Recently watched this TV series SHŌGUN. It is a brilliant drama. However it is not the real history but just a story build on history background.
Nevertheless the story is built on the history before the death of Taikō. I want to type simply about the history before the story. Then I will type the history of this battle by my words.
i) Before Sekigahara
In 16th century, Oda Nobunaga (FX Shōgun: Kuroda Nobuhisa) rised as the central warlord of Japan during Sengoku period. After Nobunaga occupied his wife's motherland, he offered support to the last heir of Ashikaga shogunate - Ashikaga Yoshiaki. In the name of supporting shogunate, Nobunaga installed Yoshiaki as the new(& last) Ashikaga shōgun in Kyoto. But few years later Nobunaga banished Shōgun Yoshiaki. It marked the end of Ashikaga shogunate. After a decade, Nobunaga's expansion seemed unstoppable. Many expected Nobunaga would unify Japan very soon.
In 1582 Nobunaga planned another major campaign against Mori clan in the west. Nobunaga ordered certain vassals gathered armies beside Kyoto. However his major vassal Akechi Mitsuhide(FX Shōgun: Akechi Jinsai) used this opportunity to betray Nobunaga. Mitsuhide's 13,000 men army attacked Nobunaga at Honnō-ji in Kyoto before any other vassals arrived. Nobunaga suicided in burning Honnō-ji temple to avoid being captured. The motive of Mitsuhide's betrayal is still one of the biggest mystery in Japanese history.
Many commanders under Nobunaga turned their armies back to Kyoto. Toyotomi Hideyoshi(later became Taikō, FX Shōgun: Nakamura Hidetoshi) was the one acted fastest. Hideyoshi's army crushed Mitsuhide's force only 13 days after Honnō-ji incident. Hideyoshi used this achievement to take the leadership of Oda clan. After Hideyoshi destroyed all oppositions & usurped all power, he forced Tokugawa Ieyasu(FX Shōgun: Yoshii Toranaga) to make peace by clever maneuvers after a failed invasion. Hideyoshi was granted the highest noble title Kampaku from the emperor, and unified Japan in 1591.
Hideyoshi invaded Korea in 1592 after his 1st son Tsurumatsu died. In 1593 Yodo Dono (FX Shōgun: Ochiba) gave birth to Hideyoshi's 2nd son Hideyori (FX Shōgun: Yaechiyo). In 1598 Hideyoshi died, and a council (FX Shōgun: 5 regents) was formed to govern Japan before Hideyori grown to be adult.
ii) Conflicts & Opportunity
Before Toyotomi's invasions of Korea & the death of Tsurumatsu, there was no sign about Toyotomi rulership would decline. Death of Tsurumatsu upset Toyotomi Hideyoshi alot. Hideyoshi decided to handover his bureaucratic power to his next heir Toyotomi Hidetsugu, Hideyoshi's nephew, by succession of highest noble title Kampaku. Then Hideyoshi could focus on his big dream, occupied China so that Japan could dominate Asia. To achieve it, Hideyoshi had to occupy Korea as a step stone towards China.
In 1592 Hideyoshi started his invasion of Korea. At the end it turned to be a nightmare of Japanese samurai & soldiers. Hideyoshi & the bureaucrats underestimated the difficulties about logistics & Korean resistances. Different legions of Japanese invasion force did not coordinate for a pragmatic strategy. The combined failures led to certain setbacks during invasion. Bureaucrats accused military in Korea disobeyed bureaucrats' instructions & also committed many atrocities against Korea civilians. Military blamed bureaucrats falsely reported military's effort to Hideyoshi, and incompetent to resolve the logistic problems. Conflicts between military (lead by Katō Kiyomasa/Fukushima Masanori/Kuruda Nagamasa) & bureaucrats(lead by Ishida Mitsunari [FX Shōgun: Ishido Kazunari]/Konishi Yukinaga [FX Shōgun: Kiyama ukon Sadanaga]) became very severe. It highly damaged the unity of pro-Toyotomi powers.
In 1593 the birth of Hideyoshi's second son Toyotomi Hideyori made Kampaku Hidetsugu into a difficult position. Although Hidetsugu guaranteed he would step down when Hideyori grown to be adult, the relation between Hideyoshi & Hidetsugu still came to breaking point. In 1595 Hidetsugu was accused atrocities & betrayal. Hidetsugu was ordered to commit suicide by seppuku. 39 Hidetsugu's women & children were executed. The harshness and brutality of wipping out Hidetsugu & his heirs shocked the whole Japan. Many blamed Ishida Mitsunari helped Hideyori to secure inheritance by wipping out Hidetsugu, even though in reality Mitsunari privately protested Hideyoshi the execution too injustice. The subordinates of Hidetsugu disappointed the injustice & the negative impact to their career. Many of such subordinates later became the loyal supporters of Tokugawa Ieyasu, such as Tōdō Takatora & Yamauchi Kazutoyo.
During the invasion of Korea, Tokugawa Ieyasu was granted the permission not offering any military resources to the invasion, so that Ieyasu could focus his efforts on rebuilding Kanto area after the war against Hojo in 1590. Ieyasu's domain was the largest in Japan (2.56 million koku), even larger than Toyotomi's domain (2.22 million koku, but far better commercial development). Ieyasu was the only man could match Hideyoshi's reputation & influence before the death of Hideyoshi. He could directly command as many soldiers as Hideyoshi. The divide of Toyotomi made Ieyasu's position relatively stronger. It made Mitsunari suspicious that Ieyasu might take over the rulership of Japan.
iii) Road to showdown
After the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1598, the regency council was formed to oversee the nation before Hideyoshi's heir Hideyori (5 years old) grown to be adult. The council was formed by five regional lords & five bureaucrats as below:
Lords
1) Tokugawa Ieyasu
2) Maeda Toshiie (FX Shōgun: Sugiyama Josui)
3) Mori Terumoto
4) Uesugi Kagekatsu
5) Ukita Hideie
Bureaucrats
1) Asano Nagamasa
2) Ishida Mitsunari
3) Maeda Gen'i
4) Mashita Nagamori
5) Natsuka Masaie
First matter the regency council had to deal was to end the invasion of Korea & to withdraw all soldiers back to Japan. Despite China-Korea combined navy made their best efforts to cut Japanese retreat route, Japanese military was still able to send majority bulk of army & thousands of captured Korea civilians back to Japan. After all legions retreated to Japan, Ishida Mitsunari invited legions' commanders to tea party. But Katō Kiyomasa mocked Mitsunari about the failure of logistic in Korea, said he rather cooked congee to reward his comrades instead of join Mitsunari's tea party. Some of these commanders even demanded lords in council to punish Mitsunari & Konishi Yukinaga, made them accountable for their logistic & diplomatic failures during the invasion of Korea. However Tokugawa Ieyasu & Maeda Toshiie persuaded them gave up the accusation for the stability.
Ieyasu intended to strengthen his leading position. He started to arrange some marriages of his sons & daughters with certain regional lords' relatives to form a pro-Tokugawa alliance. Originally the marriage between lords without Toyotomi’s approval was prohibited. However when the regency council accused Ieyasu violated the rules, Ieyasu said he thought the rules only effective when Hideyoshi alive. Ieyasu claimed he executed power according to the will of Hideyoshi, so the marriages he arranged were legitimate. Regent lord Maeda Toshiie & regent bureaucrat Ishida Mitsunari attempted to unite regional lords to force Ieyasu obeyed the rules. But the outcome was they found Ieyasu supported by half of the lords those disdained Mitsunari, so that Toshiie & Mitsunari could not get the upper hand. At the end Toshiie had to make compromise with Ieyasu, even though Mitsunari insisted they should risk a war to punish Ieyasu.
At April of 1599, regent lord Maeda Toshiie died. Seven lords, Katō Kiyomasa/Fukushima Masanori/Kuruda Nagamasa/Tōdō Takatora/Katō Yoshiaki/Asano Yoshinaga/Hosokawa Tadaoki(FX Shōgun: Toda Buntaro), gathered beside Fushimi castle. They planned to lynch Mitsunari in the mansion of Toshiie. Ieyasu was informed about the plan. He persuaded those seven lords gave up the assault, and forced Mitsunari resigned from his bureaucratic role in regency council for the greater good. Mitsunari left the regency council & returned to Sawayama Castle he owned.
At October of 1599, bureaucrats of regency council Mashita Nagamori & Natsuka Masaie informed Ieyasu about a conspiracy to assassinate Ieyasu. Although this might be an untrue rumour, Ieyasu still decided to make related personnel accountable. First suspect the top bureaucrat of regency council Asano Nagamasa resigned from regency council. Another suspect Maeda Toshinaga, heir of Maeda Toshiie, had to send his mother to Edo as hostage under Tokugawa.
Now only 7 out of 10 members left in the regency council. The threat of Tokugawa taking over became very obvious. To defeat Ieyasu, Mitsunari sent letter to regent lord Uesugi Kagekatsu to create a war plan. They planned to start the campaign by Kagekatsu showing massive military preparation in his Aizu domain (nowadays Fukushima prefecture). Since it would threaten Ieyasu main castle Edo from the northeast, Ieyasu would have to depart from Fushimi castle with the pro-Tokugawa armies to engage Kagekatsu far away. It would let Osaka castle, where young master Toyotomi Hideyori lived, relieved from Tokugawa’s control. Mitsunari would enter Osaka castle with the military supports from regent lords Mori Terumoto & Ukita Hideie when Ieyasu reached Edo. They would declare Ieyasu traitor & command all lords in Japan to attack Ieyasu in the name of regency council & Toyotomi Hideyori.
At the early of 1600, there were multiple reports about military preparation in the domain of Kagekatsu. Ieyasu summoned Kagekatsu to Kyoto, so that the council could investigate the accusation about Kagekatsu's preparation for rebellion. However Kagekatsu's chief of vassals Naoe Kanetsugu answered Kagekatsu would not only refuse to come to Kyoto, but also Kanetsugu counter accused Ieyasu intended to usurpe power by sarcasms in letter.
Ieyasu was argry about Kanetsugu's insulting & challenging words. However 58 years old and very experienced Ieyasu sensed the conspiracy, as he knew Uesugi would not dare to challenge him without allies. He declared Kagekatsu was rebel against the council & Toyotomi, and gathered many regional lords to form a sizable army for the conquest against Uesugi. Ieyasu now could initially sort out which regional lord unrelated to the con-Tokugawa conspiracy, by observing who answered his call against Uesugi. The war led to the most decisive battle in Japanese history officially began.
iv) Campaigns of East & West
For the legitimacy of Tokugawa Ieyasu's campaign, Ieyasu gathered his army beside Osaka Castle instead of Fushimi castle. He was granted the banner of Toyotomi from Yodo Dono, to strengthen the legitimacy of Ieyasu's military operation. In return Ieyasu pardoned Ōno Harunaga, suspect of assassination against Ieyasu in 1599 & also a suspected secret lover of Yodo Dono, and let Harunaga back to Osaka castle. At the July of 1600, Ieyasu departed from Osaka with his army. Ieyasu drew all his own soldiers from Osaka castle, and only left 1,800 soldiers as garrison of Fushimi castle. When Ieyasu's army passed by Sawayama castle, Ieyasu released Ishida Mitsunari's heir Ishida Shigeie back to Sawayama castle from the hostage status. The generosity surprised Mitsunari before the fateful duel between Ieyasu & Mitsunari. It took two weeks for Ieyasu's army marched to Edo. All Tokugawa's soldiers now gathered in Tokugawa's Kanto domain except 1,800 garrison in Fushimi castle. Ieyasu determined to face the upcoming storm by a tightened fist.
When Ieyasu reached Edo, Mitsunari went to Osaka Castle at once and gathered with regents Mori Terumoto & Ukita Hideie. The regency council without Ieyasu issued a condemnation against Ieyasu, and demanded all lords in Japan to capture Ieyasu. From this point historians classified pro-Tokugawa armies to be Eastern coalition as Tokugawa centre was Edo at the east side of Japan, con-Tokugawa armies were Western coalition when they based in Osaka at the western part of Japan.
The western coalition let regent lord Terumoto to be the commander in chief of western coalition. Mitsunari & his bureaucrats comrades demanded all families of regional lords living in Osaka area moved into Osaka castle under escorts sent by regency council, in reality attempted to detain those families as hostages. However wife of Hosokawa Tadaoki, Hosokawa Gracia(FX Shōgun: Toda Mariko), refused to be hostage. As a faithful christian Gracia did not commit suicide by herself, she ordered a vassal killed her and then burnt Hosokawa's mansion with her body. The death of Gracia placed western coalition into an unpopular position. Under this position the effectiveness of taking hostages was also questionable, since not all regional lords left their families in Osaka. Western coalition had to release all hostages to compensate the negative impact from Gracia incident.
The western coalition planned to march eastward toward Edo, so that they could make pincers attack with ally Uesugi's army against eastern coalition. Their vanguard 40,000 soldiers stormed Fushimi castle 1,800 garrison but unable to achieve quick success. It took western coalition 10 days to seize the castle. During the siege, Fushimi castle garrison informed Ieyasu about the attack. The news reached Ieyasu at early-September 1600. Hosokawa Tadaoki collapsed awhile when he knew how his wife Gracia died.
Ieyasu secretly asked his supporters Kuruda Nagamasa & Tōdō Takatora to persuade the regional lords marching with Ieyasu to support eastern coalition, before Ieyasu called for a meeting at Oyama (in Tochigi prefecture nowadays). In the Oyama meeting, Ieyasu made a speech about he was condemned by the regency council. Ieyasu claimed he would resist the unjust treatment against his clan. He showed understanding to those lords in the meeting, about how they worried the safety of their families detained in Osaka. At last he told those lords they could leave Oyama with their soldiers to join western coalition unopposed at their own individual will. Fukushima Masanori, childhood friend of Kuruda Nagamasa and a senior general under Toyotomi, made his speech next. Masanori criticized Mitsunari's character, about Mitsunari deceived his old master Hideyoshi in old days and now kept deceiving young master Hideyori. He demanded all lords in the meeting must unite with Ieyasu to defeat Mitsunari. Next one stood up was Yamauchi Kazutoyo, he claimed he was willing to yield his Kakegawa castle to Ieyasu for supporting eastern coalition marching westward. Under such con-Mitsunari atmosphere, all lords in the meeting showed support to Ieyasu, and joined the eastern coalition.
Ieyasu left rearguard commanded by his second son Yūki Hideyasu to defend Uesugi's army, and sent vanguard leading by Fukushima Masanori/Ikeda Terumasa/Ii Naomasa toward Kiyosu Castle in Masanori's domain (in Aichi prefecture nowadays). Ieyasu returned to Edo with his heir (third son) Tokugawa Hidetada & the main Tokugawa's army, to observe the development of the war. Both eastern and western coalitions considered Gifu castle (in Gifu prefecture nowadays) was the key of the upcoming battles. Although lord of Gifu castle (Oda Hidenobu, grand son of Oda Nobunaga) joined western coalition and Mitsunari's army arrived Ogaki castle (about 20 km away from Gifu castle) on September 15, Gifu castle was fallen to eastern vanguard swiftly on September 29 before Mitsunari's reinforcement arrived.
Ieyasu with his main army stayed in Edo, as Ieyasu was still aware the movement of Uesugi's army. Exactly on the same day Gifu castle fallen, Ieyasu knew Uesugi turned northward to attack Mogami Yoshiaki so that Uesugi would be unlikely heading to Edo. Ieyasu ordered his heir Hidetada attacked Ueda castle belonged to western coalition even though Ieyasu did not know the news about Gifu castle yet. Hidetada would march with 38,000 men westward along Nakasendō (a mountain road through Nagano prefecture nowadays from Tokyo to Kyoto). Ieyasu intended to place half of the Tokugawa's main army under Hidetada along Nakasendō, so that Hidetada could reinforce eastern vanguard expected at Kiyosu castle. According to Ieyasu's order, Hidetada matched through Nakasendō and began the siege of Ueda castle on October 12.
Few days after Hidetada's departure, Ieyasu received the report about his vanguard already took Gifu castle. Ieyasu estimated the major battle would come sooner. He sent a messager to instruct Hidetada marched to Gifu castle, so that Ieyasu could gather Hidetada at there on October 19. However since many river crosses were flooded under bad weather along Nakasendō, the messager cannot contact Hidetada until October 15 or 16. This unfortune made Hidetada's army impossible to reach Sekigahara on time.
Ieyasu departed from Edo to Gifu castle, with the rest 30,000 men of Tokugawa's army, along Tokaidō (road along the Pacific coast of Japan from Tokyo to Kyoto) on October 7. Ieyasu instructed eastern vanguard lay siege to Ogaki castle but avoided engagement. To prevent eastern vanguard pressured by western coalition's numerical advantage, Ieyasu signaled to a secret ally - lord of Ōtsu castle Kyōgoku Takatsugu - to present his support on eastern coalition. Takatsugu was brother in law of Yodo Dono & Hidetada, and Ōtsu castle could cut the communication between Kyoto/Osaka and Sawayama/Ogaki (Ōtsu is just about 10 km east of Kyoto). It shocked western coalition & heavily obstructed Mitsunari's war efforts. Mitsunari had to send his 15,000 men best troops to retake Ōtsu castle. The siege of Ōtsu castle made Mitsunari could not march eastward before retaken Ōtsu castle. Takatsugu held Ōtsu castle since October 13 till October 21 - same date of the battle of Sekigahara.
Mitsunari worried about the situation. He begged Mori Terumoto reinforced him with Mori's main army 30,000 men. Mitsunari also requested Yodo Dono let young master Toyotomi Hideyori joined Mitsunari's army, so that it could take away regional lords' support from eastern coalition to Hideyori. However Yodo Dono refused the request, after the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi - Kōdai-in (FX Shōgun: Daiyoin) - convinced Yodo Dono did not take side between Eastern & Western coalitions. Using the excuse to protect Hideyori in Osaka, Terumoto also stayed in Osaka instead of reinforce Mitsunari.
On October 19, Ieyasu arrived Gifu castle and gathered with the vanguard. He was disappointed Hidetada's position was a week away from Gifu. Also he knew Ōtsu castle would fall very soon. Ieyasu had to risk a battle before Mitsunari retook initiative after the siege of Ōtsu castle ended. Ieyasu would not storm Ogaki castle but would march to Sekigahara. If Ieyasu could pass Sekigahara without resistance, Ieyasu would be able to threaten Sawayama castle or rescue Ōtsu castle - both were Mitsunari unwilling to risk. At Sekigahara, Ieyasu could force Mitsunari to accept battle on open ground instead of behind fortifications.
On October 20, Ieyasu marched to Akasaka and kept marching westward. Mitsunari noticed Ieyasu might turn on the back of Ogaki castle and marched towards Sawayama castle. Mitsunari detached a small force ambushed a part of eastern army at Kuisegawa to delay Ieyasu's movement. At this moment Mitsunari repositioned tens of thousands soldiers of western coalition to Sekigahara. Mitsunari now could occupied favourite grounds around Sekigahara before Ieyasu arrived. Battle of Sekigahara would happen after one more dawn.
v) Battle of Sekigahara
Midnight of October 20 at Sekigahara, Ishida Mitsunari planned to formed a 4km defence line from Mount Sasao at the north to the Mount Matsuo at the south by the most trusted lords in western armies, to block the marching of eastern army. A large detachment from Mori's army led by Mori Hidemoto (Mori Terumoto's cousin) & Kikkawa Hiroie (another Terumoto's cousin) would deployed at Mount Nangu, to threaten the rear of Ieyasu's army as if eastern army attacked Mitsunari's defence line. However when the battle plan revealed, lord Kobayakawa Hideaki (nephew of Toyotomi Hideyoshi) occupied Mount Matsuo before instruction from Mitsunari. It made the lords of western army were suspicious about Hideaki's intention, but they could do nothing but assumed Hideaki still friendly when the fateful battle up ahead. Now Hideaki already positioned at the right flank Mount Matsuo at the south, Mitsunari deployed his own troop at Mount Sasao to secure the left flank at the north. Regent lord Ukita Hideie, leading the strongest army of western coalition at Sekigahara, deployed at the centre of the defence line. Konishi Yukinaga deployed at the gap between Mitsunari & Hideie. Otani Yoshitsugu (FX Shōgun: Ohno Harunobu) deployed at the gap between Hideie and Hideaki. There were some minor troops deployed behind the defence line as reserves, such as Shimazu Yoshihiro who would be mentioned later. The total strength of western army was over 80,000 men.
Eastern army commanded by Tokugawa Ieyasu arrived Sekigahara before the dawn of October 21. Ieyasu let about 13,000 men led by Asano Yoshinaga/Ikeda Terumasa as rearguard, to keep an eye on 25,000 men of western army at Mount Nangu. Tokugawa's 30,000 men main army deployed at Mount Momokubari as main reserve. The rest of the lords of eastern army formed a line parallel to Mitsunari's defence line. Kuruda Nagamasa deployed at the right flank at the north facing Mitsunari's army. Tōdō Takatora deployed at the left flank at the south. Fukushima Masanori took centre position confronted Hideie's main force as the vanguard of eastern army. Other lords such as Hosokawa Tadaoki filled up the gaps of the front line. Ieyasu's forth son Matsudaira Tadayoshi (FX Shōgun: Yoshii Nagakado) deployed behind the front line for close support with Ii Naomasa and Honda Tadakatsu. Strength of eastern army's front line was about 40,000 men facing 55,000 men western army's defence line. Total strength of eastern army was about equal to western army over 80,000 men. Eastern army completed the deployment before sunrise.
On October 21, these was a dense fog covering Sekigahara before dawn. After the sunrise & fog cleared, battle started at 7:30am when eastern vanguard under Fukushima Masanori charged against the western centre under Ukita Hideie. Eastern army's front line made a full frontal attack on the defence line of western army. At the north flank, Kuruda Nagamasa & Hosokawa Tadaoki combined 10,000 men were converging to Ishida Mitsunari's position with 6,000 men. Despite Mitsunari was outnumbered, his troop fought tough to hold the left flank, and even supported by artillery (3 guns) according to legend.
When 40,000 men eastern forces made the frontal attack, in contrast there were just merely more than 30,000 men western forces engaging enemy to hold the defence line. Mori's detachment at Mount Nangu was inaction, and in legend Kikkawa Hiroie answered messager from Mitsunari by an excuse that they got to have meal before the fight. 20,000 men under Kobayakawa Hideaki & four minor lords also did not engage eastern army yet at right south flank. After 3 hours hard fighting, Mitsunari was anxious about the battle development. Mitsunari fired signal flares into the sky to demand Mori's detachment and Kobayakawa attack. None of them answered the signal. At this moment, Mitsunari knew something was not right.
Story turns back to months ago. Regent lord Mori Terumoto called for a meeting in Hiroshima castle (nowadays in Hiroshima prefecture) to decide Mori's position in this war. Monk adviser Ankokuji Ekei insisted Mori clan should support Ishida Mitsunari. However Kikkawa Hiroie made an objection. Hiroie already despised Mitsunari for years since the invasion of Korea. Hiroie believed Tokugawa would win, so he argued it was meaningless to join the loser. Mori Terumoto held a hidden ambition unspoken. Terumoto wished to expand his domain as if the country turned back to chaos like warring states period, but he did not want to lose anything no matter Mitsunari or Ieyasu was the final winner. Terumoto agreed to join the western coalition. In the western coalition Terumoto sent certain vassals attacked castles under eastern coalition in Shikoku. But on the other hand, Terumoto let Kikkawa Hiroie contacted Ieyasu secretly. Ieyasu agreed if Mori stood aside in the war, he would guarantee Terumoto could secure Mori's original domain. Under such agreement, Terumoto was not only held his 30,000 main Mori's army in Osaka, but also instructed Mori Hidemoto & Kikkawa Hiroie should not let Mori's detachment engaged eastern army. As a result, Mori's detachment at Mount Nangu stood aside in the battle of Sekigahara.
Ieyasu saw the signal flares from Mitsunari also. He actually was still cautious about Mori's detachment at his rear. After the Mitsunari's signal flares & Mori's detachment still inaction, Ieyasu now believed Mori's detachment would not engage. Rear of the eastern army secured. It's time he could move his 30,000 men reserve forward from Mount Momokubari to frontline. He could join the 40,000 men on front to overrun the western defence, but he also looked up to Mount Matsuo wishing for better.
Before the battle, Kobayakawa Hideaki already contacted Ieyasu multiple times despite he was staying in western coalition. Kobayakawa Hideaki was originally from Toyotomi family as the nephew of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Due to Hideaki's blood related to Hideyoshi but not close enough, Hideyoshi treated Hideaki as a useful piece for political maneuver. Hideyoshi wanted to force Mori Terumoto adopted Hideaki, but Kobayakawa Takakage - uncle of Terumoto - was aware Mori clan inheritance might pass to Toyotomi. To secure Mori's heirs inheritance, Takekage persuaded Hideyoshi to let him adopted Hideaki. Hideyoshi agreed so that he could influence Mori clan through Hideaki indirectly. Under such lack of respect treatments, Hideaki wished to distinguish himself in the invasion of Korea. During Siege of Ulsan, Hideaki fought bravely and made certain achievements, but in return Hideaki was chastised about his dangerous & reckless charge. Also he was accused about atrocities against civilians. A big part of Hideaki's domain was deprived as punishment. It made Hideaki furious. He blamed Ishida Mitsunari behind all of this after execution of his cousin Toyotomi Hidetsugu. He lost all faith on Toyotomi but only believed in his self interest.
Ishida Mitsunari & Otani Yoshitsugu already felt Hideaki's dissatisfaction before this day. Mitsunari wanted to keep Hideaki in western coalition by promise of more domains and installed Hideaki to be Kampaku. Ieyasu also promised Hideaki more domains. In the battle of Sekigahara, Hideaki did not fight for any ideal nor loyalty, he was only seeking for his self interest. When he knew the battle plan of Mitsunari, he departed to Sekigahara sooner than any western lords so that he could occupy Mount Matsuo with his 15,000 men. He knew there would be the best position overlooking the battle, and also he could attack the flank at the south of both eastern or western army from there. The time had come to show his value.
Western army fought bravely to hold the defence line in the whole morning. It amazed Hideaki and made him hesitate. But when Ieyasu's 30,000 men reserve started marching forward, Hideaki knew it was meaningless to hesitate any longer. Hideaki's 15,000 men army would not make decisive impact when facing Ieyasu's 30,000 men reserve, but western army would face certain defeat if Hideaki attacked the right flank of western army defence line. There was no more good to stay with western coalition anymore. At noon, Hideaki defected to eastern coalition and attacked the right flank of western army from the south.
Otani Yoshitsugu already prepared for Hideaki's defection. His soldiers fired arquebuses volley to break Hideaki's first charge. But meanwhile four other lords (Wakisaka Yasuharu, Ogawa Suketada, Akaza Naoyasu, Kutsuki Mototsuna) defected to eastern coalition as well at right flank of western line. Under those four lords with Hideaki, totally 20,000 men defected to eastern coalition and attacked Otani's 4,000 men. Otani's troop broke under such outnumbered onslaught. When eastern army enveloped the defence line of western army from the south, western army totally demoralised and fled from the certain defeat. Watching the development, Ieyasu could not hold his smile. He signaled the whole eastern army general advance for a full triumph.
Otani Yoshitsugu committed suicide after his troop broken. Mitsunari/Hideie/Yukinaga retreated westward with severe losses. Shimazu Yoshihiro positioned behind Mitsunari and did not engage eastern army yet. He saw the chaos on the retreat route behind and understood it was too late to fall back orderly. He decided to lead his 1,500 veterans forward to breakthrough eastern army. By such maneuver he could not only find an alternative escape route, but also maintained reputation of Shimazu clan since he considered it was dishonored if he retreated without a fight. Shimazu's troop miraculously passed through the front of eastern army without a fight, maybe because no soldiers of eastern army believed enemy was dare to run into their formation yet during the defeat. But soon eastern troops under Matsudaira Tadayoshi and Ii Naomasa discovered movement of Shimazu, and turned to intercept Shimazu. Shimazu's troop turned and ran southward after a small frontal skirmish. Shimazu's troop skillfully splitted the forces and arranged ambush by firearms along the retreat route to cover the retreat. Both Tadayoshi and Naomasa were wounded by arquebuses shots during pursuit. Later Ieyasu called off the pursuit. Shimazu Yoshihiro escaped with only about 50 men left. Mori's detachment at Mount Nangu retreated southward without any resistance.
After 2pm of October 21, the battle of Sekigahara was over. Tokugawa Ieyasu won the most decisive battle in Japanese history. From the time Ieyasu became hostage of Oda clan at 6 years old and met 14 years old Oda Nobunaga, Ieyasu learned alot in 52 years career from many Sengoku legends. He brilliantly planned and manipulated for the great victory at Sekigahara. He won the battle even before it happened, and he told his men "Tighten the stings of your helmet after victory" to aware the next fight after the triumph.
Ōtsu castle fell on the same date of the battle of Sekigahara, but the gain could not help the catastrophe at Sekigahara anymore. The 15,000 best troops of western coalition had to fall back to Osaka when Ieyasu’s army expanded to 100,000 men. Sawayama castle was seized by Kobayakawa Hideaki on October 23. Ishida Mitsunari/Konishi Yukinaga/Ankokuji Ekei were captured later separately. On October 26, Tokugawa Hidetada caught up the main army of Ieyasu at Kusatsu (next to Ōtsu in Shiga prefecture). Ieyasu was unhappy when he met Hidetada, not about Hidetada’s delay but about Hidetada’s army under poor conditions after force march for days. Ieyasu lectured Hidetada to rethink how could such army fight as if there was next battle. Ieyasu hoped Hidetada learned from the mistakes in Hidetada’s first commanding experiences.
Certain lords of western coalition suggested Mori Terumoto continued the fight against Ieyasu, but Terumoto did not agree. Ieyasu appointed Kuruda Nagamasa & Fukushima Masanori to negotiate with Terumoto, so that Terumoto could yield Osaka castle without bloodshed. Terumoto agreed to withdraw from Osaka castle, in exchange of Ieyasu's guarantee Terumoto would secure Mori's original domain. On October 31, Mori Terumoto withdrew from Osaka castle, and Ieyasu took over control of Osaka on the same date. On the November 2, Ieyasu leading lords of eastern coalition visited Toyotomi Hideyori & Yodo Dono in Osaka castle. Ieyasu reported they defeated the "rebellion" against Toyotomi, and announced death sentences to certain leaders of western coalition. Ishida Mitsunari/Konishi Yukinaga/Ankokuji Ekei were beheaded at Kyoto on November 6. Western coalition officially collapsed.
vi) Long peace of Tokugawa shogunate
There were military confrontations in many parts of Japan, most regional lords participated under eastern or western coalition. After the news of the battle of Sekigahara spread, consequently all military actions ceased to look for best rewards or least damages to their clans.
It took Tokugawa Ieyasu two weeks to collect reports about the participations of regional lords all over Japan in this campaign. After figured out the whole picture, Ieyasu started to displace the lords under western coalition to smaller domains or even stripped off the lordship & domains. The domains deprived would award to the lords with good performances under eastern coalition, and some might even occupied by Tokugawa family.
Ieyasu claimed regent lord Mori Terumoto's multiple participations for western coalition had to be accountable, especially about the attacks on Shikoku. Terumoto was displaced to Nagato and Suō (nowadays Yamaguchi prefecture, one-third of Mori's original domain). Terumoto and his descendants remembered the humiliation, till Mori clan allied with Shimazu clan to overthrow Tokugawa shogunate in 19th century. Domain of regent lord Uesugi Kagekatsu was reduced to Yonezawa, one-forth of his original area. Regent lord Ukita Hideie refused to admit it was wrongdoing fighting for western coalition. Hideie's lordship was stripped and sentenced to exile to a remote island. Ironically Hideie lived through 4 generations of Tokugawa shōgun, died at the age 83 under the rulership of Ieyasu's great grandson. Although Matsudaira Tadayoshi and Ii Naomasa wounded badly by the troops under Shimazu Yoshihiro (Tadayoshi and Naomasa would die because of the infection of the wound few years later), they begged Ieyasu pardon Yoshihiro due to the reputation Yoshihiro earned during the invasion of Korea. Ieyasu pardoned Yoshihiro. Let Yoshihiro's son succeeded the lordship and retained Shimazu's domain.
Lords under eastern coalition were rewarded generously. Lords originally promoted by Toyotomi Hideyoshi although granted larger domains from Ieyasu, they were displaced westward further away from Edo. Ieyasu’s sons were granted the domains around Kanto to form a perimeter protect Edo. Tokugawa's domain enlarged from 2.56 million koku to 4 million koku. In contrast Toyotomi's domain reduced from 2.22 million koku to 650 thousand koku, as many domains under the name of trusteeship of Tokugawa.
Ieyasu pretended his loyalty to Toyotomi Hideyori, until he was granted the shōgun title from the emperor in 1603. Ieyasu let his heir Tokugawa Hidetada succeeded shōgun in 1605 to establish the inheritance of Tokugawa shogunate, as Ieyasu still held the rulership as ex-shōgun. Ieyasu & Hidetade imposed new laws to maintain Tokugawa rulership & peace. Ieyasu tried to let Toyotomi Hideyori settled under Tokugawa shogunate peacefully, by the marriage of Hideyori with Hidetada's daughter. However when Ieyasu learned Hideyori let his low-born maiden given birth Hideyori's bastard rather than let Ieyasu's granddaughter ever pregnant, Ieyasu lost his patience. Ieyasu accused Hideyori cursed him during the construction of a temple. When Hideyori refused to be displaced from Osaka castle, Ieyasu annihilated Toyotomi clan in 1615. Ieyasu died few months after his last conquest.
In 1635 Shōgun Tokugawa Iemitsu, grandson of Ieyasu, imposed Sankin-Kōtai system. The system required every regional lord periodically lived in Edo to serve the shogunate. If the lord had to leave Edo for his own business, the lord had to send his wife and heir to Edo as hostage before his departure. The two centuries long peace under Tokugawa shogunate ironically was helped by hostage system in contrast of the story from FX Shōgun. Still Sankin-Kōtai set the foundation of prosperity of Tokyo, when tens of thousands of high-end consumers living in Edo/Tokyo since 17th century.
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