Battle of Nagashino
Nagashino Castle, Mikawa, Honshu
What happened
Oda Nobunaga and his ally Tokugawa Ieyasu fought the army of Takeda Katsuyori, son of the famous warlord Takeda Shingen. Takeda Katsuyori surrounded Nagashino Castle, which had only 500 defenders, so Tokugawa Ieyasu asked Oda Nobunaga for help. The allies built a stockade of wooden fences on the plain and lined it with arquebusiers. When the Takeda cavalry charged, the gunfire defeated them.
Why it matters
Result: Oda–Tokugawa victory. Leaders: Oda Nobunaga / Tokugawa Ieyasu against Takeda Katsuyori / Takeda Nobukado. Why it matters: The battle is often cited as a turning point in Japanese warfare and as the first 'modern' battle in Japan, where Oda Nobunaga defeated cavalry with arquebusiers.
What came next
In 1582 the Oda and Tokugawa armies destroyed the Takeda clan at the Battle of Tenmokuzan.
Did you know?
The old story of 3,000 gunmen firing in three-stage shifts is now doubted by historians.
Timeline
- 1561 CEOda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu become allies.
- 28 June 1575 CEOda and Tokugawa defeat the Takeda at Nagashino.
- 1576-1579 CENobunaga builds Azuchi Castle.
- 1582 CEThe Takeda clan is destroyed at Tenmokuzan.