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Western Army · Ōtani

Ōtani Yoshitsugu

“The Loyal Friend”

An administrator and soldier of whom Hideyoshi said he would like to see him command a million men. Blinded by a wasting disease, he joined his friend Ishida Mitsunari's uprising out of loyalty, knowing the odds were poor. At Sekigahara he anticipated Kobayakawa's defection from Mount Matsuo and prepared for it, but could not withstand the four contingents that followed, and took his own life in his camp.

Epithet
“The Loyal Friend”
Rank / office
Junior Assistant Minister of Justice
Domain / base
Tsuruga, Echizen
Banner / crest
Facing butterflies
Side
Western Army
Lived
birth unknown–1600

Life

  1. Tenshō 11 Hideyoshi's administrator After Shizugatake he rose as a commissioner alongside Mitsunari.
  2. Keichō 5 Rising out of loyalty Knowing the odds were poor, he joined the Western Army for his friend Mitsunari.
  3. Keichō 5 Death at Sekigahara His camp broken by the defection of Kobayakawa and others, he took his own life.

Battles in this archive1 battles

  1. Battle of Sekigahara October 21, Keichō 5 Sekigahara, Mino Province Deployed in the hills despite grave illness. He anticipated the Kobayakawa defection and fought hard, but four more contingents turned on him; his force was destroyed and he took his own life. 4,000 troops Watch ▸

Related sites

  • Tsuruga (Fukui)
  • Sekigahara battlefield, grave of Ōtani Yoshitsugu