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
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Battles of Kawanakajima
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Siege of Odawara 1590
The Third Siege of Odawara in 1590 was a pivotal moment in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's efforts to neutralize the Hojo clan as a challenge to his authority. In the months leading up to the siege, the Hojo made significant, hurried improvements to the castle's defenses as Hideyoshi’s intentions became clear. However, despite Hideyoshi's overwhelming force, there was little actual combat during the siege.
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Battle of Tenmokuzan
The Battle of Tenmokuzan in 1582 is remembered as the final stand of the Takeda clan in Japan. This battle marked the last attempt by Takeda Katsuyori to resist Oda Nobunaga's relentless campaign against him. Fleeing from his pursuers, Katsuyori set fire to his fortress at Shinpu Castle and sought refuge in the mountains at Iwadono, a stronghold held by his loyal retainer, Oyamada Nobushige. However, Oyamada betrayed Katsuyori, denying him entry. Left with no other option, Katsuyori committed suicide alongside his wife, while the remnants of his army made a valiant effort to hold off their attackers.
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Battle of Oshu
The Northern Fujiwara clan had governed the Mutsu and Dewa provinces since 1087, maintaining their rule for over a century by 1189. The clan was founded by Fujiwara no Kiyohira, alongside Minamoto no Yoshiie, who established their independence in Hiraizumi, located in present-day Iwate Prefecture. Under Kiyohira, and later his successors Fujiwara no Motohira and Fujiwara no Hidehira, the Northern Fujiwara reached the height of their power in the Tohoku region. They infused the area with Kyoto culture and constructed significant temples, such as Chuson-ji, founded in 1095.
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Battle of Omosu
The 1580 Battle of Omosu (Omosu no Tatakai) was one of many conflicts between the Hojo and Takeda clans during Japan's Sengoku period. What sets this battle apart is its rarity as one of the few naval engagements in pre-modern Japan. The conflict occurred off the coast of the Izu Peninsula, involving the fleets of Hojo Ujimasa, the leader of the Hojo clan, and Takeda Katsuyori, the head of the Takeda clan.
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The Battle of Azukizaka
The Battle of Azukizaka, also known as the Battle of Bato-ga-hara, occurred in 1564, as Tokugawa Ieyasu aimed to quash the emerging threat of the Ikko-ikki, a coalition of monks, samurai, and peasants strongly opposed to samurai rule.
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Battle of Osaka
Upon Toyotomi Hideyoshi's death in 1598, Japan entered a period of governance by the Council of Five Elders, with Tokugawa Ieyasu wielding the most influence. Following his victory over Ishida Mitsunari in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Ieyasu effectively seized control of Japan and disbanded the Council. In 1603, the Tokugawa shogunate was established in Edo, with Hideyoshi's son, Toyotomi Hideyori, and his mother, Yodo-dono, permitted to reside at Osaka Castle. Hideyori was granted a significant fief valued at 657,400 koku but remained confined to the castle for several years. As a means of control, it was arranged for Hideyori to marry Senhime, the daughter of Hidetada, in 1603, who had ties to both clans. Ieyasu aimed to establish a strong and stable regime under his clan's rule, with only the Toyotomi, led by Hideyori and influenced by Yodo-dono, posing a challenge to his ambitions.
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Battle of Shizugatake
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