Oda Nobukatsu

Oda Nobukatsu (織田 信雄, 1558 – 1630), also known as Kitabatake Tomotoyo, was a Japanese samurai. The second son of Oda Nobunaga, Nobukatsu was adopted into the Kitabatake clan of Ise Province. Nobunaga later had members of the Kitabatake clan assassinated to clear way for Nobukatsu to rise up the hierarchy, essentially taking over the clan from within.

History

Wishing to establish his reputation, Nobukatsu decided to invade the neighbouring province of Iga without permission from his father. In 1578, taking the Iga ikki's expulsion of their military governor as an excuse, he dispatched his general, Takigawa Kazumasu, to build a castle for them to use as a staging point for the invasion, though the Takigawa and his forces were forced to retreat by November of the same year. In October 1579, Nobukatsu opts for a larger invasion, gathering over 10,000 men and entering Iga through three passes: 8,000 going through the northernmost pass, a group of 1,500 and another of 1,300 going through different southern passes. Once again, however, the Iga forces used guerrilla tactics and inflicted heavy losses against Nobukatsu's forces, making him retreat.

Nobunaga, learning of his son's humiliating defeat, threatened to disown him, though did not follow through with it. Nobunaga took over the campaign against Iga and defeated them in 1581. In early November of that year, Nobunaga visited Iga before withdrawing his army from it and giving it for Nobukatsu to administer.

Appearances

• Echoes of History (mentioned only)