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Sanada Yukimura is probably the most famous of the [[Sanada clan]] of [[Shinano province]].  He was the second son of [[Sanada Masayuki]] and his wife  (Kanshô-in　寒松院); his older brother was [[Sanada Nobuyuki|Nobuyuki]]. The Sanada had been loyal vassals of [[Takeda Shingen]], the famed daimyo of [[Kai]].

Sanada Yukimura is probably the most famous of the [[Sanada clan]] of [[Shinano province]].  He was the second son of [[Sanada Masayuki]] and his wife  (Kanshô-in　寒松院); his older brother was [[Sanada Nobuyuki|Nobuyuki]]. The Sanada had been loyal vassals of [[Takeda Shingen]], the famed daimyo of [[Kai]].

In 1585 a quarrel between his father Masayuki and [[Hojo Ujimasa |Hôjô Ujimasa]] over [[Numata castle]] came to a head, and [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] made plans to attack the Sanada castle of [[Ueda castle|Ueda]]. In response, Masayuki made overtures to [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]] of [[Echigo province]] and sent Yukimura as a hostage, where he was placed under the watchful eye of Uesugi general [[Suda Chikamitsu]]. A letter of from [[Suda Mitsuchika]] dated 8/29 mentions Yukimura's arrival and says that in return, a force had been sent to aid the Sanada in their struggle against the Tokugawa. Ieyasu's [[First Siege of Ueda|attack on Ueda Castle]] ended in utter failure.  Towards the end of the year Masayuki made overtures to [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], guaranteeing a quick end to the quarrel with Ieyasu. Perhaps one result of submitting to Hideyoshi was that Yukimura was able to leave the Uesugi, who had also pledged allegiance to Hideyoshi.

In 1585 a quarrel between his father Masayuki and [[Hojo Ujimasa|Hôjô Ujimasa]] over [[Numata castle]] came to a head, and [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] made plans to attack the Sanada castle of [[Ueda castle|Ueda]]. In response, Masayuki made overtures to [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]] of [[Echigo province]] and sent Yukimura as a hostage, where he was placed under the watchful eye of Uesugi general [[Suda Chikamitsu]]. A letter of from [[Suda Mitsuchika]] dated 8/29 mentions Yukimura's arrival and says that in return, a force had been sent to aid the Sanada in their struggle against the Tokugawa. Ieyasu's [[First Siege of Ueda|attack on Ueda Castle]] ended in utter failure.  Towards the end of the year Masayuki made overtures to [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], guaranteeing a quick end to the quarrel with Ieyasu. Perhaps one result of submitting to Hideyoshi was that Yukimura was able to leave the Uesugi, who had also pledged allegiance to Hideyoshi.

Yukimura served under Hideyoshi and married the daughter of a senior Toyotomi retainer [[Otani Yoshitsugu |Ôtani Yoshitsugu]]. In 1594 on the orders of Hideyoshi, Yukimura, along with his father and brother, played leading roles in the construction of [[Fushimi castle]].

Yukimura served under Hideyoshi and married the daughter of a senior Toyotomi retainer [[Otani Yoshitsugu |Ôtani Yoshitsugu]]. In 1594 on the orders of Hideyoshi, Yukimura, along with his father and brother, played leading roles in the construction of [[Fushimi castle]].

A life of leisure in exile didn’t suit Yukimura very well.  In 1614 Toyotomi Hideyori started gathering ronin to support him against the upcoming attack that Ieyasu was planning, and Yukimura responded. He slipped out of Kudoyama in the tenth month and made his way to [[Osaka castle|Ōsaka Castle]], where he became one of Hideyori’s top commanders. It is here at Osaka castle that Yukimura’s exploits earned him a place in Japanese history as one of the most daring and endearing figures of the late-[[Sengoku]] period.  

A life of leisure in exile didn’t suit Yukimura very well.  In 1614 Toyotomi Hideyori started gathering ronin to support him against the upcoming attack that Ieyasu was planning, and Yukimura responded. He slipped out of Kudoyama in the tenth month and made his way to [[Osaka castle|Ōsaka Castle]], where he became one of Hideyori’s top commanders. It is here at Osaka castle that Yukimura’s exploits earned him a place in Japanese history as one of the most daring and endearing figures of the late-[[Sengoku]] period.  

==Sanada Yukimura and the Siege of Osaka Castle==

==Sanada Yukimura and the Siege of Osaka Castle==