Death of Ieyasu

 Statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu located at Sunpu Castle Park in Shizuoka.  Erected in 1973.

June 1st, 1616 Tokugawa Ieyasu passed away.  The founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate almost never happened.  That was until Nobunaga showed up.  You see, even when Takechiyo (young Ieyasu) was a hostage for a brief time for the Oda at Atsuta, he knew Nobunaga was no fool.  Different and difficult, yes. The man from Mikawa was a hostage again this time for the Imagawa when the two families exchanged hostages at Kasadera. Everything changed at the Battle of Okehazama in 1560.

Nobunaga's victory at the Battle of Okehazama resulted in Imagawa Yoshimoto's death, but also gave Ieyasu a chance of freedom.  If Nobunaga was defeated at Okehazama, Ieyasu would have been still a hostage and a minor retainer at best for the Imagawa.  Nobunaga and Ieyasu then had a twenty year alliance, a rarity during the Sengoku Era.  Both respected one another.  The alliance had some challenges, but they both needed each other for the common good.  Nobunaga no doubt was the senior partner in the relationship.  He was more powerful militarily, politically, and economically.  Ieyasu helped Nobunaga at Anegawa in 1570, but in 1572, he was embarrassed at Mikatagahara.  Ieyasu knew he needed Nobunaga in order to survive.  In 1575, they teamed up and shot the Takeda into pieces at Nagashino.  When Nobunaga was betrayed by Mitsuhide in 1582, Ieyasu lost a piece of his soul, a friend he could count on in need.

How Ieyasu died is another story.  Legend has it he got sick eating fish tempura.  However, the meal he ate was during late January, so the theory out the window. He probably died of sort of disease.

Tenka no tame!