Post by Linalin on Mar 5, 2005 14:10:59 GMT -5
Yukimura Sanada - ^“c@K‘º
1567-1615
In 1567, the second son of Masayuki Sanada, Yukimura, was born at Koufu in the Kai province. In 1585, there was a conflict between the Sanadas and the Tokugawas. Iesyasu demanded that the Numata castle in Kozuke (which was captured by Masayuki in 1580) be returned to the Hojo clan. Masayuki made peace with the Tokugawas by sending his eldest son, Nobuyuki, as a hostage to Hamamatsu and sending Yukimura to Uesugi Kagekatsu's castle in Echigo as a hostage sometime between 1585 and 1586. In 1590, Yukimura with his older brother and father joined in Hideyoshi's attack on Odawara castle. In the year 1600, Yukimura and his father declared for the "Western" cause while Noboyuki joined Tokugawa's. On October 12th of that year, Hidetada Tokugawa attacked the Sanada's Ueda castle, but failed.
After the Battle of Sekigahara, Masayuki is banished to Kudoyama in the Kii province, accompanied by Yukimura. In 1608, Masayuki died. This would have made Yukimura the new warlord of the Sanada clan, but instead he resigned and gave authority to one of his brothers. Then, Yukimura and his ninjas fled into the mountains to lay low. They took refuge in the temple of Kunoichi-ryu. In 1615, Yukimura raised his army during the Winter Battle of Castle Osaka, also known as the Winter Campaign to the aid of Hideyori Toyotomi, the son of Hideyoshi who served under Nobunaga Oda.. In the southwest of the Osaka Castle, Yukimura built a small fortress known as Sanadamaru. The fortress was unconquerable. After losing many men Ieyasu gave up destroying the castle and offered reconciliation to Hideyori Toyotomi, but the reconciliation was just a trick to weaken the castle.
The next year, Tokugawa attacked again in what is known as the Summer Battle of Castle Osaka or the Summer Campaign. Yukimura battled against the army of Date Masamune. The Sanada army was greatly outnumbered, but suceeded in halting Masamune's attack. The Osaka castle was burned down, but Yukimura alongside some of his soldiers assaulted Ieyasu's camp during the battle of Battle of Tennoji. Yukimura managed to wound the shogun, but was struck down and killed.
Yukimura was a legendary samurai for his charisma, strategic ability, wisdom, and organzing skills and is recognized for it today. Yukimura Sanada was also known for leading the Sanada Jyuyuushi, his group of 10 ninjas including Saizo Kirgakure, Sasuke Sarutobi, Kosuke Anayama, Kamanosuke Yuri, Rokuro Unno, Jinpachi Nezu, Juzo Kakei, Rokuro Mochizuki, Isa Miyoshi, and Sekai Mioshi.
