Siege of Noda
Encyclopedia
The took place from January to February 1573, between the forces of the Takeda clan, led by the noted warlord
Takeda Shingen
, against the Tokugawa clan
, led by Tokugawa Ieyasu
. Along with the Battle of Mikatagahara
it was one of the final battles in Takeda Shingen's long career.
, Takeda Shingen decided to push farther into Mikawa Province
, hopefully opening a route to the capital, Kyoto
. Leading a mixed cavalry and infanty force of 30,000 men, Shigen skirted the northern shore of Lake Hamana
before advancing inland into Mikawa. His route was opposed by approximately 500 defenders of Noda Castle
, situated on the Toyokawa river, commanded by Suganuma Sadamichi
. Shingen was confident in his strength of numbers, and in his knowledge that the Tokugawa forces were overextended in various campaigns. Furthermore, his forces had taken Noda Castle with ease during a reconnaissance-in-force two years earlier.
corps, composed of troops with gold mining experience) tunneled into the castle moat, draining it and depriving the defenders of their drinking water as well as their primary defense. Shingen extended an offer to spare the lives of the rank-and-file troops provided that Suganuma surrender on February 16. Though the castle's surrender was now imminent, Shingen let his guard down when he approached the castle, and a sniper shot him.
was threatened. However, Takeda Shingen died in March 1573 (whether from illness or from the wound sustained at the Battle of Noda Castle), and his forces were unable to maintain their momentum under his successor, Takeda Katsuyori
.
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
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...
, against the Tokugawa clan
Tokugawa clan
The was a powerful daimyo family of Japan. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa and were a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan. However, the early history of this clan remains a mystery.-History:...
, led by 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...
. Along with 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:...
it was one of the final battles in Takeda Shingen's long career.
Background
Encouraged by his victory over the Tokugawa at the Battle of Mikatagahara in neighboring Tōtōmi ProvinceTotomi Province
was a province of Japan in the area of Japan that is today western Shizuoka Prefecture. Tōtōmi bordered on Mikawa, Suruga and Shinano Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was .-History:...
, Takeda Shingen decided to push farther into Mikawa Province
Mikawa Province
is an old province in the area that today forms the eastern half of Aichi Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Mikawa bordered on Owari, Mino, Shinano, and Tōtōmi Provinces....
, hopefully opening a route to the capital, Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. Leading a mixed cavalry and infanty force of 30,000 men, Shigen skirted the northern shore of Lake Hamana
Lake Hamana
in Shizuoka Prefecture is Japan's tenth largest lake . It spans the boundaries of the cities of Hamamatsu and Kosai.-Data:The lake has an area of 65.0 km² and holds 0.35 km³ of water. Its circumference is 114 km. At its deepest point, the water is 16.6 m deep...
before advancing inland into Mikawa. His route was opposed by approximately 500 defenders of Noda Castle
Noda Castle
was a Sengoku period castle located in eastern Mikawa Province in what is today part of the city of Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.A fortified residence was constructed on this site by Suganuma Sadanori in 1508. The Suganuma clan were a subordination branch of the Okudaira clan, who ruled most...
, situated on the Toyokawa river, commanded by Suganuma Sadamichi
Suganuma Sadamichi
' was a samurai commander in Japan's Sengoku period. He fought in the 1570 battle of Anegawa, and at the 1573 siege of Noda, in which he attempted to defend Noda castle against Takeda Shingen....
. Shingen was confident in his strength of numbers, and in his knowledge that the Tokugawa forces were overextended in various campaigns. Furthermore, his forces had taken Noda Castle with ease during a reconnaissance-in-force two years earlier.
The battle
Suganuma had extensively increased the defensive capabilities of Noda Castle over the past two years with additional earthenworks and a wooden palisade. However, Shingen's kanabori-shū (sapperSapper
A sapper, pioneer or combat engineer is a combatant soldier who performs a wide variety of combat engineering duties, typically including, but not limited to, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences, general construction and building, as well as road and airfield...
corps, composed of troops with gold mining experience) tunneled into the castle moat, draining it and depriving the defenders of their drinking water as well as their primary defense. Shingen extended an offer to spare the lives of the rank-and-file troops provided that Suganuma surrender on February 16. Though the castle's surrender was now imminent, Shingen let his guard down when he approached the castle, and a sniper shot him.
Aftermath
Following the surrender of Noda Castle, Tokugawa forces were in retreat throughout Mikawa, and even Tokugawa Ieyasu’s stronghold of Okazaki CastleOkazaki Castle
is a Japanese castle located in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. At the end of the Edo period, Okazaki Castle was home to the Honda clan, daimyō of Okazaki Domain, but the castle is better known for its association with Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Tokugawa clan...
was threatened. However, Takeda Shingen died in March 1573 (whether from illness or from the wound sustained at the Battle of Noda Castle), and his forces were unable to maintain their momentum under his successor, Takeda Katsuyori
Takeda Katsuyori
was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku Period, who was famed as the head of the Takeda clan and the successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was the son of Shingen by the , the daughter of Suwa Yorishige...
.