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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Hojo Ujiyasu
Hojo Ujiyasu (1515 – October 21, 1571), the third head of the Odawara Hojo clan, was a formidable daimyo known as the "Lion of Sagami." Revered as a fearsome samurai and brilliant strategist, he became famous for successfully breaking sieges by renowned warlords Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. Ujiyasu was the son of Hojo Ujitsuna, and his only known wife was Zuikei-in, sister of Imagawa Yoshimoto. Among his children were Hojo Ujimasa and Uesugi Kagetora.
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Hojo Ujimasa
Hojo Ujimasa (1538 – August 10, 1590) was the fourth leader of the later Hojo clan and the daimyo of Odawara. He continued his father Hojo Ujiyasu's policy of territorial expansion, achieving the largest territorial holdings in the clan's history.
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Uesugi Kagetora
Uesugi Kagetora (1552 – April 19, 1579) was the seventh son of Hojo Ujiyasu and was originally known as Hojo Saburo. He was adopted by Uesugi Kenshin and intended to be Kenshin's heir. However, in 1578, he was attacked in his Otate Castle by Uesugi Kagekatsu, his brother-in-law, and was ultimately defeated. Kagetora committed suicide the following year at Samegao Castle.
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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.
