Battle of Anegawa
Ane River near Lake Biwa, Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Japan
What happened
Oda Nobunaga and his ally Tokugawa Ieyasu fought the combined armies of Azai Nagamasa and Asakura Yoshikage. During Japan's era of warring states, Nobunaga marched on the Azai clan's mountain castle at Odani. The Azai and Asakura armies came out to meet him, and the two sides fought in the shallow Ane River. Tokugawa troops broke into the Asakura side, then turned on the Azai, and fresh reserves joined the attack until the Azai-Asakura armies gave way.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the first battle fought by the alliance of Nobunaga and Ieyasu. It also showed Nobunaga's heavy use of firearms.
What came next
The war against the Azai and Asakura went on for three more years. Odani Castle fell in 1573, ending the Azai clan.
Did you know?
Azai Nagamasa was married to Oichi, the younger sister of his enemy Oda Nobunaga.
Timeline
- 1516The Azai clan begins building Odani Castle.
- 30 July 1570Oda and Tokugawa win at Anegawa.
- 1573Odani Castle falls to Nobunaga.
- 2005Odani Castle ruins become a National Historic Site.