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Date Shigezane

Son of Date Sanemoto and cousin of Masamune. He wore on his helmet a caterpillar, which only moves forward, and always sought the vanguard: a fighting man paired with Kojūrō in the saying "Kojūrō for wisdom, Shigezane for arms." At Suriagehara he struck the Ashina flank from the right wing and, together with the reversal of the wind, brought on their collapse. For a time he abandoned his lands and left the Date, but later returned, held Watari and supported the founding of the Sendai domain. His own memoir, the "Shigezane-ki" (Date Diary), is famous as a first-class source for the Sengoku history of the north-east.

Rank / office
Lord of Watari Castle
Domain / base
Mutsu (Watari Castle)
Banner / crest
Sparrow in bamboo
Side
Date
Lived
1568–1646 (aged 79)

Life

  1. Tenshō 13 Hitotoribashi Served as rearguard and saved Masamune's main body from danger.
  2. Tenshō 17 Suriagehara Struck the Ashina flank from the right wing with the side-thrust that decided the battle.
  3. Keichō 5 Attack on Shiroishi Castle Attacked into Uesugi territory in concert with Sekigahara.
  4. Keichō 7 Lord of Watari Returned to service as lord of Watari Castle and became a pillar of the Sendai domain.

Battles in this archive1 battles

  1. Battle of Suriagehara 5th day of the 6th month, Tenshō 17 Suriagehara, Aizu, Mutsu Province Masamune's cousin, called "Shigezane the warrior." He drove into the Ashina flank from the right wing and delivered the side-thrust that decided the battle. 4,000 troops Watch ▸

Related sites

  • Watari Castle ruins, Gagyū Castle (Watari, Miyagi)
  • Daiyū-ji (Watari, Miyagi)