* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Takigawa Kazutoshi
滝川一益
Description
Overview
Takigawa Kazutoshi (1525–1586) was a senior retainer of Oda Nobunaga and a warlord active in the conquest of Ise Province and the governance of the Kanto region. Born into a rural samurai family in Koga District, he was known as a master of firearms and was highly valued by Nobunaga. After the Honnō-ji Incident, his political position declined, and he entered monastic life in 1583.
Military Career
In the conquest of Ise Province (1567–1568), he led the vanguard attacking the Northern Ise Forty-Eight Houses. In the suppression of the Nagashima Rebellion (1574), he co-commanded naval forces with Kuki Yoshitaka. At the Battle of Nagashino (1575), he served as commander of the firearms unit in a crucial role. After the fall of the Takeda (1582), he governed Komashiro and Saku districts in the Kanto region, with Maibashi Castle as his base.
After the Honnō-ji Incident
After Nobunaga's death in June 1582, he attempted a retreat westward but was defeated by the Hōjō clan's invasion at the Battle of Kanegawa River (June 19). He withdrew to Ise Province. In the Battle of Shizugatake (Tenshō 11, 1583), he sided with Shibata Katsuie but was defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and lost his territories. He ultimately entered monastic life, and his later whereabouts are unknown.
Evaluation
He is considered one of Oda Nobunaga's Four Heavenly Kings and was skilled in diplomacy and military strategy. Nobunaga held him in high regard, and his accomplishments in Kanto governance are highly esteemed.