Sakuma Nobumori
Encyclopedia
was a retainer
for the Oda clan
. Nobumori's banishment by Oda Nobunaga
to Mount Koyasan has widely been regarded as symbolic of Nobunaga's ruthlessness against even his longest-serving retainers, highlighting the leader's shortcomings as a military commander.
Born in Owari Province
and serving under Oda Nobuhide
, Sakuma was entrusted with the care of the young Oda Nobunaga
. Unlike other retainers whose support wavered between Nobunaga and Oda Nobuyuki
as clan leader, Sakuma remained steadfastly loyal to Nobunaga, and fought for him consistently. He was thus treated as Nobunaga's most important retainer and would come to fight in every important battle under Nobunaga's command.
Sakuma was called Noki Sakuma (退き佐久間), which literally means "retreating Sakuma," because of his cautious tactics. He was successful in the campaign against the Rokkaku clan
and helped to suppress rebellions caused by Buddhist sects in Echizen Province
and at Nagashima
in Osaka
. In 1572, his 3,000-man unit formed part of the reinforcements dispatched by Nobunaga to aid Tokugawa Ieyasu
's approximately 8,000 soldiers against the 27,000 led by Takeda Shingen
. In the Battle of Mikatagahara
Sakuma retreated after a preliminary engagement. His fellow commander Hirate Hirohide
, however, who fought alongside the Tokugawa troops, lost his life, and the conflict ended with a crushing defeat of the Tokugawa-Oda alliance.
In 1576, after Harada Naomasa
's death during the campaign against the heavily-fortified and well-supplied Honganji temple in Osaka, Sakuma was chosen as Harada
's replacement as commander and given troops from seven provinces placing him in command of the largest Oda-clan
army among the Oda retainers. However, unlike his colleagues Akechi Mitsuhide
, Shibata Katsuie
or Hashiba Hideyoshi
who all won battles on the fronts to which they were assigned, Nobumori made no progress against the fearless Buddhist zealots. After ten years of warring, Nobunaga had the emperor
mediate a truce to end the war in 1580.
That same year, Nobunaga drafted a document containing a fifteen-point accusation against Sakuma's, including past failures with those against the Honganji. Nobunaga banished Sakuma and his son Sakuma Nobuhide to the temple on Mount Koyasan, where they were forced to spend their days in the monk lifestyle. Sakuma died in 1581 at Totsugawa in Yamato Province
. He was posthumously named Doumu Keigan (洞無桂巌) and Souyu (宗佑).
Nobumori's banishment has widely been regarded as representative of Nobunaga's cold-bloodedness against even his longest-serving retainers underscoring the clan leader's shortcomings as a military commander. Nobumori, however, had reportedly held frequent tea parties and seemed more interested in these rather than focusing on military affairs. He never devised, after all, any overarching military measures against the Honganji, even though their war had remained in a stalemate
. It has also been recorded that since childhood, Nobumori had been openly critical of Nobunaga
.
Retainer
Retainer may refer to:* Retainer , a person, especially a soldier, in the service of a lord in the late Middle Ages** Retainer sacrifice, the sacrifice of a human servant* Retainer...
for the Oda clan
Oda clan
The was a family of Japanese daimyo who were to become an important political force in the unification of Japan in the mid-16th century. Though they had the climax of their fame under Oda Nobunaga and fell from the spotlight soon after, several branches of the family would continue on as daimyo...
. Nobumori's banishment by Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
to Mount Koyasan has widely been regarded as symbolic of Nobunaga's ruthlessness against even his longest-serving retainers, highlighting the leader's shortcomings as a military commander.
Born in Owari Province
Owari Province
was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of present day Aichi Prefecture, including much of modern Nagoya. Its abbreviation is Bishū .-History:The province was created in 646....
and serving under Oda Nobuhide
Oda Nobuhide
was a warlord and magistrate of lower Owari Province during the Sengoku period of Japan. His father was Oda Nobusada and Nobuhide was the father of Oda Nobunaga.-Ruling the clan:...
, Sakuma was entrusted with the care of the young Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
. Unlike other retainers whose support wavered between Nobunaga and Oda Nobuyuki
Oda Nobuyuki
was the son of Oda Nobuhide, and younger brother of Oda Nobunaga in the earlier years of the Sengoku period of the 16th century of Japan.Nobuyuki conspired against his brother Nobunaga with the Hayashi and Shibata families. Nobuyuki's Suemori Castle was reduced by Ikeda Nobuteru. Though Hayashi and...
as clan leader, Sakuma remained steadfastly loyal to Nobunaga, and fought for him consistently. He was thus treated as Nobunaga's most important retainer and would come to fight in every important battle under Nobunaga's command.
Sakuma was called Noki Sakuma (退き佐久間), which literally means "retreating Sakuma," because of his cautious tactics. He was successful in the campaign against the Rokkaku clan
Rokkaku clan
The was a Japanese samurai clan which wielded considerable power in the Muromachi period under the Ashikaga shogunate.-Rise and Fall:Founded by Sasaki Yasutsuna of Ōmi province in the 13th century, the name Rokkaku was taken from their residence within Kyoto; however, many members of this family...
and helped to suppress rebellions caused by Buddhist sects in Echizen Province
Echizen Province
was an old province of Japan, which is today the northern part of Fukui Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Etchū and Echigo Provinces.Echizen is famous for washi . A text dated AD 774 mentions the washi made in this area. Echizen-produced Washi is still the most commonly sold traditional...
and at Nagashima
Nagashima
' was a series of fortresses and fortifications controlled by the Ikkō-ikki, a sect of warrior monks in Japan's Sengoku period who opposed samurai rule. It was attacked and destroyed by Oda Nobunaga in the 1570s...
in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
. In 1572, his 3,000-man unit formed part of the reinforcements dispatched by Nobunaga to aid Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
's approximately 8,000 soldiers against the 27,000 led by Takeda Shingen
Takeda Shingen
, of Kai Province, was a preeminent daimyo in feudal Japan with exceptional military prestige in the late stage of the Sengoku period.-Name:Shingen was called "Tarō" or "Katsuchiyo" during his childhood...
. In the Battle of Mikatagahara
Battle of Mikatagahara
The ' was one of the most famous battles of Takeda Shingen's campaigns, and one of the best demonstrations of his cavalry-based tactics.-Background:...
Sakuma retreated after a preliminary engagement. His fellow commander Hirate Hirohide
Hirate Hirohide
' was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period, and an officer under the Oda clan.During the battle of Mikatagahara, Hirohide was sent by Oda Nobunaga to provide reinforcement to Tokugawa Ieyasu when he was attacked by Takeda Shingen. When his allies were greatly struggling during the attack by...
, however, who fought alongside the Tokugawa troops, lost his life, and the conflict ended with a crushing defeat of the Tokugawa-Oda alliance.
In 1576, after Harada Naomasa
Harada Naomasa
was a samurai retainer of the Oda clan. He was also called and was referred by the title of . Initially he had the family name of , but on 1575 received the name of a respected clan, Harada which he took as his own....
's death during the campaign against the heavily-fortified and well-supplied Honganji temple in Osaka, Sakuma was chosen as Harada
Harada Naomasa
was a samurai retainer of the Oda clan. He was also called and was referred by the title of . Initially he had the family name of , but on 1575 received the name of a respected clan, Harada which he took as his own....
's replacement as commander and given troops from seven provinces placing him in command of the largest Oda-clan
Oda clan
The was a family of Japanese daimyo who were to become an important political force in the unification of Japan in the mid-16th century. Though they had the climax of their fame under Oda Nobunaga and fell from the spotlight soon after, several branches of the family would continue on as daimyo...
army among the Oda retainers. However, unlike his colleagues Akechi Mitsuhide
Akechi Mitsuhide
, nicknamed Jūbei or called from his clan name and title, was a samurai who lived during the Sengoku period of Feudal Japan.Mitsuhide was a general under daimyo Oda Nobunaga, although he became infamous for his betrayal in 1582, which led to Nobunaga's death at Honno-ji...
, Shibata Katsuie
Shibata Katsuie
or was a Japanese military commander during the Sengoku Period who served Oda Nobunaga.-Biography:Katsuie was born in the Shibata family, a branch of the Shiba clan . Note the differences between , , and the .Katsuie was the retainer of Oda Nobukatsu...
or Hashiba Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
who all won battles on the fronts to which they were assigned, Nobumori made no progress against the fearless Buddhist zealots. After ten years of warring, Nobunaga had the emperor
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
mediate a truce to end the war in 1580.
That same year, Nobunaga drafted a document containing a fifteen-point accusation against Sakuma's, including past failures with those against the Honganji. Nobunaga banished Sakuma and his son Sakuma Nobuhide to the temple on Mount Koyasan, where they were forced to spend their days in the monk lifestyle. Sakuma died in 1581 at Totsugawa in Yamato Province
Yamato Province
was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. It was also called . At first, the name was written with one different character , and for about ten years after 737, this was revised to use more desirable characters . The final revision was made in...
. He was posthumously named Doumu Keigan (洞無桂巌) and Souyu (宗佑).
Nobumori's banishment has widely been regarded as representative of Nobunaga's cold-bloodedness against even his longest-serving retainers underscoring the clan leader's shortcomings as a military commander. Nobumori, however, had reportedly held frequent tea parties and seemed more interested in these rather than focusing on military affairs. He never devised, after all, any overarching military measures against the Honganji, even though their war had remained in a stalemate
Stalemate
Stalemate is a situation in chess where the player whose turn it is to move is not in check but has no legal moves. A stalemate ends the game in a draw. Stalemate is covered in the rules of chess....
. It has also been recorded that since childhood, Nobumori had been openly critical of Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
.