Toyotomi forcesSengoku
Sengoku Hidehisa
仙石秀久
“The Warrior of Ringing Bells”
1552–1614 (aged 63)
- Rank / office
- Governor of Echizen
- Domain / base
- Sumoto, Awaji → Sanuki → Komoro, Shinano
- Banner / crest
- Eiraku coin
- Battles in 3D
- 1 battle
Portrait · Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Sengoku fled away, making for Shikoku: the greatest coward in three lands.
Satirical verse mocking his flight from Hetsugigawa (traditional)
Born into a minor warrior family of Mino, he entered Hashiba Hideyoshi's service young and was one of his oldest retainers. Distinguished in battle after battle, he was made lord of Sumoto in Awaji with 50,000 koku in Tenshō 11, and after the invasion of Shikoku was given the whole province of Sanuki. In Tenshō 14 he crossed to Bungo as inspector of the vanguard of the Kyushu campaign, commanding Chōsokabe Motochika and his son Nobuchika, Sogō Masayasu and others. Defying Hideyoshi's order to wait for the main army, and overriding Motochika's objections, he crossed the Hetsugi River. Caught in Shimazu Iehisa's feigned-retreat ambush, he was crushed, lost Nobuchika and Masayasu, and fled back to Sanuki himself. Mocked as "the greatest coward in three lands," he incurred Hideyoshi's wrath and was stripped of his domain. Yet in the Odawara campaign of Tenshō 18 he joined the army as a masterless volunteer, fought hard in a surcoat sewn with bells that earned him the name "the warrior of ringing bells," and was restored as a daimyo at Komoro in Shinano with 50,000 koku.
Life and battlesGold dots mark battles you can watch in 3D
- 1583Tenshō 11
Lord of Sumoto Castle
Raised from Hideyoshi's retainer to daimyo of Sumoto in Awaji with 50,000 koku.
- 1585Tenshō 13
Lord of Sanuki
Given the province of Sanuki for his service in the invasion of Shikoku.
- 1586Tenshō 14
Disaster at Hetsugigawa
As inspector he crossed the river on his own judgement and was crushed by Shimazu Iehisa; he was later stripped of his domain.
Battle of Hetsugigawa Commander-in-chief 2,000 troops Watch in 3D › Inspector of the Shikoku forces sent by Hideyoshi. Defying the order to wait for the main army, he overrode Motochika and had them cross the Hetsugi River. When the ambush broke them he was first to leave the field, and he lost his domain for the defeat. - 1590Tenshō 18
Komoro, 50,000 Koku
Joined the Odawara campaign as a volunteer, distinguished himself and returned as daimyo of Komoro in Shinano with 50,000 koku.
- 1614Keichō 19
Death at Kōnosu
Fell ill on the road from Edo back to Komoro and died at Kōnosu in Musashi.
