be pardoned, but that was not to be, and he died in 1611.  

Having won control of the country, at the end of the year, Tokugawa Ieyasu banished both Masayuki and Yukimura to Kudoyama of Kôyazan in [[Kai province]]. Nobuyuki, who had been given Ueda, supported them, but Masayuki often complained of debt.  Apparently thought he would soon be pardoned, but that was not to be, and he died in 1611.  

Masayuki is considered one of the most skilled samurai commanders of the later Sengoku Period, and foul play has traditionally been suspected in his death.  

Masayuki is considered one of the most skilled samurai commanders of the later Sengoku Period, and foul play has traditionally been suspected in his death.  

[2]Letter from Hideyoshi to Masayuki dated 1585/10/17 ([Sanada Family Material], p. 84).

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==References==

==References==

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

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