Sakai Tadatsugu

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In this Japanese name, the family name is Sakai.

Sakai Tadatsugu (酒井忠次?) (1527-December 17, 1596) was one of the most favored and most and successful military commanders serving Tokugawa Ieyasu in the late-Sengoku period. As a token of respect and appreciation, Ieyasu conferred a special, honorific title, naming him as one of the Four Guardians of the Tokugawa (Tokugawa-Shitennō).[1]

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[edit] Sakai clan genealogy

Tadatsugu was part of the senior branch of the Sakai.

The Sakai clan originated in 14th century Mikawa province.[2] The Sakai claim descent from Minamoto Arichika. Arichika had two sons: one of them, Yasuchika, took the name Matsudaira; and the other son, Chikauji, took the name Sakai -- and this samurai ancestor is the progenitor of this clan's name.[3]

Sakai Hirochika, who was the son of Chikauji, had two sons, and their descendants gave rise to the two main branches of the Sakai clan.[4]

Tadatsugu was a vassel of Tokygawa Ieyasu; and he was charged with the defense of Yoshida Castle in Mikawa province.[4] The senior or main branch of the Sakai are descendants of Tadatsugu, who was the elder son of Hirochika, the grandson of Chikauji, and the great grandson of Minamoto Arichika.

In 1578, Tadatsugu's son, Sakai Ietsugu (1564–1619), took over his father's role as defender of Yoshida Castle.[4] The Ie- in the beginning of Ietsugu's name was a special honor bestowed by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who intended to emphasize bonds of loyalty with those who were allowed to share in any part of his name.[5]

When Ieaysu's holdings were transferred to the Kantō in 1590, Ietsugi was installed at Usui (30,000 koku) in Kōzuke province; and Tadasugu would have accompanied his family in this change from one han to another.[4]

After Tadasugu's death, the evolution of his branch line continued unabated. In 1604, this descendants removed to Takasaki (50,000 koku) in Kōzuke province; in 1616, they relocated to Takata (100,000 koku) in Echigo province; in 1619, they were transferred to Matsushiro in Shinano province; and then, in 1622 through 1868, installed at Tsurugaoka Domain (120,000 koku) in Dewa province.[4]

The Sakai were identified as one of the fudai or insider daimyō clans which were hereditary vassels or allies of the Tokugawa clan,[2] in contrast with the tozama or outsider clans.

The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Count" in the Meiji period.[4]

[edit] Events of Tadatsugu's life

Tadatsugu was born in 1527 to Sakai Tadachika, a hereditary vassal of the Matsudaira clan of Mikawa. When Tadatsugu came of age, he first served Ieyasu's father, Matsudaira Hirotada.

After 1560, when Ieyasu split his ties with the Imagawa, Tadatsugu was given command of the Yoshida Castle.

In 1573, during the Battle of Mikatagahara, Tadatsugu secured the Tokugawa's right flank, seeing his troops being badly beaten by the opposing Takeda forces; and when Iayasu and his allies retreated to Hammamatsu Castle, Tadatsugu participated in the ruse which mitigated the effects of Takeda victory int he field; and the Takeda forces withdrew.[6]

During the Battle of Nagashino, he led a night attack against the Takeda, which proved out very successful.[7]

By 1567, the majority of daimyō forces in the Togugawa armies were organized in two divisions, each with a separate commander. Tadatsugu was placed over the forces of 18 Tokugawa daimyō-vassels and his counterpart, Ishikawa Kazumasa, was given command over the forces of 13 daimyō-vassels.[8] Tadatsugu's qualities of proven loyalty, reliability, and leadership are demonstrably illustrated in this degree of delegated powers and authority.

During the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute, he was commanded to turn back a Toyotomi move against Kiyosu Castle, which was led by a Toyotomi commander known as Mori Nagayoshi. Tadatsugu successfully completed the task.

In 1590, during the Odawara Campaign, Tadatsugu was to accompany Tokugawa Hidetada, the third son of Ieyasu, to Kyoto, since he was meant to be the current hostage for the Toyotomi.

After they moved from the Kantō region, Tadatsugu received a 50,000-koku fief at Takasaki. Even though Tadatsugu was a high ranked officer under the Tokugawa, some say that Ieyasu would forever have a personal grudge against him. Due to an incident that took place in the year of 1579: When Tadatsugu was to visit Oda Nobunaga due to diplomatic reasons, Tadatsugu was confronted with the fact that Tokugawa Nobuyasu was plotting against the Oda. Since Tadatsugu was no friend whatsoever to Nobuyasu, Tadatsugu made no attempt to refute the charges, and forced Nobuyasu to commit suicide.

When Tadatsugu himself died in Kyoto in the winter of 1596, he was succeeded by his son, Sakai Ietsugu.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Chido Museum: Sakai clan history -- the other three were: Honda Tadakatsu, Ii Naomasa, and Sakakibara Yasumasa.
  2. ^ a b Appert, Georges et al. (1888). Ancien Japon, p. 76.
  3. ^ Papinot, Jacques. (2003). Nobiliare du Japon -- Sakai, pp. 50-51; Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géographie du Japon. (in French/German).
  4. ^ a b c d e f Papinot, p. 50.
  5. ^ Plutschow, Herbert. (1995). "Japan's Name Culture: The Significance of Names in a Religious, Political and Social Context, p.53.
  6. ^ Bryant, Anthony. (1994). Samurai, 1550-1600, p. 61.
  7. ^ Trumbull, Stephen. (2000) Nagashino 1575: Slaughter at the Barricades, p. 60.
  8. ^ Jansen, Marius. (1995) Warrior Rule in Japan, p. 182.

[edit] References

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