Battle of Nagaragawa

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Nagara River
partof=the Muromachi period


caption=
date=April 1556
place=Nagara River, Mino Province, Japan
casus=
territory=
result=Saitō Yoshitatsu victory
combatant1=forces of Saitō Yoshitatsu
combatant2=forces of Saitō Dōsan, forces of Oda Nobunaga
commander1=Saitō Yoshitatsu
commander2=Saitō Dōsan
strength1=17,500
strength2=2,700
casualties1=
casualties2=Saitō DōsanThe nihongo|Battle of Nagaragawa|長良川の戦い|Nagaragawa no tatakai was a battle that took place along the banks of the Nagara River in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, in April 1556. It was a battle between Saitō Dōsan and his son, Saitō Yoshitatsu. [http://www.city.gifu.lg.jp/c/40122279/40122279.html History of the City] . ja icon Gifu City Hall. Accessed May 26, 2008.]

Background

In 1542, Dōsan became the representative of the Toki clan and ruled over Mino Province as such. He had originally planned on passing his power onto Yoshitatsu, but in 1555, he started thinking of passing it on to one of his other sons, Kiheiji (喜平次).

Battle

Yoshitatsu, who was living in Sagiyama Castle at the time, heard of his father's plans and, in 1556, killed his two brothers in the family residence on Mount Inaba, starting the intrafamily skirmish. Yoshitatsu was able to gain the support of a large portion of the family's soldiers, gathering approximately 17,500 men. Dōsan, on the other hand, was only able to amass around 2,700 soldiers.

Yoshitatsu handily won the battle, which ended in Dōsan's death. Oda Nobunaga had sent in troops to support Dōsan, but they did not reach the battle in time to offer any help.

ee also

* List of Japanese battles

References