Tokugawa forces · Ii
Ii Naomasa
“One of the Four Guardians of Tokugawa / The Red Devils of Ii”
His father was killed by the Imagawa and he grew up in exile, until Ieyasu took him on as a page and he rose fast. After the fall of the Takeda he was given their surviving retainers and formed the all-crimson "Red Devils of Ii," the finest unit in the Tokugawa army. A skilled diplomat and schemer as well, he opened the battle at Sekigahara and died two years later of a gunshot wound suffered pursuing the retreating Shimazu.
- Epithet
- “One of the Four Guardians of Tokugawa / The Red Devils of Ii”
- Rank / office
- Vice-Minister of War
- Domain / base
- Minowa, Kōzuke → Sawayama, Ōmi
- Banner / crest
- Ii tachibana / red armour
- Side
- Tokugawa forces
- Lived
- 1561–1602 (aged 42)
Life
- Tenshō 10 Inheriting the red armour Took charge of the former Takeda retainers and formed the crimson "Red Devils of Ii."
- Tenshō 12 Komaki and Nagakute Led the Red Devils in what amounted to his first major action and made his name.
- Keichō 5 Sekigahara Led the first charge and was badly wounded pursuing the retreating Shimazu.
- Keichō 7 Death in Ōmi Died at Sawayama in Ōmi of his unhealed wound, aged 42.
Battles in this archive2 battles
- Battle of Komaki and Nagakute 9th day of the 4th month, Tenshō 12 Nagakute, Owari Province The young commander of the Tokugawa red-armoured troops. At Hotokegane he poured fire into Mori Nagayoshi's contingent and brought about his death. Watch ▸
- Battle of Sekigahara October 21, Keichō 5 Sekigahara, Mino Province Opened the battle by breaking ranks for the first charge, and late in the day pursued the retreating Shimazu, Naomasa being wounded in the chase. Watch ▸
Related sites
- Hikone Castle
- Ryōtan-ji (Ii family temple)
- Sekigahara battlefield