Commanders
Profiles of the commanders who appear in our battle animations, and their footprints on each battlefield. Jump from any general to the battles they fought.
「The Christian Commander」
A Christian commander who served the Ukita. He held one wing of the Toyotomi at the Siege of Osaka and vanished after the Summer Campaign: a general of mystery.
「Akechi Samanosuke」
Mitsuhide's senior retainer and son-in-law. At news of the defeat at Yamazaki he entrusted the family treasures to the enemy at Sakamoto Castle and died with his kin.
「Koretō Hyūga-no-kami」
The clever general who killed his lord Nobunaga at Honnō-ji. But no allies rallied to him, he lost at Yamazaki, and his rule ended as a "three-day reign."
「The Schemer of Settsu」
A powerful commander entrusted by Nobunaga with the whole of Settsu. He suddenly rebelled, shut himself in Arioka Castle and threw Kuroda Kanbei, who came to persuade him, into a dungeon.
The young head who inherited the great Ashina house as the second son of Satake Yoshishige. With his elder retainers at odds, he was crushed by Date Masamune at Suriagehara, driven from Aizu, and closed the history of the Ashina as Sengoku daimyo.
「Leader of Northern Ōmi」
He married Nobunaga's sister Oichi and allied with him, but broke away to save the Asakura. Beaten at Anegawa, he took his own life at Odani Castle.
「The Immortal Demon of Mino」
The foremost of the Takeda Four Guardians. A veteran of Kawanakajima and Mikatagahara, at Nagashino he stood as rearguard to let Katsuyori escape, and was killed.
Lord of Miki Castle from a great family of eastern Harima. He turned against the Oda for the Mōri, endured nearly two years of Hideyoshi's "starvation siege of Miki," and took his own life in exchange for the lives of his garrison.
「Villainous Hero of a Chaotic Age」
The overlord of the late Han, called "the villainous hero of a chaotic age." He unified the Central Plains, but the defeat at Red Cliffs ended his dream of ruling all China.
「The Last Lord of Tosa」
Son of Motochika, conqueror of Shikoku. Stripped of his domain for siding with the Western Army at Sekigahara, he rode to Osaka seeking to rise again and died in the last battle of the Sengoku age.
「The Prodigy of Tosa」
The "prodigy of Tosa," who all but unified Shikoku in a single generation. He led the tough "one-armour" soldier-farmers to supremacy, but surrendered to Hideyoshi's invasion of Shikoku and became a vassal as lord of Tosa alone.
「The One-Eyed Dragon」
The strongman of Ōshū, called "the One-Eyed Dragon" after losing his right eye as a child. He destroyed the Ashina at Suriagehara and mastered southern Ōshū, but Hideyoshi's ban on private war cut off his road to the realm. He built his greatest domain while still in his twenties.
Masamune's cousin, called "Shigezane for arms." He wore a caterpillar that never retreats as his helmet crest, led the vanguard, and at Suriagehara decided the battle with his charge on the flank.
「One of the Seven Spears of Shizugatake」
A Toyotomi loyalist daimyo who fought as the Eastern Army's vanguard against the Ukita and others.
「The Brocade-Sailed Pirate」
The fierce Wu general called "the brocade-sailed pirate." A man of legendary daring, said to have raided Cao Cao's camp by night with a hundred picked riders and returned without losing one.
「Lord of the Beautiful Beard / Saint of War」
Liu Bei's sworn brother and a famous general "a match for ten thousand," praised as the Lord of the Beautiful Beard. Later ages worshipped him as the god of war, Guandi.
「Jiki Hachiman」
The fiercest warrior of the Later Hōjō, feared as "Jiki Hachiman" for the yellow Hachiman banner he flew. In the night battle of Kawagoe he held the castle with 3,000 men for half a year, then sallied out in concert with Ujiyasu's night attack and broke the allied army.
「The Lion of Sagami」
Third head of the Later Hōjō. He beat an allied army of 80,000 with only 8,000 in the night battle of Kawagoe and became master of the Kantō. Strong in battle and gifted in government too, with reforms of taxation and more: one of the finest lords of the Sengoku age.
「The Demon of Tonbokiri」
The fierce warrior of Tokugawa's Four Guardians, said to have gone unwounded through 57 battles. At Mikatagahara and at Sekigahara alike, his spear Tonbokiri was in the front line.
「Sansai / One of Rikyū's Seven Disciples」
A warrior of both arts and arms counted among Rikyū's seven disciples. He lost his wife Gracia on the eve of Sekigahara, then fought the Ishida contingent for the Eastern Army.
「The Ruse of Self-Injury」
The veteran Wu general who served three generations of the Sun family. At Red Cliffs he feigned surrender in the "ruse of self-injury" and led the fire ships that burned Cao Cao's armada.
「One of the Four Guardians of Tokugawa / The Red Devils of Ii」
The youngest of Tokugawa's Four Guardians. He led the former Takeda men of the "Red Devils" in the vanguard, and at Sekigahara was badly wounded pursuing the Shimazu.
「Shōnyū」
Nobunaga's foster brother. After Honnō-ji he followed Hideyoshi, and at Nagakute he pushed too far against the Tokugawa with his son-in-law Mori Nagayoshi and was killed.
「The Finest Archer on the Tōkaidō」
The "finest archer on the Tōkaidō," who ruled Suruga, Tōtōmi and Mikawa. On his way to the capital he fell to Nobunaga's surprise attack at Okehazama.
「One of the Three of Western Mino / "Stubborn as Ittetsu"」
One of the Three of Western Mino, whose name gave Japanese the phrase "stubborn as Ittetsu." He went over from the Saitō to the Oda and fought at Anegawa and elsewhere with courage and spirit.
「Jibu-no-shō」
The driving force of the Western Army, who stood against Ieyasu to defend the Toyotomi regime.
「The Tokugawa Defector」
A Tokugawa elder ranking with Sakai Tadatsugu. As Ieyasu's right arm he handled diplomacy, but suddenly defected to Hideyoshi and shook the house to its core.
「The Prodigy of Tianshui」
The last great general of Shu Han, who came over from Wei and inherited Zhuge Liang's ambition. He carried on the northern expeditions and staked everything on restoring the Han until the very fall of Shu.
「Fierce Warrior of Echigo」
Foremost of the Uesugi Four Guardians. A fierce warrior praised as "the finest fighter in the seven districts of Echigo," he led the vanguard of the wheel formation at Kawanakajima.
「Pillar of the Ashina」
The old commander relied on as "the pillar of the Ashina." Skilled in diplomacy too, at Suriagehara he charged alone into the enemy to hold up his collapsing side, and met an end that symbolised the fall of a great house.
「Kojūrō the Demon」
The wise and brave deputy who guided the young Masamune, "Kojūrō the Demon." He led the vanguard and the planning at Suriagehara and other key battles, and the Katakura held Shiroishi Castle, the key southern fortress of the Sendai domain, for generations.
「One of the Mōri "Two Rivers"」
Motonari's second son and one of the "Two Rivers." A fierce commander said to have been undefeated in more than seventy battles, he took sole charge of the San'in front and fought the Amago remnants.
The commander the Mōri sent into Tottori Castle. Resolved to die, he is said to have entered carrying his own coffin. He endured Hideyoshi's "starvation siege" for four months, then took his own life in exchange for the lives of every soldier and villager. He was 35.
「Kingo Chūnagon」
Deployed on Mount Matsuo, he is remembered for the defection that turned the battle.
「One of the Mōri "Two Rivers"」
Motonari's third son and one of the "Two Rivers." The strategist who managed diplomacy and the navy, and later sat among the Elders: the backbone of the Mōri.
「The Christian Daimyo」
A Christian daimyo from a Sakai merchant family. He led the vanguard in Korea, sided with the Western Army at Sekigahara and, refusing suicide for his faith, was beheaded.
「The Retreating Danjō / One of the Takeda Four Guardians」
One of the Takeda Four Guardians. Called "the retreating Danjō" for his skill in withdrawal, he held Kaizu Castle against the Uesugi: a commander of intelligence.
「The Grapple at Ichi-no-Tani」
The eastern warrior who killed Taira no Atsumori at Ichi-no-Tani. Remorse at killing a youth the age of his own son later led him to take holy orders.
「Architect of Sekigahara」
Son of the strategist Kanbei. Skilled in intrigue as well as arms, he quietly secured the Eastern victory at Sekigahara by engineering the defection of Kobayakawa Hideaki and others.
「Strategist / Josui」
The peerless strategist who underpinned Hideyoshi's rise to power. He is said to have proposed the Great Return from Chūgoku and whispered, at the news of Honnō-ji, that the chance of a lifetime had come.
Eldest daughter of Azai Nagamasa and Oichi. Having lost her parents and stepfather to war, she became Toyotomi Hideyoshi's consort. She bore Hideyori and wielded great power, but perished with the Toyotomi house at the Siege of Osaka.
「Xuande」
The wandering hero who raised the banner of restoring the Han. The victory at Red Cliffs gave him a foothold in Jing Province, from which he founded Shu Han, one of the Three Kingdoms.
「Matazaemon of the Spear」
Celebrated as "Matazaemon of the spear" and founder of the million-koku domain of Kaga. At Shizugatake, caught between his old friend Hideyoshi and his overlord Katsuie, he left the field.
「The Kaba Kanja」
Yoritomo's brother and Yoshitsune's elder brother. As commander-in-chief of the Minamoto he led the main army against the Taira and swung round into Kyushu to cut off their retreat.
「Kurō Hōgan」
The peerless military genius who swept through the Genpei War at Ichi-no-Tani, Yashima and Dan-no-ura. After his victories he was hunted by his brother Yoritomo and died in Ōshū.
An unusual commander who went from monk of Mount Hiei to Hideyoshi's service. At Nejirozaka in the Kyushu campaign he held his fort against the Shimazu night attack and decided the Toyotomi victory.
「The Great Commander of Osaka」
The famous Toyotomi commander who rallied to the Siege of Osaka. In the Summer Campaign he broke the Tokugawa contingents one after another, fighting as hard as Sanada Yukimura.
「The Three Arrows」
The peerless schemer who rose from a minor lord of Aki to master of the Chūgoku region in a single generation. He killed Sue Harukata with the surprise attack at Itsukushima and destroyed the Amago.
「The Demon of Musashi」
Mori Ranmaru's elder brother, feared as "the Demon of Musashi." At Nagakute he charged the Tokugawa with his father-in-law Ikeda Tsuneoki and fell to a bullet.
「Nobunaga's Page」
The gifted page beloved of Nobunaga. At Honnō-ji he never left his lord's side and died fighting the Akechi army.
「The Councillor of Aki」
Grandson of Mōri Motonari and great lord of the Chūgoku region. Made nominal commander-in-chief of the Western Army at Sekigahara, he never left Osaka Castle; after the defeat he was reduced to the two provinces of Suō and Nagato and became founder of the Chōshū domain.
「Champion of Northern Shinano」
The champion of northern Shinano who twice dealt Shingen painful defeats. Driven from his lands, he turned to Uesugi Kenshin and gave rise to the feud at Kawanakajima.
「The Warrior Monk」
The warrior monk of matchless strength who followed Yoshitsune. Legend tells how at Koromogawa he died "standing" to protect his lord.
「Administrator of Hizen」
The astute commander who rose from chief administrator of the Ryūzōji to real power in Hizen. After losing his lord Takanobu at Okitanawate he held the Ryūzōji together and laid the foundation of the Nabeshima domain.
「Fierce Warrior of Settsu」
The fierce warrior of Settsu who first followed Araki Murashige and later Hideyoshi. He was killed at Shizugatake when Sakuma Morimasa stormed Mount Ōiwa.
「The Fan Target」
The master archer who shot down the fan on a rocking boat at Yashima with a single arrow. His feat became one of the most famous scenes in the Tale of the Heike.
「Kita no Mandokoro」
Hideyoshi's principal wife, "Kita no Mandokoro." She married Hideyoshi when he was still a foot soldier and, as the wife of the ruler of Japan, was loved by the commanders raised in his household. After his death she took the name Kōdai-in and prayed for the Toyotomi dead.
「Rice Gorōza / One of the Four Oda Elders」
One of the four Oda elders, relied on as "Rice Gorōza." He supported Nobunaga with sound administration and castle-building and was chief commissioner for the construction of Azuchi Castle.
「The Fierce Tiger of Kai / Founder of the Red Devils」
The Takeda veteran feared as "the fierce tiger of Kai." He created the all-vermilion "red devils," later passed to the Yamagata and the Ii.
Nobunaga's second son. Involved in the succession dispute at the Kiyosu conference, he later allied with Tokugawa Ieyasu and fought Hideyoshi at Komaki and Nagakute. In the end he submitted to Hideyoshi and, after a chequered life, survived as a daimyo.
「Demon King of the Sixth Heaven」
The innovator of the Sengoku age, who raised the banner of "rule the realm by force." He killed Imagawa Yoshimoto with the surprise attack at Okehazama, and at Nagashino broke the Takeda cavalry with palisades and massed arquebuses.
「Heir of the Oda」
Nobunaga's eldest son and heir. A commander of real promise who completed the conquest of the Takeda, he died following his father at the Nijō Palace on the day of Honnō-ji.
Nobunaga's third son. Nominal commander-in-chief at Yamazaki, he was shut out of the succession at the Kiyosu conference. He rose with Shibata Katsuie against Hideyoshi, and took his own life after the defeat at Shizugatake.
「The Most Beautiful Woman of the Sengoku Age」
Nobunaga's sister. She married Azai Nagamasa and bore three daughters, and after Nagamasa's fall was remarried to Shibata Katsuie following the Kiyosu conference. She took her own life at Kitanoshō Castle after the defeat at Shizugatake.
「The Loyal Elder of the Date」
The old Date retainer Oniniwa Yoshinao. At 73 he volunteered for the rearguard at Hitotoribashi, waved a golden baton and died fighting. His death saved his lord Masamune.
「The Loyal Friend」
A strategist whose talent Hideyoshi prized. Though ravaged by illness, he threw in his lot with the outmatched Western Army for his friend Mitsunari, and died at Sekigahara.
Son of Ōtomo Sōrin of the great house of Kyushu. Dispossessed, he seized on Sekigahara to rise and recover Bungo, but was beaten by Kuroda Josui at Ishigakibaru and surrendered, ending the hope of an Ōtomo revival.
「The Bear of Hizen」
The "lord of five provinces and two islands," who unified Hizen in a single generation. At Okitanawate his army collapsed in the Shimazu feigned-retreat ambush and he was killed.
「Pillar of the Akechi」
Akechi Mitsuhide's chief retainer. The senior vassal who led the vanguard at Honnō-ji, and father of the later Kasuga no Tsubone, wet nurse to the shogun Iemitsu.
「Foremost of Tokugawa's Four Guardians」
The foremost of Tokugawa's Four Guardians. In the rout at Mikatagahara he saved the castle with "Sakai's drum"; at Nagashino his raid on Mount Tobigasu decided the battle.
「One of Tokugawa's Four Guardians」
One of Tokugawa's Four Guardians. He led the vanguard under a banner reading "nothing," and at Komaki and Nagakute provoked Hideyoshi with a proclamation denouncing him: a commander of both wit and courage.
「The Demon Genba」
Shibata Katsuie's nephew, feared as "the Demon Genba." He made his name storming the Nakagawa contingent at Shizugatake, but pushing too deep cost him everything.
「The Master of Double-Dealing」
The cunning commander who twice repelled great Tokugawa armies at Ueda Castle. Called "a master of double-dealing," he sided with the Western Army at Sekigahara and held up Tokugawa Hidetada.
「The Finest Warrior in Japan」
The last hero of the Sengoku age, who charged Ieyasu's headquarters three times at the Siege of Osaka and made even the enemy call him "the finest warrior in Japan."
「Yoshishige the Demon」
The fierce lord of Hitachi feared as "Yoshishige the Demon." He led the anti-Date alliance that drove the young Masamune to the brink at Hitotoribashi, contending for mastery of southern Ōshū.
「The Demon Shibata」
Chief retainer of the Oda house, called "the Demon Shibata." Beaten at Shizugatake, he took his own life at Kitanoshō Castle together with Oichi.
「Master of the Feigned-Retreat Ambush」
Youngest of the four Shimazu brothers. He beat Ryūzōji Takanobu at Okitanawate and the Toyotomi at Hetsugigawa: the sharpest tactician of them all.
「The Demon Shimazu」
The fierce commander who played the "bait" in the feigned retreat at Mimigawa and, at Sekigahara, cut his way out through the enemy in the famous Shimazu breakout.
「Sixteenth Head of the Shimazu」
Eldest of the four Shimazu brothers. He sank the great Ōtomo army in the feigned-retreat ambush at Mimigawa and led the Shimazu toward the unification of Kyushu.
「Mirror of the Samurai」
Lord of Takamatsu Castle in Bitchū. He withstood Hideyoshi's flooding siege, then, in the truce right after Honnō-ji, danced in a small boat on the lake and took his own life in exchange for the lives of his whole garrison. A loyal commander praised as "the mirror of the samurai."
「The Tiger in the Tomb」
The senior Wei minister who beat back Zhuge Liang's northern expeditions with a war of endurance. He later seized real power and laid the foundation of the Jin dynasty.
「Peerless Captain of the West」
The senior Ōuchi retainer celebrated as "the peerless captain of the west." He killed his lord Yoshitaka and seized power, but was beaten by Mōri Motonari's surprise attack at Itsukushima and took his own life.
「The Young Lord of the Flute」
The young Taira noble who died at Ichi-no-Tani. A master of the flute, his death at the hands of Kumagai Naozane was handed down to later ages as "Atsumori."
「Head of the Taira」
Kiyomori's third son, who led the Taira after their flight from the capital. He commanded the clan at Yashima and Dan-no-ura, but was captured after the war and beheaded.
「Fiercest Warrior of the Taira」
The fiercest warrior of the Taira, celebrated as "the strongest bow in the capital." He fought hard at Yashima and Dan-no-ura and is said to have hunted Yoshitsune to the brink.
「The New Middle Counsellor」
Kiyomori's fourth son and the last pillar of the Taira. At Dan-no-ura he watched his clan's end, then sank into the sea shouldering an anchor.
「Christian Daimyo / Justo」
The Christian daimyo who died for his faith. He fought for Hideyoshi at Yamazaki and Shizugatake, but later gave up his domain for his religion and died in exile abroad.
「Takeda Shirō」
Shingen's heir. At Mikatagahara he fought under his father as a young warrior in one of his first battles; at Nagashino he lost most of the veteran commanders.
「Tenkyū / Second-in-Command of the Takeda」
Shingen's brother and second-in-command of the Takeda. Loved as "Tenkyū," he died a heroic death defending the headquarters at Kawanakajima.
「Tiger of Kai」
The Tiger of Kai. Under the banner of "wind, forest, fire, mountain" he contended with Kenshin at Kawanakajima and handed Ieyasu the worst defeat of his life at Mikatagahara.
「The Kongming of Our Day」
Hideyoshi's strategist, called "the Kongming of our day." Famous for seizing Inabayama Castle with a handful of men, he supported the Hashiba army with Kuroda Kanbei as one of the "two Bei."
「One of the Four Oda Elders」
One of the four Oda elders. A fierce commander skilled with firearms and intrigue who led the Kantō army, he fell from favour after his defeat at Kanna River following Honnō-ji.
「Master Castle-Builder」
A master of castle-building who changed lords seven times on his way up. He joined the Eastern Army at Sekigahara and won Ieyasu's trust, enjoying a standing few outside lords ever reached.
「Second Shogun of the Edo Shogunate」
Ieyasu's third son and the second shogun. Bearing the stigma of arriving late at Sekigahara, he consolidated the shogunate through steady government.
「Tōshō Daigongen」
Fought at Okehazama as Matsudaira Motoyasu, vanguard of the Imagawa. Crushed by Shingen at Mikatagahara, he beat the Takeda at Nagashino, won Sekigahara and founded the Edo shogunate, then ended the Sengoku age at the Siege of Osaka.
「The Major Counsellor of Yamato」
The "finest deputy in the realm," who supported his brother Hideyoshi all his life. Gifted in war, administration and diplomacy, he was deeply trusted by the daimyo. His early death is said to have been the beginning of the unravelling of the Toyotomi regime.
「Taikō」
From foot soldier to ruler of Japan. He beat Mitsuhide at Yamazaki after the Great Return from Chūgoku and Katsuie at Shizugatake after the Great Return from Mino, winning the succession to Nobunaga.
「One of the Five Elders」
Kenshin's heir and one of the Five Elders. Known for his taciturn severity, his defiance of Ieyasu from Aizu was the trigger for Sekigahara.
「Dragon of Echigo / God of War」
The Dragon of Echigo. A military genius feared as the "god of war," who clashed with Takeda Shingen five times at Kawanakajima.
Head of the Yamanouchi Uesugi and Kantō kanrei. Crushed by Hōjō Ujiyasu in the night battle of Kawagoe, he lost his power in the Kantō, was driven from his castle and turned to Nagao Kagetora (Uesugi Kenshin) of Echigo, to whom he passed the Uesugi name and the office of kanrei.
「Youngest of the Five Elders」
Hideyoshi's favourite and the youngest of the Five Elders. He led the Western main force at Sekigahara, was defeated and exiled to Hachijō-jima, where he lived past eighty.
「The Strongman of Bizen」
One of the great strongmen of the Sengoku age, who carved out Bizen in a single generation with intrigue and assassination. He outgrew his own lords to become a daimyo. His son was Ukita Hideie of the Five Elders.
「The Rebellious General」
The fierce Shu general valued by Liu Bei. In the northern expeditions he urged the "Ziwu plan" to strike Chang'an in one blow, was overruled, and died in an internal feud.
「The One-Eyed General」
Cao Cao's right arm from the day he first raised troops. He lost his left eye to a stray arrow and fought on, the most trusted veteran in Wei.
「The Takeda Red Devils」
One of the Takeda Four Guardians. At Mikatagahara his red-armoured troops crushed the Tokugawa crane's wing; at Shitaragahara he fell to a bullet.
「Dōkisai」
The legendary figure said to have been Shingen's strategist. At Kawanakajima, realising the woodpecker plan had failed, he charged into the enemy and died.
A brave former retainer of the Ōtomo. He rallied to the revival of his dispossessed lords and at Ishigakibaru led the charge that pushed the Kuroda back for a time, before being overwhelmed and killed.
「Four Generations of the Three Excellencies」
The great power of Hebei, born into a family that had produced the Three Excellencies for four generations. At Guandu Cao Cao burned his depot at Wuchao and he was crushed.
「One of the Five Great Generals」
He served Yuan Shao at Guandu but went over to Cao Cao and was counted among the Five Great Generals. A skilled tactician who read terrain and changing situations, he was the general the Shu army feared most.
「One of the Five Great Generals」
One of Wei's Five Great Generals. At Hefei he beat Sun Quan's great army with a mere 800 men, and his name made the whole of Jiangdong tremble.
「The Handsome Zhou」
Grand commander of Wu, "the handsome Zhou." He directed the fire attack at Red Cliffs and beat Cao Cao's 200,000 with 50,000 men.
「The Crouching Dragon」
Chancellor of Shu, called the Crouching Dragon. At Red Cliffs he forged the alliance with Wu, and in the Romance he prayed for the south-east wind.
No generals match.