 | |
| Battle of Azukizaka (1564) | |
| Date | 1564 |
| Location | Okazaki Mikawa Province |
| Result | Tokugawa Victory |
| Tokugawa | Ikkō-ikki |
| Tokugawa Ieyasu | N/A |
| Ishikawa Ienari Amano Yasukage |
N/A |
Battle of Azukizaka (1564) was a battle fought between the Ikkō-ikki of Mikawa and the Tokugawa clan.
Background[]
The Ikkō-ikki maintained a strong presence in Mikawa Province, where three temples in Okazaki; Shōmanji, Jōgūji, and Honsōji were associated with Ikkō-ikki militant forces. Tokugawa Ieyasu expressed concern that the Ikkō-ikki factions in Mikawa might attempt to replicate the uprisings previously instigated by Rennyo’s followers in Kōga and thus Tokugawa Ieyasu engaged the monk armies in 1564.[1]
Prior to the Battle of Azukizaka, Sakai Tadatsugu of the Tokugawa clan wrote to the Ikkō-ikki of Mikawa, urging them to reflect upon the fact that, in Tokugawa Ieyasu’s view, merely shaving one’s head and donning priestly robes did not make them true monks.[2]
Battle[]
An advantage for the Tokugawa forces was that many Ikkō-ikki supporters were samurai affiliated with the Shinshū sect, whose loyalties were divided. While some of these samurai supported Tokugawa Ieyasu, their religious convictions initially led them to align with the Ikkō-ikki in battle. However, their allegiance to their feudal lord ultimately prevailed, prompting many to defect to Ieyasu’s side. Among the most notable of these was Ishikawa Ienari, who later became one of Ieyasu’s most trusted retainers.[3]
During the battle, Tokugawa Ieyasu actively engaged in close combat and sustained multiple gunshot impacts. The bullets were impeded by his armour, ultimately becoming embedded beneath his undergarments.[4]
Aftermath[]
The Ikkō-ikki forces of Mikawa were ultimately defeated; however, Tokugawa Ieyasu was unable to gain the support of the peasant population, who constituted the majority of the Ikkō-ikki army and viewed all samurai, regardless of faction, as their enemies.[5]