Changes

Samurai forces landed at [[Pusan]] in 1592/4, moving on to Seoul in the 5th month and Pyongyang in the 6th month. Yi led the Korean navy in a number of decisive victories against the samurai forces, however, beginning with the sinking of some 40 Japanese ships at Okpo, Happo, and Jeokjinpo on 5/7-5/8. Several weeks later (5/29-6/10), he led his navy in sinking some 70 Japanese ships at Sacheon, Dangpo, Danghanpo, and Yulpo. The following month saw further decisive victories for Yi and the Korean navy, including the destruction of 59 ships at the [[battle of Hansando]] on 7/8 and victory again two days later at Angolpo. The [[battle of Busanpo]] on 8/24-9/2 brought yet another crushing defeat for the Japanese forces, who lost 130 ships to Yi's turtle ships. Yi led seven more attacks on the Japanese navy in the 2nd and 3rd months of [[1593]], and on 1593/8/15 was named commander of the naval forces of the three southern provinces.

Samurai forces landed at [[Pusan]] in 1592/4, moving on to Seoul in the 5th month and Pyongyang in the 6th month. Yi led the Korean navy in a number of decisive victories against the samurai forces, however, beginning with the sinking of some 40 Japanese ships at Okpo, Happo, and Jeokjinpo on 5/7-5/8. Several weeks later (5/29-6/10), he led his navy in sinking some 70 Japanese ships at Sacheon, Dangpo, Danghanpo, and Yulpo. The following month saw further decisive victories for Yi and the Korean navy, including the destruction of 59 ships at the [[battle of Hansando]] on 7/8 and victory again two days later at Angolpo. The [[battle of Busanpo]] on 8/24-9/2 brought yet another crushing defeat for the Japanese forces, who lost 130 ships to Yi's turtle ships. Yi led seven more attacks on the Japanese navy in the 2nd and 3rd months of [[1593]], and on 1593/8/15 was named commander of the naval forces of the three southern provinces.

Yi is celebrated in Korea for his strategic or tactical genius, but the technologies employed in these battles also feature prominently, and include highly-armored [[turtle ships]], and various forms of cannon. In addition to merely winning victories, Yi succeeded in cutting off Japanese supply lines in the waters on the western side of the Korean peninsula, and simultaneously protecting the [[Ming Dynasty|Ming Chinese]]/Korean supply lines.<ref>Morgan Pitelka, ''Spectacular Accumulation'', University of Hawaii Press (2016), 76-78.</ref>

Yi is celebrated in Korea for his strategic or tactical genius, but the technologies employed in these battles also feature prominently, and include highly-armored [[turtle ships]], and various forms of cannon. In addition to merely winning victories, Yi succeeded in cutting off Japanese supply lines in the waters on the western side of the Korean peninsula, and simultaneously protecting the [[Ming Dynasty|Ming Chinese]]/Korean supply lines.<ref>Morgan Pitelka, ''Spectacular Accumulation'', University of Hawaii Press (2016), 76-78.</ref> Throughout the war, for seven years, Yi kept a war diary, entitled ''Nanjung ilgi'' (亂中日記).

Throughout the war, for seven years, Yi kept a war diary, entitled ''Nanjung ilgi'' (亂中日記).

Despite his prominent role in defeating the first Japanese invasion in 1592-1593, Yi was stripped of his post as commander of the three provinces and imprisoned on [[1597]]/2/26. He was released roughly one month later, on 4/1, and learned of the death of his mother shortly afterward, on 4/13.

In the Battle of Myongyang, in [[1597]]/9, he led some sixteen ships to victory against a fleet of 133 Japanese ships.

By 8/3, he was reappointed to his post as naval commander of the three provinces on 8/3. He then led a small group of some 16 ships to victory against a fleet of 133 Japanese vessels in the [[battle of Myeongnyang]] on 9/16. Yi's third son Myeon died in the 10th month of that year.

Yi was killed in battle at Noryang on [[1598]]/11/18, struck by a gunshot from an enemy ship, but encouraged his men to not let news of his death spread; his death was kept secret for a time, thus keeping Korean morale high.

 

Yi was killed in battle at [[battle of Noryang|Noryang]] on [[1598]]/11/18, struck by a gunshot from an enemy ship, but encouraged his men to not let news of his death spread; his death was kept secret for a time, thus keeping Korean morale high. Some 200 Japanese ships were sunk before the battle ended.

{{stub}}

{{stub}}