| Nobunaga's stunning victory at Dengakuhazama (known to posterity by the name of nearby Okehazama village) changed the course of Japanese history. It had two immediate results. Firstly, it brought Oda Nobunaga national fame and removed a wolf from his back door. Secondly, it allowed Matsudaira Motoyasu to extricate himself from the Imagawa's clutches and establish Mikawa as an independent province. Both results were to have heady consequences in the years to come. | | Nobunaga's stunning victory at Dengakuhazama (known to posterity by the name of nearby Okehazama village) changed the course of Japanese history. It had two immediate results. Firstly, it brought Oda Nobunaga national fame and removed a wolf from his back door. Secondly, it allowed Matsudaira Motoyasu to extricate himself from the Imagawa's clutches and establish Mikawa as an independent province. Both results were to have heady consequences in the years to come. |
− | ==Nobunaga's Ambition, 1561-1570== | + | ==Nobunaga's Move To Regional Power, 1561-1570== |
| In [[1561]], [[Saito Yoshitatsu]], who had continued to fend off advances by the Oda, passed away, probably of leprosy. This left his son, Tatsuoki, in command and Nobunaga was quick to take advantage of the new lord's weak character. By bribing away key Saito generals, Nobunaga was able to weaken the defenses of Mino and in [[1567]] he attacked Inabayama, the headquarters of the Saito clan. According to tradition, the hill-top castle was brought down by [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hideyoshi]], although this valuable Oda retainer does not begin appearing in written records until around [[1576]]. | | In [[1561]], [[Saito Yoshitatsu]], who had continued to fend off advances by the Oda, passed away, probably of leprosy. This left his son, Tatsuoki, in command and Nobunaga was quick to take advantage of the new lord's weak character. By bribing away key Saito generals, Nobunaga was able to weaken the defenses of Mino and in [[1567]] he attacked Inabayama, the headquarters of the Saito clan. According to tradition, the hill-top castle was brought down by [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hideyoshi]], although this valuable Oda retainer does not begin appearing in written records until around [[1576]]. |