Dawson567

Since my limited knowledge on this battle I was wondering if you can inform me about it.

Naomasa298

What would you like to know?

AlpinLuke

I take the occasion of this thread to ask something about Hidetada Tokugawa:

in which measure his "failure" [he arrived late at Sekigahara] was his own responsibility and in which measure the events had leaded by the ability of Sanada clan to keep him and his forces busy?

Naomasa298

A bit of both. Bear in mind that he had 38,000 men available, and the Sanada only had 2000. If he had wanted to, he could have left a screening force at Ueda and arrived with the bulk of his men at Sekigahara, but he underestimated the Sanada's defence.

Dawson567

Just anything like the events leading up to the battle, the generals, and the tactics.

Naomasa298

Oh, hmm, that's a big topic. I will try to find some time to write something for you but it's not going to be for a day or so.

AlpinLuke

Living the time for a description of the battle, I could start from taking a look at the "competitors" to add some further questions [may be suitable for a discussion following the tale of the military actions].

There are some points:

1. Why it was the Uesugi clan to "open the dances" threatening to attack Tokugawa?
2. What about Satake clan? Which political interests push them to refuse to accept Tokugawa's order to attack?

In the other field, the Western one, which was the reason why Mori clan didn't take part to the battle?

Naomasa298

Let me answer this one now.

Mori Terumoto, the nominal commander of the Western side wasn't all that keen on participating in the first place. His lack of enthusiasm led Ishida Mitsunari to leave him at Osaka castle, which was an insult to the Mori.

But the main reason why the Mori were inactive was Kikkawa Hiroie. He felt that the Tokugawa were the best bet and sent a secret message to Ieyasu promising that the Mori would not take part.

During the battle itself, his contingent were placed at the front of the Mori position. He steadfastly refused to move, preventing the units behind him, including his cousin Mori Hidemoto (who was prepared to fight) and the Chosokabe from joining the battle.

The other Mori contingent, led by Kobayakawa Hideaki defected towards the end of the battle due to a personal dislike of Ishida, who had been critical of Kobayakawa in Korea.

mingming

When the Mori was relocated from Aki to Chosu, why did they just follow? I read that they had the capacity to raise an army of 120,000 with the amount of koku their domains were producing.

MonkeyShiner

I'm new to this subject, but I read up on it last night. Glad to see a topic on it because I was studying it also.


The battle began in fog.


The first to charge was prematurely because of some Samurai general (Don't remember the name) who couldn't wait to begin(Have to admire the samurai's enthusiasm for war without any fear ).


After the battle, Ieyasu Tokugawa almost killed his son(He had to be held back from doing so) Hidetada Tokugawa, who failed to show up with 38,000 men.


This battle was the battle that secured Ieyasu Tokugawa's hegemony.

I 'think' (Please, correct if I'm wrong) it was the last major samurai battle in Japan's history. After Ieyasu secured power, there were a few skirmishes with those who opposed him, but it was ultimately peaceful.