Ikeda Terumasa (January 31, 1565 – March 16, 1613) was a Japanese daimyo of the early Edo period, recognized by his court title, "Musashi no Kami," and known as the "Shogun of Western Japan." Terumasa, a distinguished military leader, participated in numerous significant battles during the late Azuchi-Momoyama period. His service at the Battle of Sekigahara earned him control over the Himeji domain. Originally named Araokojimaru, he was the son of Ikeda Tsuneoki and the brother of Ikeda Sen. He later became the heir to Ikeda Nobuteru and held Ikejiri Castle in Mino Province.
In 1579, during the Siege of Itami, Terumasa and his father guarded Settsukura Bridge, and during the 1580 Siege of Hanakuma Castle, Terumasa distinguished himself in combat by personally defeating six enemies, earning him commendation from Oda Nobunaga. During the Battle of Nagakute in 1584, Terumasa initially fought under Ikeda Tsuneoki and Mori Nagayoshi but ultimately had to retreat following their defeat.
In 1590, following Tokugawa Ieyasu’s move to the Kanto region, Terumasa was awarded a 152,000-koku fief at Yoshida in Mikawa Province. In 1594, he married Tokuhime, daughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu, aligning the Ikeda clan closely with the Tokugawa. That same year, he was involved in logistical support for Hideyoshi’s Korean campaigns and contributed to constructing Fushimi Castle and Yamatotanai Castle for Hideyasu.
After Hideyoshi’s death in 1598, Terumasa allied with Tokugawa Ieyasu, joining a coalition against Ishida Mitsunari, a conflict rooted in disputes over campaign assessments from the Imjin War. While traditionally viewed as a conspiracy to kill Mitsunari, modern historians argue this was a legal dispute mediated by Ieyasu, who intervened to protect Mitsunari from escalation. Tensions between Mitsunari’s faction and Tokugawa supporters contributed to the later Sekigahara conflict.
During the Sekigahara Campaign in 1600, Terumasa supported Tokugawa, convincing Nakagawa Hidenari to do the same. His forces crossed Kawada River and defeated Oda Hidenobu’s forces. At Sekigahara, Terumasa commanded 4,560 troops in the rear guard, facing minor skirmishes with Chosokabe Morichika’s forces. Following the Tokugawa victory, he received the province of Harima and expanded Himeji Castle, completing it in 1609. Bizen Province was added to Terumasa’s territories, which he entrusted to his eldest son, Toshitaka.
By Terumasa’s death in 1613, the Ikeda clan governed an expansive domain that included Harima, Bizen, Inaba, and Awaji, with a combined income of roughly 1,000,000 koku. After Toshitaka’s passing, the Tokugawa Bakufu moved to curtail the Ikeda clan's power, restricting them to the domains of Tottori and Okayama. Terumasa’s legendary katana, known as "Okanehira," was noted for its remarkable size and craftsmanship by Kanehira of Bizen Province, symbolizing the Ikeda legacy.
See also
-
Shimazu Toyohisa
Shimazu Toyohisa (July 1570 – October 21, 1600), also known as Shimazu Tadatoyo, was a samurai of the Shimazu clan and the son of Shimazu Iehisa. He was the nephew of Shimazu Yoshihiro and held command over Sadowara Castle. Known for his valor, Toyohisa participated in numerous key battles of the late Sengoku period, earning recognition for his bravery and tactical acumen.
-
Mori Tadamasa
Mori Tadamasa (1570 - July 31, 1634) was a notable military commander during Japan’s Warring States period and an early Edo-period daimyo. Initially, he governed Kawanakajima Domain in Shinano Province (modern-day Nagano Prefecture) and later became the first lord of Tsuyama Domain in Mimasaka Province (now northern Okayama Prefecture). He founded the Mori family line of the Ako Domain. Tadamasa’s family origins trace back to the Genji (Minamoto) clan, specifically the Kawachi-Genji branch from Kawachi Province (in present-day southeastern Osaka Prefecture), a lineage tied to Emperor Seiwa through his ancestor Yorisada Mori, a great-grandson of the famed Minamoto no Yoshiie.
-
Sanada Masayuki
Sanada Masayuki (1547 – July 13, 1611) was a daimyo and prominent lord of Japan's Sengoku period. Head of the Sanada clan from Shinano Province, he served the powerful Takeda clan of Kai Province alongside his father and brothers during Takeda Shingen’s leadership. Following the Takeda clan's decline, Masayuki took charge of the Sanada, and despite limited resources, he established his clan as an independent power under the Toyotomi regime by navigating alliances with dominant clans such as the Tokugawa, Hojo, and Uesugi. Renowned as one of his era's greatest strategists, Masayuki achieved notable victories against the Tokugawa forces in the Battle of Kami River and the Siege of Ueda.
-
Sanada Nobuyuki
Sanada Nobuyuki was a renowned samurai of the Sengoku period and the eldest son of daimyō Sanada Masayuki. He was the elder brother of the famous warrior Sanada Yukimura. Nobuyuki’s mother was Kansho-in, Masayuki's wife, and he was married to Komatsuhime (Inahime), the daughter of Honda Tadakatsu and the adopted daughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Nobuyuki also had two other wives: Seiin-in, his cousin, and Ukyo, the daughter of Tamagawa Hidemasa.
-
Date Hidemune
Date Hidemune was a Japanese daimyō during the early Edo period, born in 1591 as the eldest son of Date Masamune, one of Japan’s most prominent feudal lords. His mother was Shinzo no Kata, a concubine, which affected his future prospects. As a young man, Hidemune lived under the care of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and was given the adult name "Hidemune," adopting one character from Hideyoshi's own name. Hideyoshi granted Hidemune the court rank of junior 5th, lower grade, along with the title of ji-jū, and appointed him as a page to his son, Toyotomi Hideyori.
-
Tsutsui Junkei
Tsutsui Junkei (March 31, 1549 – September 15, 1584), the son of Tsutsui Junsho, was a daimyo who ruled over Yamato Province. In 1571, through the mediation of Akechi Mitsuhide, Junkei pledged his service to Oda Nobunaga.
-
Oda Nobutada
Oda Nobutada (1557 – June 21, 1582) was a samurai and the eldest son of Oda Nobunaga, known for his active role in several battles during Japan's Sengoku period. He led armies under his father's command in campaigns against Matsunaga Hisahide and the Takeda clan.
-
Imagawa Ujizane
Imagawa Ujizane (1538 – January 27, 1615) was a Japanese daimyō who lived through the Sengoku and early Edo periods. He became the tenth head of the Imagawa clan, following in the footsteps of his father, Imagawa Yoshimoto. Ujizane was the father of Imagawa Norimochi and Shinagawa Takahisa.
