UesugiNaoe (Uesugi retainer)
Naoe Kanetsugu
直江兼続
“The Commander of "Love"”
1560–1620 (aged 61)
- Rank / office
- Governor of Yamashiro
- Domain / base
- Yonezawa, Dewa
- Banner / crest
- Three tortoise-shells with trefoil
- Battles in 3D
- 1 battle
Portrait · Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
The season of Heaven, the advantage of Earth, the harmony of Men.
Attributed to Naoe Kanetsugu, often told with the story of his "love" crest
Born into the Higuchi family of Echigo, he became a page to Uesugi Kagekatsu as a boy. When Kagekatsu succeeded Kenshin he inherited the Naoe house and, as chief minister, ran the domain's administration, diplomacy and military affairs. Hideyoshi called him "a man who could be trusted with the government of the realm," and under the Toyotomi he secured the Uesugi transfer to the 1.2-million-koku domain of Aizu. In Keichō 5 he rejected Ieyasu's summons with the defiant "Naoe letter" that helped trigger Sekigahara. In the 9th month of that year he invaded the domain of Mogami Yoshiaki with more than 20,000 men, but withdrew on news of the Western Army's defeat; his fighting retreat, with Maeda Keiji and others in the rear guard, drew admiration even from Ieyasu. After the domain was cut to 300,000 koku at Yonezawa he devoted himself to flood control and industry, laying the foundations of the Uesugi fief.
Life and battlesGold dots mark battles you can watch in 3D
- 1560Eiroku 3
Birth
Born a son of Higuchi Kanetoyo of Echigo. His childhood name was Yoroku.
- 1581Tenshō 9
Inherits the Naoe house
On Kagekatsu's orders he entered the Naoe family and, as chief minister, became the pillar of the Uesugi house.
- 1598Keichō 3
Transfer to Aizu
Secured the Uesugi transfer to the 1.2-million-koku domain of Aizu, taking 300,000 koku at Yonezawa himself.
- 1600Keichō 5
The Naoe letter and Hasedō
Sent the defiant Naoe letter to Ieyasu and invaded Mogami territory in the 9th month. On news of Sekigahara he directed the fighting retreat.
Battle of Hasedō Commander-in-chief 18,000 troops Watch in 3D › Chief minister to Uesugi Kagekatsu, famed for the character "love" on his helmet crest. He led more than 20,000 men into Mogami territory, and when news of Sekigahara arrived he took up a spear himself to direct the fighting retreat. - 1620Genna 5
Death in Edo
Having laid the foundations of the Yonezawa fief, he died at sixty.
