The-Battle-of-Anegawa.jpg

The Battle of Anegawa took place during the Sengoku period in Japan on July 30, 1570, near Lake Biwa in Ōmi Province. It involved the allied forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu facing off against the combined armies of the Azai and Asakura clans. This historic battle marked the first instance of cooperation between Nobunaga and Ieyasu, ending the unbalanced alliance between the Oda clan and the Azai, and showcasing Nobunaga's innovative use of firearms.

The conflict arose when the Azai and Asakura clans responded to Oda Nobunaga's sieges of their strongholds at Odani and Yokoyama. The engagement is also referred to as the Battle of Nomura by the Oda and Azai, and the Battle of Mitamura by the Asakura clan.

As the Oda-Tokugawa alliance marched towards Odani castle, Azai Nagamasa, the head of the Azai clan, sought help from Echizen, leading to Asakura Yoshikage sending an army to support him. The combined Azai-Asakura force then confronted Nobunaga near the Anegawa, as he had stationed his troops on the southern bank.

The battle commenced the following morning, with the Oda and Azai clashing on the right side, and the Tokugawa and Asakura fighting on the left. The encounter devolved into a fierce melee in the middle of the shallow Ane River. During the battle, Nobunaga entrusted Hashiba Hideyoshi to lead troops in open combat for the first time, while Tokugawa Ieyasu's second division under Honda Tadakatsu and Sakakibara Yasumasa surrounded Asakura Kagetake.

Several notable duels occurred during the conflict, including one between Magara Jurozaemon and his son Magara Jurosaburo (Naomoto), who bravely covered the Asakura army's retreat but were ultimately slain. Another duel involved an Azai samurai named Endo Kizaemon attempting to attack Nobunaga but being thwarted by Takenaka Kyusaku, brother of Takenaka Hanbei.

The Tokugawa forces successfully defeated both the Asakura and Azai forces. After dealing with the Asakura, they turned their attention back to the Azai's right flank. The troops of the Mino Triumvirate, led by Inaba Ittetsu, also joined the battle and helped secure victory for the Oda-Tokugawa alliance.

Historical accounts of the battle are somewhat scarce, and some stories from the Edo period are fictional. However, it is estimated that around 9,000 men were killed, with the Asakura clan alone losing 1,100 samurai. The Oda camp reportedly collected 3,170 enemy heads.

Following the Battle of Anegawa, the Asai and Asakura forces, led by Asakura Kagetake, launched a counterattack in the Battle of Shimosakamoto and managed to defeat an Oda army, causing significant casualties.

The Battle of Anegawa has found its way into popular culture, featuring prominently in various video games, such as the Samurai Warriors series, Warriors Orochi series, Kessen III, and Nioh, where it plays a pivotal role in the main story revolving around the conquests of Oda Nobunaga and his clan.


See also

  • The Siege of Unokuchi Castle

    The-Siege-of-Unokuchi-Castle.jpg

    One of the important steps in the career of every Japanese commander was the uijin, the first military campaign in which he took part. For the legendary Takeda Shingen, according to some sources, this campaign was the siege of Unokuchi Castle.

    Read more …

  • Battle of Arita-Nakai

    Battle-of-Arita-Nakai.jpg

    By 1517, Takeda Motoshige, lord of Kanyama Castle, was probably the most influential daimyo in Aki Province. Ten years earlier, he had served as a vassal of the Ōuchi clan and participated in Ōuchi Yoshiyuki's campaign in Kyoto. This campaign was part of an effort to support the deposed shogun Ashikaga Yoshitane.

    Read more …

  • The Siege of Arai Castle

    The-Siege-of-Arai-Castle.jpg

    Hojo Nagauji (Soun) (1432–1519) went down in Japanese history as one of the most notable figures of his time. He is considered a prime example of a gokoku-jo daimyo. The process of gokoku-jo literally means “the lower classes defeat the upper classes” and in Japanese history was expressed, among other things, in the elevation of minor samurai to the status of owners of entire provinces.

    Read more …

  • Battle of Sakai

    Battle-of-Sakai.jpg

    Ōuchi Yoshihiro was an influential shugo of the provinces of Suō and Nagato and played an important role as a supporter of the Ashikaga clan during the war with the Southern Court. His greatest achievement was forcing the Southern Court emperor to surrender in 1392, which brought an end to the Nanboku-chō period. This victory strengthened the Ashikaga clan's position and marked the end of the long-standing rivalry between the two imperial lines.

    Read more …

  • Battle of Shijonawate

    Battle-of-Shijonawate.jpg

    After Kusunoki Masashige's death in the Battle of Minatogawa, his son, Kusunoki Masatsura, continued his work supporting the Southern Imperial Court in the Nanboku-chō period war. He took on his father's legacy not only as a duty, but also as a way to remain faithful to the ideals for which Masashige had given his life.

    Read more …

  • Battle of Minatogawa

    Battle-of-Minatogawa.jpg

    After his defeat by Nitta Yoshisada in 1336, Ashikaga Takauji completely restored his forces and secured the support of three powerful clans in Kyushu: the Sōni, Shimazu, and Otomo. In addition, he received significant reinforcements from Shikoku Island under the command of Hosokawa. Having thus strengthened his army, Ashikaga Takauji marched on Kyoto.

    Read more …

  • The Siege of Tihaya Castle

    The-Siege-of-Tihaya-Castle.jpg

    Tihaya Castle was built by Kusunoki Masashige on top of Mount Kongo, separated from the neighboring hills by a deep ravine. The terrain itself provided natural protection, making the position extremely convenient for defense.

    Read more …

  • The Siege of Akasaka Fort

    The-Siege-of-Akasaka-Fort.jpg

    Kusunoki Masashige, hero of the Genko Rebellion (1331–1333), was a talented commander and inventive strategist. The two sieges of castles where he acted as defender are inscribed in gold letters in the history of Japanese military art.

    Read more …

 

futer.jpg

Contact: samuraiwr22@gmail.com