About the Battle of Hetsugigawa
The Battle of Hetsugigawa was fought in 1586 (12th day of the 12th month, Tenshō 14) at Hetsugi River (Ōno River), Bungo Province. The Shikoku forces Hideyoshi sent ahead to Kyushu cross the Hetsugi River on the sole judgement of their inspector Sengoku Hidehisa, and are destroyed by Shimazu Iehisa's feigned-retreat ambush. Chōsokabe Motochika loses his heir Nobuchika. The prelude to the Kyushu campaign.
- Year
- 158612th day of the 12th month, Tenshō 14
- Place
- Hetsugi River (Ōno River), Bungo Province
- Era
- Azuchi–Momoyama period
The two armies
Toyotomi side (Shikoku forces) Commander-in-chiefSengoku Hidehisa 7,8006 units Troop strengthTotal of the units shown in 3D
Fought 7,800
Fought 11,000
Toyotomi side (Shikoku forces)By troop strength
- Sengoku Hidehisa 仙石秀久 Commander-in-chief 2,000
-
Chōsokabe Motochika 長宗我部元親 2,000 -
Chōsokabe Nobuchika 長宗我部信親 1,000 - Sogō Masayasu 十河存保 1,000
-
Ōtomo Yoshimune 大友義統 1,000 - Tsuruga Garrison 鶴賀城兵 800
Shimazu forcesBy troop strength
- Shimazu Iehisa 島津家久 Commander-in-chief 4,000
- Northern Ambush 北の伏兵 3,000
- Southern Ambush 南の伏兵 3,000
- Shimazu Decoys 島津の囮 1,000
Portraits are public-domain images from Wikimedia Commons (some are later imagined depictions).
How the battle unfoldedTimes follow the 3D clock
- Winter, Tenshō 14Ch. 1
ReliefSave Bungo
Tenshō 14. The Shimazu, masters of almost all Kyushu, invade the Ōtomo province of Bungo. At Ōtomo Sōrin's plea Hideyoshi sends Shikoku troops ahead: Chōsokabe Motochika and his son Nobuchika, Sogō Masayasu and others, with Sengoku Hidehisa as inspector. Hideyoshi's order: "Hold your ground and wait until the main army arrives."
- 11th day, 12th monthCh. 2
CouncilThe Council at Kagami Castle
Shimazu Iehisa's great army surrounds Tsuruga Castle, held for the Ōtomo. The Shikoku forces hurry to its relief and take position at Kagami Castle across the Hetsugi River. Sengoku wants to cross at once and save the castle; Motochika argues hard that they must wait for reinforcements. But the inspector's word stands.
- Evening, 12th dayCh. 3
FordCrossing the Hetsugi
On the 12th day of the 12th month the Shikoku forces at last begin to cross the Hetsugi River. At their head rides Motochika's heir, Nobuchika. The Shimazu on the far bank look few, and the men who reach it press forward in high spirits. Iehisa's troops fall back on purpose.
- Nightfall, 12th dayCh. 4
AmbushThe Feigned-Retreat Ambush
Drawn in, the Shikoku forces are struck from left and right at once by hidden Shimazu troops: the feigned-retreat ambush in which the Shimazu excelled. The retreating Shimazu turn back too, and the Shikoku forces are surrounded on three sides. The first to break is the contingent of Sengoku, who had insisted on the crossing.
- Night, 12th dayCh. 5
StandLast Stand at Nakatsuru
His way back cut off, Nobuchika makes his stand on the Nakatsuru riverbank. With some 700 men he hurls himself at the Shimazu and dies without giving a step. He was 22. Sogō Masayasu too lost his life in the melee.
- 13th day, 12th monthCh. 6
RoutTotal Collapse
Sengoku Hidehisa abandons the field with a handful of attendants, and Motochika, having lost Nobuchika, escapes to Iyo. Tsuruga Castle falls, and Ōtomo Yoshimune too abandons Funai and flees. Most of Bungo passes into Shimazu hands.
- Spring, Tenshō 15Ch. 7
WakeToward the Kyushu Campaign
For disobeying orders and bringing on a great defeat, Sengoku drew Hideyoshi's wrath and was stripped of his domain. Motochika, who had lost his beloved heir, would later throw his house into turmoil over the succession. And the following year, the great armies of Hideyoshi and Hidenaga pour into Kyushu.
In Ultra detailBattle Pass
The same scene in the standard quality and in Ultra detail. Drag the line to compare, and switch between "Wide" and "Close-up". Ultra detail adds rugged mountains, forests and rocks in 3D, rippling seas and rivers, rows in the fields and soldiers as figures. Chapter 1 of every battle can be watched in Ultra detail without the Battle Pass.
FAQ
What was the Battle of Hetsugigawa?
The Shikoku forces Hideyoshi sent ahead to Kyushu cross the Hetsugi River on the sole judgement of their inspector Sengoku Hidehisa, and are destroyed by Shimazu Iehisa's feigned-retreat ambush. Chōsokabe Motochika loses his heir Nobuchika. The prelude to the Kyushu campaign.
When and where did the Battle of Hetsugigawa take place?
It took place in 1586 at Hetsugi River (Ōno River), Bungo Province (12th day of the 12th month, Tenshō 14).
Who fought in the Battle of Hetsugigawa?
Sengoku Hidehisa of the Toyotomi side (Shikoku forces), Shimazu Iehisa of the Shimazu forces were among the commanders.
Can I watch the Battle of Hetsugigawa in 3D?
Yes. This page plays a free three-minute 3D animated overview showing the deployments, the movements of each army and how the battle was decided.