About the Battle of Nagashino
The Battle of Nagashino was fought in 1575 (21st day of the 5th month, Tenshō 3) at Nagashino–Shitaragahara, Mikawa Province. Palisades and three thousand arquebuses shattered the Takeda cavalry: the decisive battle that changed how the Sengoku wars were fought.
- Year
- 1575 (21st day of the 5th month, Tenshō 3)
- Place
- Nagashino–Shitaragahara, Mikawa Province
- Era
- Azuchi–Momoyama period
How the battle unfolded
- Night Night Raid on Mount Tobigasu
Before dawn on the 21st day of the 5th month, Tenshō 3. A detached force of 4,000 under Sakai Tadatsugu slipped south through the mountain paths and stormed the Tobigasu forts that hemmed in Nagashino Castle. With his rear cut off, Takeda Katsuyori had no choice but to give battle on the plain of Shitaragahara.
- Lines Facing Off at Shitaragahara
Daybreak. Across the Rengo River the Oda–Tokugawa army of 38,000 faced the Takeda army of 15,000. Nobunaga had built a triple line of palisades across the fields and hidden three thousand arquebuses (by the traditional count) behind them.
- Charge The Takeda Cavalry Charges
Just after six in the morning the Takeda began their charges in waves, led by the red-armoured troops of Yamagata Masakage. But what awaited the horsemen who crossed the Rengo River was the palisade, and behind it a line of blazing arquebuses.
- Volley A Storm of Volleys
The brothers Sanada Nobutsuna and Masateru fell, then Tsuchiya Masatsugu, and still the Takeda kept charging. Even the elite of Naitō Masatoyo and Baba Nobuharu could not break the palisade, and one famous commander after another went down to the bullets.
- Spent The Takeda Are Spent
Eight charges in all were thrown back. The fierce Yamagata Masakage died in the hail of fire. Having lost its veteran commanders, the Takeda army no longer had the strength to break the line.
- Pursuit Collapse and Pursuit
Shortly after noon the allied army came out from behind the palisades and counterattacked. The Takeda broke completely. Baba Nobuharu volunteered for the rearguard, saw Katsuyori safely away, then stood his ground and was killed.
- Sunset Sunset of the Takeda
Katsuyori fled north along the Hōrai-ji road with a handful of retainers. Most of the veteran Takeda commanders had vanished on Shitaragahara. The age of the cavalry army once called the strongest of the Sengoku ended that day.
Generals and units
- Oda–Tokugawa forces Oda Nobunaga Commander-in-chief
- Oda–Tokugawa forces Tokugawa Ieyasu Commander-in-chief
- Oda–Tokugawa forces Sakuma Nobumori
- Oda–Tokugawa forces Takigawa Kazumasu
- Oda–Tokugawa forces Hashiba Hideyoshi
- Oda–Tokugawa forces Niwa Nagahide
- Oda–Tokugawa forces Ōkubo Tadayo
- Oda–Tokugawa forces Sakai Tadatsugu (detached force)
- Oda–Tokugawa forces Okudaira Sadamasa
- Takeda forces Takeda Katsuyori Commander-in-chief
- Takeda forces Yamagata Masakage
- Takeda forces Obata Nobusada
- Takeda forces Sanada Nobutsuna & Masateru
- Takeda forces Tsuchiya Masatsugu
- Takeda forces Naitō Masatoyo
- Takeda forces Baba Nobuharu
- Takeda forces Takeda Nobukado
FAQ
- What was the Battle of Nagashino?
- Palisades and three thousand arquebuses shattered the Takeda cavalry: the decisive battle that changed how the Sengoku wars were fought.
- When and where did the Battle of Nagashino take place?
- It took place in 1575 at Nagashino–Shitaragahara, Mikawa Province (21st day of the 5th month, Tenshō 3).
- Who fought in the Battle of Nagashino?
- Oda Nobunaga of the Oda–Tokugawa forces, Tokugawa Ieyasu of the Oda–Tokugawa forces, Takeda Katsuyori of the Takeda forces were among the commanders.
- Can I watch the Battle of Nagashino in 3D?
- Yes. This page plays a free three-minute 3D animated overview showing the deployments, the movements of each army and how the battle was decided.