Changes

By mid-December 1614, the Tokugawa forces began to tighten the noose around Osaka castle. As pointed out earlier, the castle’s southern flank was its weakest point and hence the Tokugawa launched an all-out assault on the Sanada-maru on January 3, 1615 (December 4, 1614 in the old Japanese lunar calendar). The first assault wave was led by [[Maeda Toshitsune]] (1593-1658) commanding 12,000 troops who retreated after scores were cut down in a deadly crossfire of arquebus fire as they rushed for the walls of Sanada-maru.  A second wave of  10,000 under the command of Ieyasu’s grandson, [[Matsudaira Tadanao ]] (1595-1650) and an additional 10,000 troops adorning the famous red-lacquered armor of the Ii clan, led by [[Ii Naotaka]] (1590-1659) were  greeted by a hail of hot lead from the defenders of Sanada-maru. However, the combined Matsudaira-Ii force managed to withstand the constant barrage of gunfire long enough to breach the castle’s Hachomeguchi gate where they were greeted by 8,000 Toyotomi troops led by [[Kimura Shigenari]] (1593-1615). Pressed by Kimura’s forces in front of them and facing deadly fire on their right flank from Sanada’s troops, the Matsudaira-Ii force was soon in full-retreat back to their lines. Kimura’s troops gave chase, and proceeded to rout an additional 700 Tokugawa forces led by [[Matsukura Shigemasa]] (1574-1630) and [[Terazawa Hirotaka]] (1563-1633) along the way.

By mid-December 1614, the Tokugawa forces began to tighten the noose around Osaka castle. As pointed out earlier, the castle’s southern flank was its weakest point and hence the Tokugawa launched an all-out assault on the Sanada-maru on January 3, 1615 (December 4, 1614 in the old Japanese lunar calendar). The first assault wave was led by [[Maeda Toshitsune]] (1593-1658) commanding 12,000 troops who retreated after scores were cut down in a deadly crossfire of arquebus fire as they rushed for the walls of Sanada-maru.  A second wave of  10,000 under the command of Ieyasu’s grandson, [[Matsudaira Tadanao ]] (1595-1650) and an additional 10,000 troops adorning the famous red-lacquered armor of the Ii clan, led by [[Ii Naotaka]] (1590-1659) were  greeted by a hail of hot lead from the defenders of Sanada-maru. However, the combined Matsudaira-Ii force managed to withstand the constant barrage of gunfire long enough to breach the castle’s Hachomeguchi gate where they were greeted by 8,000 Toyotomi troops led by [[Kimura Shigenari]] (1593-1615). Pressed by Kimura’s forces in front of them and facing deadly fire on their right flank from Sanada’s troops, the Matsudaira-Ii force was soon in full-retreat back to their lines. Kimura’s troops gave chase, and proceeded to rout an additional 700 Tokugawa forces led by [[Matsukura Shigemasa]] (1574-1630) and [[Terazawa Hirotaka]] (1563-1633) along the way.

The next day, on January 4 (December 5 in the old Japanese lunar calendar), the Tokugawa resumed their attack on Sanada-maru and a force of 4,000 under [[Todo Takatora|Tôdô Takatora]] 藤堂高虎 (1556-1630) made a dash for the Tanimachiguchi gate 谷町口門, one gate down to the west from the Hachomeguchi gate. Tôdô briefly managed to breach the castle’s wall, but came under a fierce counterattack by 5,000 troops under [[Chosokabe Morichika|Chôsokabe Morichika]] 長宋我部盛親(1575-1615), driving the Tokugawa back, yet again.

The next day, on January 4 (December 5 in the old Japanese lunar calendar), the Tokugawa resumed their attack on Sanada-maru and a force of 4,000 under [[Todo Takatora|Tôdô Takatora]] (1556-1630) made a dash for the Tanimachiguchi gate (谷町口門), one gate down to the west from the Hachomeguchi gate. Tôdô briefly managed to breach the castle’s wall, but came under a fierce counterattack by 5,000 troops under [[Chosokabe Morichika|Chôsokabe Morichika]] (1575-1615), driving the Tokugawa back, yet again.

Due to the resilient defense of the Sanada-maru, it became apparent to the Tokugawa that Osaka castle could not be taken by throwing wave after wave of ground troops at the castle. A change in tactics was needed, and Ieyasu chose to bring artillery to bear on Osaka castle. While the artillery barrage that began on January 8 (December 9 in the old Japanese lunar calendar) did not have an overwhelming destructive impact, it did have the desired psychological effect. Unable to tolerate the bombardment, Hideyori’s mother, [[Yodo-gimi]], soon began to pressure her son to reach a peace agreement with Ieyasu. Proving that the walls of Osaka castle were stronger than his will, Hideyori eventually bowed to his mother’s wishes and began negotiating a settlement 10 days after the bombardment started.  On January 21 (December 22 in the old Japanese lunar calendar) the winter siege of Osaka officially ended.  

Due to the resilient defense of the Sanada-maru, it became apparent to the Tokugawa that Osaka castle could not be taken by throwing wave after wave of ground troops at the castle. A change in tactics was needed, and Ieyasu chose to bring artillery to bear on Osaka castle. While the artillery barrage that began on January 8 (December 9 in the old Japanese lunar calendar) did not have an overwhelming destructive impact, it did have the desired psychological effect. Unable to tolerate the bombardment, Hideyori’s mother, [[Yodo-gimi]], soon began to pressure her son to reach a peace agreement with Ieyasu. Proving that the walls of Osaka castle were stronger than his will, Hideyori eventually bowed to his mother’s wishes and began negotiating a settlement 10 days after the bombardment started.  On January 21 (December 22 in the old Japanese lunar calendar) the winter siege of Osaka officially ended.  

Without even giving the ink on the peace agreement to dry, Shôgun [[Tokugawa Hidetada]], under orders from his father, Ieyasu, began demolishing the outer defenses of Osaka castle. Hideyori protested, but his pleas were futile. When he attempted to rebuild his moats and walls, Ieyasu had the pretext he needed to finish off the Toyotomi once and for all. Claiming that Hideyori was reneging on the peace plan by refortifying Osaka castle and again raising a rônin army, the Tokugawa reassembled their forces in Kyoto and prepared to march once again on Osaka.  

Without even giving the ink on the peace agreement to dry, Shôgun [[Tokugawa Hidetada]], under orders from his father, Ieyasu, began demolishing the outer defenses of Osaka castle. Hideyori protested, but his pleas were futile. When he attempted to rebuild his moats and walls, Ieyasu had the pretext he needed to finish off the Toyotomi once and for all. Claiming that Hideyori was reneging on the peace plan by refortifying Osaka castle and again raising a rônin army, the Tokugawa reassembled their forces in Kyoto and prepared to march once again on Osaka.  

Knowing that it was futile to stay behind the walls of the weakened citadel to wait for the Tokugawa troops to show up, the Toyotomi forces decided to go on the offensive. The first notable clash of the summer siege occurred on May 26 (April 27 in the old Japanese lunar calendar) at [[Kashii]], where 5,000 Tokugawa forces under [[Asano Nagaakira]]  (1586-1632) defeated the 3,000 men under [[Ono Harufusa]]大野治房 as they marched toward the pro-Tokugawa stronghold of [[Wakayama castle]] 和歌山成.   

Knowing that it was futile to stay behind the walls of the weakened citadel to wait for the Tokugawa troops to show up, the Toyotomi forces decided to go on the offensive. The first notable clash of the summer siege occurred on May 26 (April 27 in the old Japanese lunar calendar) at [[Kashii]], where 5,000 Tokugawa forces under [[Asano Nagaakira]]  (1586-1632) defeated the 3,000 men under [[Ono Harufusa]] as they marched toward the pro-Tokugawa stronghold of [[Wakayama castle]] (和歌山).   

The next major clash occurred in the fog on  the early morning of  June 3 (May 6) at [[Dômyô-ji]]道明寺 near Japan’s imperial [[kofun]] tombs. Fighting broke out as forces under Yukimura and the Tokugawa jostled for high ground on the slope of Komatsuyama 小松山. Here, Yukimura’s troops engaged the 10,000 men under the command of the famed One-Eyed-Dragon of Sendai, [[Date Masamune]] 伊達政宗 (1567-1636)  near Hachiman shrine in Konda village. 誉田八幡神社. Yukimura had only 3,000 troops under his personal command and heavy casualties inflicted on the other Toyotomi forces were taking its toll. As dusk neared, Sanada realized further fighting was useless and executed an orderly withdrawal back to Osaka castle.  Ieyasu’s sixth son, Tokugawa Tadateru, was ordered to give chase to Yukimura’s retreating forces. But his 9,000 troops were also exhausted from a brisk march to reinforce the Tokugawa positions at Dômyô-ji and he refused, allowing the famed general to get away to fight yet one more day.

The next major clash occurred in the fog on  the early morning of  June 3 (May 6) at [[Dômyô-ji]] (道明寺) near Japan’s imperial [[kofun]] tombs. Fighting broke out as forces under Yukimura and the Tokugawa jostled for high ground on the slope of Komatsuyama (小松山). Here, Yukimura’s troops engaged the 10,000 men under the command of the famed One-Eyed-Dragon of Sendai, [[Date Masamune]] (1567-1636)  near Hachiman shrine in Konda village (誉田八幡神社). Yukimura had only 3,000 troops under his personal command and heavy casualties inflicted on the other Toyotomi forces were taking its toll. As dusk neared, Sanada realized further fighting was useless and executed an orderly withdrawal back to Osaka castle.  Ieyasu’s sixth son, Tokugawa Tadateru, was ordered to give chase to Yukimura’s retreating forces. But his 9,000 troops were also exhausted from a brisk march to reinforce the Tokugawa positions at Dômyô-ji and he refused, allowing the famed general to get away to fight yet one more day.

And Yukimura and his troops definitely had enough fight in them for one more dramatic and ferocious fight—the battle of Tennô-ji天王寺, which was fought on  June 4 (May 7). After hurrying back to Osaka castle, Yukimura found the massive Tokugawa force of nearly 150,000 moving into positions in order to make their final assault on the castle. As the Tokugawa units were still moving into formation, the Toyotomi forces launched a last ditch offensive with their approximate 54,000 to 60,000 troops that hoped to take the still loose Tokugawa formations off-guard.  As the vanguard of the Tokugawa left flank under Matsudaira Tadanao marched to their positions, Yukimura’s troops charged down from Chausuyama 茶臼山 and fought with desperate abandon together with Mori Katsunaga’s毛利勝永 contingent. As Matsudaira’s line began to crumble, Ieyasu rushed his personal body of troops up to support Matsudaira and Yukimura saw his chance to smash through the center. If he could keep the center of the Tokugawa forces tied up long enough for Hideyori to sally out of the castle and lead a general charge on the exposed Tokugawa flank, the Toyotomi forces might have a chance at victory—or so he hoped. Thus, at this moment, Yukimura dispatched his son, Sanada Daisuke back to the castle to urge Hideyori to seize the moment and sally forward. But Hideyori was too late. As the fighting raged around him, the exhausted Yukimura collapsed on a camp stool. Nishio Nizaemon 西尾仁左衛門, a Tokugawa samurai, recognized Yukimura and charged forward, issuing a challenge. Unable to muster the strength to fight, Yukimura acknowledged who he was and took off his helmet. Seconds later, his life came to an abrupt end.  

And Yukimura and his troops definitely had enough fight in them for one more dramatic and ferocious fight—the battle of Tennô-ji (天王寺), which was fought on  6/4 (May 7). After hurrying back to Osaka castle, Yukimura found the massive Tokugawa force of nearly 150,000 moving into positions in order to make their final assault on the castle. As the Tokugawa units were still moving into formation, the Toyotomi forces launched a last ditch offensive with their approximate 54,000 to 60,000 troops that hoped to take the still loose Tokugawa formations off-guard.  As the vanguard of the Tokugawa left flank under Matsudaira Tadanao marched to their positions, Yukimura’s troops charged down from Chausuyama (茶臼山) and fought with desperate abandon together with [[Mori Katsunaga|Mori Katsunaga's]] contingent. As Matsudaira’s line began to crumble, Ieyasu rushed his personal body of troops up to support Matsudaira and Yukimura saw his chance to smash through the center. If he could keep the center of the Tokugawa forces tied up long enough for Hideyori to sally out of the castle and lead a general charge on the exposed Tokugawa flank, the Toyotomi forces might have a chance at victory—or so he hoped. Thus, at this moment, Yukimura dispatched his son, Sanada Daisuke back to the castle to urge Hideyori to seize the moment and sally forward. But Hideyori was too late. As the fighting raged around him, the exhausted Yukimura collapsed on a camp stool. Nishio Nizaemon, a Tokugawa samurai, recognized Yukimura and charged forward, issuing a challenge. Unable to muster the strength to fight, Yukimura acknowledged who he was and took off his helmet. Seconds later, his life came to an abrupt end.  

Yukimura’s death occurred in plain view of many of his men. As news of his death spread among his troops, their attack began to wane. They too, were exhausted from the previous day’s fighting at Dômyô-ji and the rapid pace of their retreat back to Osaka. By the time Hideyori rode out, the banners of Tokugawa troops were already fluttering from Osaka castle’s outer moat and the Sakura gate.

Yukimura’s death occurred in plain view of many of his men. As news of his death spread among his troops, their attack began to wane. They too, were exhausted from the previous day’s fighting at Dômyô-ji and the rapid pace of their retreat back to Osaka. By the time Hideyori rode out, the banners of Tokugawa troops were already fluttering from Osaka castle’s outer moat and the Sakura gate.

The next day, Osaka castle was in flames and Hideyori and Yodo-gimi committed suicide. Ieyasu’s destruction of the Toyotomi and all viable threats to his dynasty was now complete, rushing in the long era of Pax Tokugawa that would last until 1868.  

The next day, Osaka castle was in flames and Hideyori and Yodo-gimi committed suicide. Ieyasu’s destruction of the Toyotomi and all viable threats to his dynasty was now complete, rushing in the long era of Pax Tokugawa that would last until 1868.

==Notes==

==Notes==