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Line 6: − ---- + + − When Katsuchiyo turned 13, Nobutora arranged for him to marry the daughter of [[Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Tomooki]], who still held considerable lands in the [[Kanto Province|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'. − Line 18:
Line 17: + + − According to tradition, the defeated Murakami and Ogasawara presented themselves before Terutora and protested Shingen's aggressions. Terutora, uneasy at Shingen's northern expansion and obligated to the two refugees, took the field. That Murakami figures into the Uesugi's roll even many years later gives some substance to this belief, and, certainly, Terutora had reason to worry about Echigo's borders. In June and October [[1553]] The Takeda and Uesugi armies clashed near the Kawanakajima plain in northern Shinano, and while the two sides withdrew after a few rounds of inconclusive skirmishing, a legend was born. In total, the Takeda and Uesugi would face each other at the Kawanakajima five times ([[1554]], [[1555]], [[1557]], [[1561]], [[1564]]) and while not exactly the nearly annual staring matches as they are sometimes portrayed, only the 4th (1561) resulted in an all-out contest.<ref>Shingen also had to keep an eye on both the Imagawa and Hôjô clans to his south and southeast, which no doubt contributed to the caution he generally displayed when facing Kenshin at Kawanakajima. During the 1550's the Takeda, Imagawa, and Hôjô became involved in a series of alliances and counter-alliances that occasionally resulted in minor forays into one another's territory. These almost always came to an end when the clan that happened to hold third-party status at the time declared for the attacked, thus maintaining he balance.</ref> In that engagement, both sides suffered heavy losses and while not individually decisive, those losses no doubt slowed both warlords down for some years. In particular, Shingen must have felt the loss of Nobushige and [[Yamamoto Kansuke]], both killed in action at the battle. − [[Image:Takeda_shingen2.jpg||thumb|left|Another view of Takeda Shingen, from H. Cook’s ‘Samurai.’]] − + −
→The Tiger of Kai
==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 1516; 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> 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>
When Katsuchiyo turned 13, Nobutora arranged for him to marry the daughter of [[Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Tomooki]], who still held considerable lands in the [[Kanto Province|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'.
[[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 Province|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 Province|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.
In [[1551]], Harunobu had adopted the name Shingen and a monk's habit, adding even more color to this up-and-coming Sengoku warlord, who was already known for his taste for women, penetrating judgment, skill at calligraphy, and wise government. Perhaps all that was now required was a great rival. This came, too, in the form of Uesugi Terutora of Echigo - the famed Kenshin.
In [[1551]], Harunobu had adopted the name Shingen and a monk's habit, adding even more color to this up-and-coming Sengoku warlord, who was already known for his taste for women, penetrating judgment, skill at calligraphy, and wise government. Perhaps all that was now required was a great rival. This came, too, in the form of Uesugi Terutora of Echigo - the famed Kenshin.
[[Image:Takeda_shingen2.jpg||thumb|left|Another view of Takeda Shingen, from H. Cook’s ‘Samurai.’]]
According to tradition, the defeated Murakami and Ogasawara presented themselves before Terutora and protested Shingen's aggressions. Terutora, uneasy at Shingen's northern expansion and obligated to the two refugees, took the field. That Murakami figures into the Uesugi's roll even many years later gives some substance to this belief, and, certainly, Terutora had reason to worry about Echigo's borders. In June and October [[1553]] The Takeda and Uesugi armies clashed near the Kawanakajima plain in northern Shinano, and while the two sides withdrew after a few rounds of inconclusive skirmishing, a legend was born. In total, the Takeda and Uesugi would face each other at the Kawanakajima five times ([[1554]], [[1555]], [[1557]], [[1561]], [[1564]]) and while not exactly the nearly annual staring matches as they are sometimes portrayed, only the 4th (1561) resulted in an all-out contest.<ref>Shingen also had to keep an eye on both the Imagawa and Hôjô clans to his south and southeast, which no doubt contributed to the caution he generally displayed when facing Kenshin at Kawanakajima. During the 1550's the Takeda, Imagawa, and Hôjô became involved in a series of alliances and counter-alliances that occasionally resulted in minor forays into one another's territory. These almost always came to an end when the clan that happened to hold third-party status at the time declared for the attacked, thus maintaining he balance.</ref> In that engagement, both sides suffered heavy losses and while not individually decisive, those losses no doubt slowed both warlords down for some years. In particular, Shingen must have felt the loss of Nobushige and [[Yamamoto Kansuke]], both killed in action at the battle.
Internally, the Takeda suffered two grim moments within the span of five years. In [[1560]] Shingen had uncovered a plot against him led by his cousin [[Katanuma Nobumoto]], whom he ordered put to death. In [[1565]], another plot came to light - this one headed by his own son Yoshinobu and [[Obu Toramasa]]. Tormasa was made to commit suicide, while Yoshinobu was confined to the Tokoji. Two years later Yoshinbou died, either from illness or, as many believe, because Shingen had forced him to commit suicide. The event left Shingen heirless for the time being and the Takeda retainers uneasy.
Internally, the Takeda suffered two grim moments within the span of five years. In [[1560]] Shingen had uncovered a plot against him led by his cousin [[Katanuma Nobumoto]], whom he ordered put to death. In [[1565]], another plot came to light - this one headed by his own son Yoshinobu and [[Obu Toramasa]]. Tormasa was made to commit suicide, while Yoshinobu was confined to the Tokoji. Two years later Yoshinbou died, either from illness or, as many believe, because Shingen had forced him to commit suicide. The event left Shingen heirless for the time being and the Takeda retainers uneasy.
By [[1564]], Shingen had subdued all of Shinano and shifted his attention to Kozuke, where he took a number of castles from the Uesugi.<ref>These included Kuragano (1565) and Minowa (1566). The latter was taken from the Nagano family and provided a starting point for the career of Kamiizumi Hidetsuna, who declined a personal invitation by Shingen to join the Takeda. He did accept the character 'Nobu' from Shingen's name and went off to become legendary as the swordsman Kamiizumi Nobutsuna.</ref> For the next five years, he limited himself to raids and local conquests (including land grabs in mountainous [[Hida Province]]), concentrating on internal affairs. In the 1560's, Shingen's greatest achievement was the Fuji River damming project, the largest and most ambitious of his many innovative domestic endeavors. The benefit of the Fuji River project far-outlived its mastermind, and is ranked as one of the greatest domestic initiatives of the 16th Century.
By [[1564]], Shingen had subdued all of Shinano and shifted his attention to Kozuke, where he took a number of castles from the Uesugi.<ref>These included Kuragano (1565) and Minowa (1566). The latter was taken from the Nagano family and provided a starting point for the career of Kamiizumi Hidetsuna, who declined a personal invitation by Shingen to join the Takeda. He did accept the character 'Nobu' from Shingen's name and went off to become legendary as the swordsman Kamiizumi Nobutsuna.</ref> For the next five years, he limited himself to raids and local conquests (including land grabs in mountainous [[Hida Province]]), concentrating on internal affairs. In the 1560's, Shingen's greatest achievement was the Fuji River damming project, the largest and most ambitious of his many innovative domestic endeavors. The benefit of the Fuji River project far-outlived its mastermind, and is ranked as one of the greatest domestic initiatives of the 16th Century.
==The Takeda expand==
==The Takeda expand==
