The 1584 siege of Kanie was one of many elements in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaign to consolidate his power over the lands held by the Oda clan in Owari province, Japan. This event actually consisted of two sieges.

Second Siege of Kanie
Part of the Sengoku period
DateApril - June 23 1584
Location
Kanie castle, Owari Province, Japan
Result Oda-Tokugawa victory
Territorial
changes
Castle taken by Toyotomi forces, later retaken by Oda-Tokugawa forces
Belligerents
forces of Toyotomi Hideyoshi forces loyal to Oda clan and Tokugawa clan
Commanders and leaders
Takigawa Kazumasu
Kuki Yoshitaka
Gamō Ujisato
Maeda Tanetoshi Executed (Second siege)
Maeda Tanetoshi Surrendered (First siege)
Oda Nagamasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Sakakibara Yasumasa
Sakai Tadatsugu
Mizuno Katsunari

First Siege

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When Hideyoshi forces came to attack Kanie castle, it was held by Maeda Tanetoshi on behalf of the Oda. However, Hideyoshi had pardoned Tanetoshi's cousin, Takigawa Kazumasu, for his support of Shibata Katsuie at Battle of Shizugatake, and as a result Kazumasu was an ally of Hideyoshi. Kazumasu negotiate and convinced his cousin, Tanetoshi, to switch sides joining Hideyoshi and giving up the castle to him.

Later, Kazumasu and Tanetoshi then attempted to attack Oda's, nearby Ono castle, but they were repulsed by Oda Nagamasu, when the Oda defenders threw torches into the attackers' boats.

Second Siege

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After the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute in April, the front line in northern Owari reached stalemate. At this time, Kanie Castle was located about three miles between Ieyasu's Kiyosu Castle and Nobuo's Nagashima Castle, and was connected to the Mie moat and three castles: Ono Castle , Shimoichiba Castle , and Maeda Castle. At that time, Kanie castle were facing the sea and was one of the leading ports in Owari, along with Atsuta and Tsushima. Then in June 18, Ieyasu and Nobuo led 20,000 soldiers and besieged three castles: Kanie Castle, Maeda Castle, and Shimoichiba Castle.[1] The Kanie castle were defended by Maeda Nagatane and Takigawa Kazumasu. Meanwhile, the Oda-Tokugawa army were led by Sakai Tadatsugu, Okanabe Mori, and Yamaguchi Shigemasa spearheading the attack towards Shimoichiba castle, while Sakakibara Yasumasa, Osuga Yasutaka were deployed to capture any fleeing defenders.[2][3]

Tanetoshi and Kazumasu withdraw from Ono castle and returning to Kanie castle. However, they came under siege from forces loyal to the Oda's and Sakakibara clans. On behalf of the alliance between the Oda and Tokugawa clan. The port of Kanie also blockaded as the Hatamoto officers of Tokugawa such as Mizuno Katsunari, who also hijacked two ships belongs to Kuki Yoshitaka.[4]

On June 22, Oda Nobuo and Tokugawa Ieyasu launch an all-out attack on Kanie Castle. The soldiers led by Tadatsugu, who has been deployed at the major entrance, were exhausted after days of fierce fighting, and in the evening, the soldiers of Yasumasa Sakakibara and Ietada Matsudaira entered Kaimonjiguchi in their place.[5]

The Oda troops and their allies led by Oda Nagamasu, broke through the outer defenses of Kanie castle, and negotiated that they retaken the castle and would not continue the attack on the condition that they gave Maeda Tanetoshi head. On June 23, Ieyasu entered the castle with Sakakibara Yasumasa, thus the castle were subdued. [1]

Later, when Maeda Tanetoshi attempted to escape, he was killed by his cousin, Takigawa Kazumasu, who provided Tanetoshi head to the Oda commanders.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Fujita Tatsuo (2006). 小牧・長久手の戦いの構造 [Structure of the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute] (in Japanese). 岩田書院. p. 107. ISBN 4-87294-422-4. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  2. ^ 神谷存心 (1889). 小牧陣始末記(日本戦史材料 ; 第1巻) [The story of the end of the Komaki camp (Japanese military history materials; Volume 1)] (in Japanese). Tokyo: 武蔵吉彰. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  3. ^ Kimura Takaatsu. Naotoki, Tamaru (ed.). 武徳編年集成 (in Japanese). 拙修斎. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  4. ^ Hirai, 1992 & 52.
  5. ^ Narushima shichoku; Udagawa Takehisa; kuwata tadachika (1976). 改正三河後風土記 Volume 1 [Revised Mikawa Go Fudoki Volume 1] (in Japanese). 秋田書店. p. 197. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  6. ^ Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. London: Cassell & Co. p. 236. ISBN 9781854095237.