About the Siege of Osaka (Summer Campaign)
The Siege of Osaka (Summer Campaign) was fought in 1615 (7th day of the 5th month, Keichō 20) at Tennōji–Okayama, Settsu Province. Sanada Yukimura charges Ieyasu's headquarters three times. The death of "the finest warrior in Japan" and the burning of Osaka Castle bring the Sengoku age to its end.
- Year
- 1615 (7th day of the 5th month, Keichō 20)
- Place
- Tennōji–Okayama, Settsu Province
- Era
- Early Edo period
How the battle unfolded
- Morning The Last Morning
The 7th day of the 5th month, Keichō 20. Its moats filled in after the Winter Campaign, Osaka Castle is now defenceless. The 55,000 of the Toyotomi side leave the castle and take up their final positions at the Tennōji and Okayama approaches. Against them stand 155,000 Tokugawa troops.
- Clash Mōri Katsunaga Charges
At noon the battle opens at the Tennōji approach. The Mōri Katsunaga contingent breaks the Tokugawa vanguard in an instant, and Honda Tadatomo is killed. The last strength of the Toyotomi side blows through like a storm.
- Charge Sanada Charges
"There is only one target: Ieyasu's head." From Mount Chausu, Sanada Nobushige (Yukimura) and 3,500 red-armoured troops drive straight at Ieyasu's headquarters. The commander's standard goes down: the second such humiliation since Mikatagahara.
- Third Three Charges
Once, twice, three times. Each time the red wave washes over the headquarters, the 74-year-old Ieyasu is said to have prepared himself for death. But the disparity in numbers cannot be overcome.
- Fall The Finest Warrior in Japan Falls
His strength spent, Nobushige is quietly cut down in the precincts of Yasui Shrine. "Sanada, the finest warrior in Japan; nothing like it even in the tales of old." So said the enemy, the men of Satsuma, of his 49 years of life.
- Rout Collapse Toward the Castle
With Nobushige's death the Toyotomi side collapses completely. One hundred and fifty thousand Tokugawa troops surge toward Osaka Castle, swallowing the retreating defenders as they go.
- Flames Osaka Castle Burns
Toward evening the keep catches fire. The next day Hideyori and Lady Yodo take their own lives in the Yamazato bailey. The Toyotomi house is destroyed, and the age of war that had lasted 150 years since Ōnin ends with these flames: the Genna peace.
Generals and units
- Toyotomi forces Sanada Nobushige (Yukimura) Commander-in-chief
- Toyotomi forces Mōri Katsunaga
- Toyotomi forces Ōno Harufusa
- Toyotomi forces Akashi Takenori
- Tokugawa forces Tokugawa Ieyasu Commander-in-chief
- Tokugawa forces Tokugawa Hidetada Commander-in-chief
- Tokugawa forces Honda Tadatomo
- Tokugawa forces Matsudaira Tadanao
- Tokugawa forces Ii Naotaka
- Tokugawa forces Tōdō Takatora
FAQ
- What was the Siege of Osaka (Summer Campaign)?
- Sanada Yukimura charges Ieyasu's headquarters three times. The death of "the finest warrior in Japan" and the burning of Osaka Castle bring the Sengoku age to its end.
- When and where did the Siege of Osaka (Summer Campaign) take place?
- It took place in 1615 at Tennōji–Okayama, Settsu Province (7th day of the 5th month, Keichō 20).
- Who fought in the Siege of Osaka (Summer Campaign)?
- Sanada Nobushige (Yukimura) of the Toyotomi forces, Tokugawa Ieyasu of the Tokugawa forces, Tokugawa Hidetada of the Tokugawa forces were among the commanders.
- Can I watch the Siege of Osaka (Summer Campaign) 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.