Takeda Katsuyori (1546 – April 3, 1582) was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period, renowned as the head of the Takeda clan and successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was also the son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu. Katsuyori was born to Shingen and the daughter of Suwa Yorishige, known posthumously as Suwa-goryonin and by her real name, Koihime. His children included Takeda Nobukatsu and Takeda Katsuchika.
Initially known as Suwa Shiro Katsuyori, he succeeded to his mother's Suwa clan and established Takato Castle as his domain's seat. After the death of his elder brother Takeda Yoshinobu, Katsuyori's son Nobukatsu became the heir to the Takeda clan, making Katsuyori the de facto ruler. In 1581, Katsuyori built Shinpu Castle at Nirasaki and transferred his residence there.
Katsuyori's military career was marked by several significant battles:
- In 1569, he defeated Hojo Ujinobu during the Siege of Kanbara.
- In 1572, he captured a Tokugawa clan possession in the Siege of Futamata and participated in the Battle of Mikatagahara against the Oda-Tokugawa alliance.
- In 1573, following Shingen's death, Katsuyori led the Takeda family and continued to confront the Tokugawa clan.
- In 1574, he captured Takatenjin Castle, earning substantial support from the Takeda clan.
- In 1575, he suffered a severe defeat at the Battle of Nagashino, where Oda Nobunaga's innovative use of volley fire by 3,000 guns decimated Katsuyori's forces and killed many Takeda generals.
- In 1578, Katsuyori angered the Hojo family by supporting Uesugi Kagekatsu against Uesugi Kagetora, leading to the Battle of Omosu in 1580 against Hojo Ujimasa.
- In 1581, Katsuyori lost Takatenjin fortress to Tokugawa Ieyasu, resulting in the deaths of 680 men of the Okabe Motonobu garrison.
In 1582, Katsuyori faced further setbacks:
He lost Takato Castle to Oda Nobutada, marking the only Takeda stronghold in Shinano province to resist Nobunaga's final invasion.
Following these defeats, support from many clans, such as Kiso and Anayama, dwindled.
As the Oda-Tokugawa alliance advanced into Kai Province and laid siege to Shinpu Castle, Katsuyori, unable to hold the castle with his remaining men, set it ablaze and fled to Tenmoku Mountain. His forces were ultimately defeated at the Battle of Tenmokuzan. Katsuyori, his wife, and his son then committed ritual suicide (seppuku), marking the end of the Takeda clan. The nun Rikei documented his wife's suicide and composed several verses in their honor.
Katsuyori's personal life included two marriages. He first married Toyoma Fujin, the adopted daughter of Oda Nobunaga, who died giving birth to their son Nobukatsu in 1567. Katsuyori later married Keirin'in, the daughter of Hojo Ujiyasu, with whom he had a son and two daughters. In 1582, during their escape following Katsuyori's defeat by Oda Nobunaga, Keirin'in chose to die alongside Katsuyori rather than flee, committing jigai during the Battle of Tenmokuzan. Both of Katsuyori's sons also perished in the battle.
See also
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Hojo Ujinao
Hojo Ujinao (1562 – December 19, 1591) was a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku period and the last leader of the Later Hojo clan. An important figure in Azuchi-Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the Siege of Odawara (1590). Despite this, he survived, and his family continued as minor daimyo during the Edo period.
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Yasuke
Yasuke, an African page, arrived in Japan in 1579 as the attendant of the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Before the arrival of the Englishman William Adams, it is thought that Yasuke was possibly the inaugural non-Japanese samurai, arriving about twenty years earlier.
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Yamanami Keisuke
Yamanami Keisuke, the second in command of the Shinsengumi, a special police force during the late Edo period, shocked many when he performed seppuku on March 20, 1865, at the age of 32.
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Yamamoto Kansuke
Yamamoto Kansuke, renowned as a samurai strategist and one of Takeda Shingen's esteemed 24 Generals, hailed from the Mikawa region, known for breeding formidable warriors. Despite physical challenges—blindness in one eye, lameness in one leg, and a malformed hand—Kansuke embarked on a warrior's pilgrimage in his twenties. Traveling across the land, he honed his skills in strategy, tactics, castle construction, and warfare, engaging in various swordsmanship schools and forms.
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Yamaga Soko
Yamaga Soko was a multifaceted figure in Japanese history, renowned as a strategist, philosopher, and scholar. Later in life, he became a ronin, leaving a significant mark on the understanding of the Tokugawa period samurai.
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William Adams - Miura Anjin
William Adams, also known as Miura Anjin, holds the distinction of being one of the few non-Japanese individuals granted samurai status. Born in Gillingham, Kent, England in 1564, Adams embarked on a remarkable journey that led him to become an influential figure in Japanese history.
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Wakisaka Yasuharu
Wakisaka Yasuharu held the position of daimyo over Awaji Island before ruling over Ozu in Iyo Province. His significance in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 cannot be overstated.
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Ukita Hideie
Ukita Hideie was born as the second son of Ukita Naoie, the ruler of Okayama Castle. Tragically, Hideie's father passed away when he was just nine years old, thrusting him into the responsibilities of leading the castle, clan, and domain. Prior to his father's demise, the Ukita clan had aligned with Oda Nobunaga. After Nobunaga's assassination during the Honno-ji Incident, Hideie remained loyal to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, whose ties were further solidified through marriage.
