Shimazu forces · Shimazu
Shimazu Iehisa
“Master of the Feigned-Retreat Ambush”
Youngest of the four Shimazu brothers, praised as the finest of them in the art of tactics. With his favourite feigned-retreat ambush he ran rings around great armies with small forces, and at Okitanawate killed Ryūzōji Takanobu, lord of five provinces and two islands. During the Kyushu campaign he also crushed the Toyotomi at Hetsugigawa. But immediately after the pacification of Kyushu he died suddenly, still young.
- Epithet
- “Master of the Feigned-Retreat Ambush”
- Rank / office
- Nakatsukasa-no-taifu
- Domain / base
- Satsuma and Hyūga
- Banner / crest
- Cross in a circle
- Side
- Shimazu forces
- Lived
- 1547–1587 (aged 41)
Life
- Tenshō 6 Battle of Mimigawa With his brothers, sank the great Ōtomo army in the feigned-retreat ambush.
- Tenshō 12 Okitanawate Lured Ryūzōji Takanobu into a trap of muddy paddies and killed him.
- Tenshō 14 Battle of Hetsugigawa Crushed the Toyotomi with the feigned-retreat ambush and made his name resound.
Battles in this archive2 battles
- Battle of Mimigawa 12th day of the 11th month, Tenshō 6 Takajō River plain, Hyūga Province The youngest brother, praised as a master of tactics. He lay hidden on the western hill and led the left-hand ambush party out. Watch ▸
- Battle of Okitanawate 24th day of the 3rd month, Tenshō 12 Shimabara, Hizen Province Youngest of the four Shimazu brothers and master of the feigned-retreat ambush. He made himself the bait, fell back and drew the great Ryūzōji army into the trap on the causeway. Watch ▸
Related sites
- Okitanawate battlefield (Shimabara)
- Kagoshima