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==The Tiger of Kai==

==The Tiger of Kai==

[[Image:Takeda_shingen.gif||thumb|left|The most famous portrait of Takeda Shingen, the authenticity of which has been questioned.  Certain scholars have suggested that this was in fact a painting of a Hatakeyama lord from Noto province.]]

[[Image:Takeda_shingen.gif||thumb|left|The most famous portrait of Takeda Shingen, the authenticity of which has been questioned.  Certain scholars have suggested that this was in fact a painting of a Hatakeyama lord from Noto province.]]

Takeda Shingen was the eldest son of the aggressive warlord [[Takeda Nobutora]] ([[1493]]-1573).<ref>The Takeda clan had been powerful in Kai from the 12th Century, when Takeda Nobuyoshi (a grandson of Minamoto Yoshiie's brother Yoshimitsu, 1138-1186) had sided with Minamoto Yoritomo during the Gempei War. The Takeda's power had increased in the Ashikaga era, and branches became strong in Aki and Wakasa, as well as Kai. Mori Motonari eventually defeated the Aki branch in 1516; the Wakasa Takeda became vassals of the Asakura by 1560 and faded from history.  

Takeda Shingen was the eldest son of the aggressive warlord [[Takeda Nobutora]] ([[1493]]-1573).<ref>The Takeda clan had been powerful in Kai from the 12th Century, when Takeda Nobuyoshi (a grandson of Minamoto Yoshiie's brother Yoshimitsu, 1138-1186) had sided with Minamoto Yoritomo during the Gempei War. The Takeda's power had increased in the Ashikaga era, and branches became strong in Aki and Wakasa, as well as Kai. Mori Motonari eventually defeated the Aki branch in 1540; the Wakasa Takeda became vassals of the Asakura by 1560 and faded from history.  

</ref> A competent if not especially well-liked leader, Nobutora had secured the position of the Takeda in [[Kai province|Kai]] and established his headquarters in Fuchu in [[1519]], building a castle called Yogai-jo on Maruyama, an 820-meter height north of the town. In the course of his career Nobutora fended off attacks against her borders by the Imagawa (1521) and the Hojo ([[1526]]). During the campaign in 1521, Nobutora defeated an Imagawa general named Fukushima Ujikatsu at the [[Battle of Iidagawara]] and soon afterwards learned of the birth of his first son, whom he named Katsuchiyo.<ref>Katsuchiyo can be translated as '1000 Victories in Succession', or, as Hiroaki Sato does in Legends of the Samurai, 'Victory Forever'.</ref>  

</ref>Takeda Nobutora had secured the position of the Takeda in [[Kai province|Kai]] after various struggles and established the Takeda capital at [[Tsutsujigaseki]] in Fuchu in [[1519]]. In the course of his career Nobutora clashed with various outside powers, including the Hôjô of [[Sagami province|Sagami Province]], the Imagawa of [[Suruga province|Suruga Province]] and the [[Suwa clan|Suwa]] and [[Imai clan|Imai]] of [[Shinano province|Shinano Province]].  In 1521, Nobutora was compelled to fend off an invasion from Suruga led by [[Kushima Masanari]] in support of the [[Oi clan|Ôi]] family, who had defied Nobutora's authority. Nobutora sent his pregnant wife, the daughter of Oi Nobutatsu, from the Tsutsujigaseki mansion to [[Yogaiyama Castle]] [要害山城].  Word came to Nobutora, commanding his army against Kushima's 15,000-man host, that a son had been born.  Nobutora defeated Masanari at the [[Battle of Iidagawara]] and afterwards named his son Katsuchiyo.<ref>Katsuchiyo can be translated as '1000 Victories in Succession', or, as Hiroaki Sato does in Legends of the Samurai, 'Victory Forever'.</ref>  

When Katsuchiyo turned 13, Nobutora arranged for him to marry the daughter of [[Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Tomooki]], who still held considerable lands in the [[Kanto]]. This unfortunate young woman would die the following year, terminating what would, in time, come to seem a highly ironic union. Katsuchiyo's coming of age ceremony (around [[1535]]) was something of an affair, and a number of court notables were in attendance, including a certain [[Sanjo Kinyori]], a retired Dainagon, whose daughter Katsuchiyo would soon marry. The Shogun, [[Ashikaga Yoshiharu]], sent permission for Katsuchiyo to incorporate 'Haru' in his adult name, and Katsuchiyo thus became known as Harunobu. He was also given the honorific title Shinano no Kami (an appropriate moniker, as it would turn out). Despite this memorable coming of age ceremony, it would seem that Nobutora took a disliking to his eldest son. The reasons for this (however embellished this part of Shingen's life may have become over the centuries) are not clear, but were not eased by Harunobu's valuable role in the defeat of [[Hiraga Genshin]] in [[1536]]. The events between 1536 and [[1540]] are entirely murky, with the Imagawa figuring into the controversy, possibly as agitators. It would appear that Nobutora planned to name his second son Nobushige heir, and perhaps ship Harunobu off to the Imagawa clan in Suruga (for adoption?). For years, Harunobu had been under the guardianship of [[Obu Toramasa]], a tough warrior who may well have been at the center of what transpired next. In [[1541]] Harunobu suddenly rebelled, supported by a great many of his father's retainers. Nobutora submitted with little bloodshed and Harunobu exiled his father to Suruga. In this act he had the aid of the top Takeda retainers, many of whom held personal grudges against Nobutora or at least saw some gain in assisting the young usurper to power. Nobushige, for his part, seems to have borne his brother no ill will, and became a valued retainer. Sources conflict on what the exact events where which led to the replacement of Nobuhide with Harunobu. One version of events is that in the 5th month of 1541, Nobutora and Harunobu went on a campaign together to attack [[Unno Munetsuna]] in [[Shinano province]]. Unno Munetsuna lost and fled the province, and by the 4th day of the 6th month, they were on their way back to Kai. However, on the 10th day of their trip back to Kai province, Harunobu suddenly rebelled in a coup supported by his ashigaru and retainers, forcing Nobutora to flee to [[Suruga province]], and in to the care of his daughter's husband, [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]]. This generally follows the Koyogunkan, which essentialy states that Harunobu uncovered a plot by Nobutora to dispose of him and eventually give control of the Takeda clan to his younger brother, Nobushige. According to the Koyogunkan, Harunobu and loyal vassals drove Nobutora out of Kai province into Suruga. Another version of events states that during the 6th month of 1541, Harunobu and Nobutora travelled to Suruga province to visit upon Nobutora's son in law, Imagawa Yoshimoto. Little did Nobutora know, Shingen and Yoshimoto had a secret agreement, and upon arrival, Nobutora was forcibly retired to Suruga castle, and his son Harunobu was given control of the Takeda clan. Although what really happened is not clear, historians seem to be in agreement that Imagawa Yoshimoto had a hand in the removal of Nobutora. Regardless, Harunobu took control of the clan in what is often specifically cited as a 'bloodless coup'.  

In 1533, Nobutora arranged for him to marry the daughter of [[Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Tomooki]], who still held considerable lands in the [[Kanto]]. The girl died attempting to deliver Katsuchiyo's first child, however.  By this time Nobutora was at odds with both the Imagawa and Hôjô families and they were pressing him on his southern borders.  He was lucky in that [[Imagawa Ujichika]] died suddenly and a struggle for power ensued amongst his brothers. Nobutora backed [[Imagawa Yoshimoto|Yoshimoto]], the eventual victor, and in the aftermath married a daughter to him.  In return, Yoshimoto acted as a go-between to arrange for the marriage of Katsuchiyo and the daughter of court noble [[Sanjo Kimiyori]].  Katsuchiyo celebrated his coming-of-age ceremony later that year and the shôgun, [[Ashikaga Yoshiharu]], sent permission for Katsuchiyo to incorporate 'Haru' in his adult name, and Katsuchiyo thus became known as Harunobu. He was also given the honorific title Shinano no Kami. Despite this memorable coming of age ceremony, it would seem that Nobutora took a disliking to Harunobu in favor of his second son, Takeda Nobushige. The reasons for this   are not clear, and this part of Shingen's life has been heavily embellished over the centuries. 

 

Harunobu is thought to have seen his first campaign in [[1536]], when his father led an army against [[Hiraga Genshin]] of Shinano Province.  He surrounded and attacked Genshin's Umi no kuchi Castle [海ノ口城] but found the defenders unwilling to give and withdrew with the onset of heavy winter snows.  According to tradition, Harunobu, commanding the rearguard, decided to double back and launch a surprise attack.  This took the seemingly victorious Hiraga men by surprise and the battle went to the Takeda. Whether or not this particular version of events has any basis in fact, Hiraga was defeated and killed in the 2nd month of [[1537]].

 

The events leading up to the expulsion of Nobutora from Kai are entirely murky, with the Imagawa figuring into the controversy, possibly as agitators. It would appear that Nobutora planned to name his second son Nobushige heir, and perhaps ship Harunobu off to the Imagawa clan in Suruga (for adoption?). For years, Harunobu had been under the guardianship of [[Obu Toramasa]], a tough warrior who may well have been at the center of what transpired next. In [[1541]] Harunobu suddenly rebelled, supported by a great many of his father's retainers. Nobutora submitted with little bloodshed and Harunobu exiled his father to Suruga. In this act he had the aid of the top Takeda retainers, many of whom held personal grudges against Nobutora or at least saw some gain in assisting the young usurper to power. Nobushige, for his part, seems to have borne his brother no ill will, and became a valued retainer. Sources conflict on what the exact events where which led to the replacement of Nobuhide with Harunobu. One version of events is that in the 5th month of 1541, Nobutora and Harunobu went on a campaign together to attack [[Unno Munetsuna]] in [[Shinano province]], joined by the Suwa and the [[Murakami clan|Murakami]]. Unno Munetsuna lost and fled the province, and by the 4th day of the 6th month, they were on their way back to Kai. However, on the 10th day of their trip back to Kai province, Harunobu suddenly rebelled in a coup supported by his ashigaru and retainers, forcing Nobutora to flee to [[Suruga province]], and in to the care of his daughter's husband, [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]]. This generally follows the Koyogunkan, which essentialy states that Harunobu uncovered a plot by Nobutora to dispose of him and eventually give control of the Takeda clan to his younger brother, Nobushige. According to the Koyogunkan, Harunobu and loyal vassals drove Nobutora out of Kai province into Suruga. Another version of events states that during the 6th month of 1541, Harunobu and Nobutora travelled to Suruga province to visit upon Nobutora's son in law, Imagawa Yoshimoto. Little did Nobutora know, Shingen and Yoshimoto had a secret agreement, and upon arrival, Nobutora was forcibly retired to Suruga castle, and his son Harunobu was given control of the Takeda clan. Although what really happened is not clear, historians seem to be in agreement that Imagawa Yoshimoto had a hand in the removal of Nobutora. Regardless, Harunobu took control of the clan in what is often specifically cited as a 'bloodless coup'.  

[[Image:Takeda_mon.jpg||thumb|right|The Takeda mon.]]

[[Image:Takeda_mon.jpg||thumb|right|The Takeda mon.]]

Harunobu's chief ambition was the subjugation of Shinano but resistance in that quarter would prove fierce. A number of Shinano warlords, including [[Murakami Yoshikiyo]] ([[1510]]-[[1573]]), [[Ogasawara Nagatoki]] ([[1519]]-[[1583]]), [[Suwa Yorishige]] (? –[[1542]]), and [[Kiso Yoshiyasu]], made a move designed to hopefully nip any further Takeda aggression in the bud. In April 1542 the four daimyo combined forces and marched to the border of Kai, encouraged by news that Harunobu was strengthening his defenses and preparing to make a stand in [[Fuchu]]. In fact, Harunobu's activities had been a ruse - far from waiting passively in Kai, Harunobu led his men out and caught the Shinano warriors by surprise, defeating them at Sezawa. Emboldened by the results of Sezawa, Harunobu made a drive into Shinano later that same year, focusing on the territory of the Suwa clan. He first took Uehara in a surprise attack and then moved on to the Suwa headquarters at Kuwahara, located 2 kilometers to the east. Caught completely off-balance, Suwa Yorishige had little choice but to surrender when Harunobu made a promise of safe conduct. Yorishige and his brother were taken to Kai where the Takeda general [[Itagaki Nobutaka]] arranged for their deaths; both Suwa were either made to commit suicide or were murdered outright.  

Harunobu's chief ambition was the subjugation of Shinano but resistance in that quarter would prove fierce. A number of Shinano warlords, including [[Murakami Yoshikiyo]] ([[1510]]-[[1573]]), [[Ogasawara Nagatoki]] ([[1519]]-[[1583]]), [[Suwa Yorishige]] (? –[[1542]]), and [[Kiso Yoshiyasu]], made a move designed to hopefully nip any further Takeda aggression in the bud. In April 1542 the four daimyo combined forces and marched to the border of Kai, encouraged by news that Harunobu was strengthening his defenses and preparing to make a stand in [[Fuchu]]. In fact, Harunobu's activities had been a ruse - far from waiting passively in Kai, Harunobu led his men out and caught the Shinano warriors by surprise, defeating them at Sezawa. Emboldened by the results of Sezawa, Harunobu made a drive into Shinano later that same year, focusing on the territory of the Suwa clan. He first took Uehara in a surprise attack and then moved on to the Suwa headquarters at Kuwahara, located 2 kilometers to the east. Caught completely off-balance, Suwa Yorishige had little choice but to surrender when Harunobu made a promise of safe conduct. Yorishige and his brother were taken to Kai where the Takeda general [[Itagaki Nobutaka]] arranged for their deaths; both Suwa were either made to commit suicide or were murdered outright.