Battle of Tedorigawa
Tedori River, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
What happened
Uesugi Kenshin fought the army of Oda Nobunaga, led in the attack by Shibata Katsuie. Kenshin used a night-time trick to make the Oda think he had split his army. Nobunaga ordered Shibata to charge the Uesugi lines on the riverbank. Kenshin opened the river's floodgates, and the rushing water and rain made the Oda guns useless and drove back the charge.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was Kenshin's last great battle and shifted power in central Japan toward him for a time. It showed how a river could be used against an army with better firearms.
What came next
Kenshin died in 1578 before he could follow up his win, and a succession dispute weakened his clan. By 1582 the Oda had pushed the Uesugi back to Echigo.
Did you know?
Kenshin once sent salt to his rival Takeda Shingen when another clan cut off Takeda's supply, saying he fought with swords, not salt.
Timeline
- 18 February 1530Uesugi Kenshin is born.
- 1561Kenshin fights Takeda Shingen at Kawanakajima.
- 3 November 1577Kenshin wins at Tedorigawa.
- 19 April 1578Kenshin dies.