 | |
| Imagawa Yoshimoto | |
| Born: | 1519 |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth: | Sunpu Province |
| Died: | June 12, 1560 |
| Cause of Death: | Ambushed |
| Place of Death: | Battle of Okehazama |
| Style name: | 今川 義元 |
| Served: | Imagawa |
| Participation(s): | Battle of Azukizaka (1542) Battle of Okehazama |
Imagawa Yoshimoto is best known to history for being the loser at the Battle of Okehazama, in 1560. But this is to ignore his early life, which was crowned by military success and considerable political and aesthetic accomplishment.[1]
Biography[]
Life[]
Imagawa Yoshimoto was the 3rd son of Imagawa Ujichika.[2] His mother was a daughter of Nakamikado Nobutane. As a youth he was sent to the Zentoku-ji to prepare for a religious life and was named Baigakushoho. In 1526 Ujichika died and his eldest son Imagawa Ujiteru succeeded him. Ujiteru himself died of illness in 1536 and this touched off a struggle for power between his remaining brothers.[3]
Military Career[]
Yoshimoto quit the temple and entered the fray. Yoshimoto, aided by Taigen Sessai and supported from afar by Takeda Nobutora of Kai Province emerged the victor with the aid of Hōjō Ujitsuna, and moved to consolidate his power with a marriage to Nobutora's sister in 1537. He also acted as an go-between for the arranged marriage of Nobutora's eldest son, Takeda Shingen to the daughter of court noble Sanjo Kimiyori. To this time, the Imagawa and neighboring Hōjō had been allied, with both at odds with the Takeda.[4] Imagawa Yoshimoto was defeated by Oda Nobuhide at the Battle of Azukizaka in 1542, but still managed to keep control of Mikawa, Totomi and Suruga under his control.[5] A few months later Oda Nobuhide followed up his victory by attacking the Imagawa fortress of Ueno, which led to the Siege of Ueno though Oda Nobuhide was unsuccessful.[6]
Death[]
In 1560, Yoshimoto moved into Owari where he was met by the small force of Oda Nobunaga at the decisive Battle of Okehazama, where Yoshimoto was ambushed and killed.[7]
Family[]
Father
- Imagawa Ujichika
Brothers
- Imagawa Ujiteru
- Imagawa Hikogoro
- Imagawa Yoshizane
- Imagawa Ujitoyo
Sons
Trivia[]
- Yoshimoto is also known as being one of the best archers during the time.
- Yoshimoto has several graves; his body itself is buried at Daisei-ji, a temple in the city of Toyokawa in modern Aichi Prefecture.
Gallery[]
Visit the full gallery
Sources[]
- ↑ Samurai Commanders (1) 940-1576, Stephen Turnbull
- ↑ Samurai Commanders (1) 940-1576, Stephen Turnbull
- ↑ Samurai Archives, Imagawa Yoshimoto
- ↑ Samurai Archives, Imagawa Yoshimoto
- ↑ Samurai Source book, Stephen Turnbull pg.45
- ↑ Samurai Commanders (1) 940-1576, Stephen Turnbull, pg 50
- ↑ Samurai Source book, Stephen Turnbull