− | Carrying on his father's war with Tokugawa Ieyasu, Takeda troops captured Akechi Castle [明智城] in Mino Province while Katsuoryi managed to bring down [[Takatenjin Castle]] [高天神城] in [[Totomi province|Tôtômi Province]], in the 2nd and 6th months of [[1574]], respectively. The following year he planned to capture [[Ozaki Castle]] in Mikawa, assisted by a treacherous minister who promised to throw open the gates when the Takeda arrived. This would isolate Ieyasu at Hamamatsu in Tôtômi, cutting him off from Oda reinforcements, and possibly lead to his surrender or death. Unfortunately for the Takeda, the plot was uncovered by the Tokugawa even as Katsuyori was on the march, and Katsuyori called off the attack, deciding instead to invest [[Nagashino Castle]]. Intended as something of a consolation prize (if popular tradition is correct on this point), Nagashino proved a tough nut to crack, resisting attempts at mining, burning, and direct assault. Katsuyori decided to lay siege, and threw up a perimeter about the castle. A brave defender, however, managed to slip through by swimming out via river. This man, [[Torii Sune'emon]], managed to reach Ieyasu and warn him of Nagashino's plight. After some prodding, [[Oda Nobunaga]] agreed to throw his own might into the relief effort, and at length a 38,000 man army drew up across from the Takeda at Nagashino. Katsuyori elected to attack. The odds against victory were steep, as the Oda and Tokugawa had thrown up defensive structures and possessed a considerable numerical advantage, and certain of Katsuyori's retainers advised against making the attempt [[[see]] The [[Battle of Nagashino]]. The result was a crushing Takeda defeat that saw a high percentage of the army killed, including many seasoned Takeda retainers. In the aftermath, the Oda recaptured Iwamura Castle in Mino, taken by the Takeda in 1572. | + | Carrying on his father's war with Tokugawa Ieyasu, Takeda troops captured Akechi Castle [明智城] in Mino Province while Katsuoryi managed to bring down [[Takatenjin Castle]] [高天神城] in [[Totomi province|Tôtômi Province]], in the 2nd and 6th months of [[1574]], respectively. The following year he planned to capture [[Ozaki Castle]] in Mikawa, assisted by a treacherous minister who promised to throw open the gates when the Takeda arrived. This would isolate Ieyasu at Hamamatsu in Tôtômi, cutting him off from Oda reinforcements, and possibly lead to his surrender or death. Unfortunately for the Takeda, the plot was uncovered by the Tokugawa even as Katsuyori was on the march, and Katsuyori called off the attack, deciding instead to invest [[Nagashino Castle]]. Intended as something of a consolation prize (if popular tradition is correct on this point), Nagashino proved a tough nut to crack, resisting attempts at mining, burning, and direct assault. Katsuyori decided to lay siege, and threw up a perimeter about the castle. A brave defender, however, managed to slip through by swimming out via river. This man, [[Torii Sune'emon]], managed to reach Ieyasu and warn him of Nagashino's plight. After some prodding, [[Oda Nobunaga]] agreed to throw his own might into the relief effort, and at length a 38,000 man army drew up across from the Takeda at Nagashino. Katsuyori elected to attack. The odds against victory were steep, as the Oda and Tokugawa had thrown up defensive structures and possessed a considerable numerical advantage, and certain of Katsuyori's retainers advised against making the attempt (''see'' The [[Battle of Nagashino]]). The result was a crushing Takeda defeat that saw a high percentage of the army killed, including many seasoned Takeda retainers. In the aftermath, the Oda recaptured Iwamura Castle in Mino, taken by the Takeda in 1572. |