Takeda forces · Yamagata
Yamagata Masakage
“The Takeda Red Devils”
One of the Takeda Four Guardians. He inherited the lands of his brother Obu Toramasa and led the "red devils," troops equipped in vermilion armour, across the battlefields. Small of stature but peerlessly brave, he smashed the Tokugawa crane's wing at Mikatagahara. At Nagashino he charged the Oda–Tokugawa lines again and again until he was shot down. The fame of his red armour later passed to the Ii house.
- Epithet
- “The Takeda Red Devils”
- Rank / office
- One of the Takeda Four Guardians
- Domain / base
- Kai
- Banner / crest
- Red armour
- Side
- Takeda forces
- Lived
- 1529–1575 (aged 47)
Once the red devils charge, they know no retreat.
Attributed to Yamagata Masakage
Life
- Eiroku 8 Succession to the Yamagata After the death of his brother Toramasa he inherited the red-armoured troops and the family name.
- Genki 3 Mikatagahara Drove his red-armoured troops into the Tokugawa main body and put Ieyasu in mortal danger.
- Tenshō 3 Death at Nagashino Charged the Tokugawa lines at Shitaragahara again and again, and was shot and killed.
Battles in this archive2 battles
- Battle of Mikatagahara 22nd day of the 12th month, Genki 3 Mikatagahara, Tōtōmi Province Led the red-armoured troops and smashed the left of the crane's wing. Three years before his death at Nagashino, here he is at the height of his powers. Watch ▸
- Battle of Nagashino 21st day of the 5th month, Tenshō 3 Nagashino–Shitaragahara, Mikawa Province Fierce commander and one of the Takeda's Four Guardians. Led the red-armoured troops in the vanguard on the left wing and was shot down in front of the palisade. Watch ▸
Related sites
- Nagashino–Shitaragahara battlefield (Shinshiro)