During the Sengoku Jidai, there were three Great Unifiers of Japan; Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. These men are consider the three Great Unifiers of Japan, and through war, diplomacy, or patience, helped end the Sengoku Jidai.
1. Oda Nobunaga- From Owari Pronvince, he was part of the Oda Clan. At first, he was known as the "Fool of Owari", as he was a undisciplined youth. However, when he grew older, he became a different man. After winning a small civil war with his relatives, he became the Daimyo of Owari. Next, Imagawa Yoshimoto invaded Owari to get Kyoto. However, the Battle of Okehazama would show Nobunaga's tactical mind, defeating the 25,000 strong Imagawa force, with only 2,000-3,000 Oda force. Next, Nobunaga would embark to unify Japan. First he defeated the Saito Clan, then reinstalled Ashikaga Yoshiaki as shogun, and then went to war with various clans, such as the Asakura Clan, the Azai Clan, various Ikko-Ikki sects, the Miyoshi Clan, the Takeda Clan, the Iga Shinobi, then the Uesugi Clan. Then he went West, against the Mori Clan, sending Hashiba Hideyoshi to siege various castles, but he later requested for more aid. However, Oda Nobunaga would be betrayed at Honno-ji, by one of his former generals, Akechi Mitsuhide. Oda Nobunaga was noted for his cruel and brutal nature, as seen with Mt. Hiei, but he was also a cultured man, who was very interested in European Culture, noted for wearing European clothing and collecting European items, and was tolerant of Christianity.
2. Toyotomi Hideyoshi- Was born to a peasant background, after being a soldier for the Imagawa, he would join with Oda Nobunaga. At first, he was merely a sandal-bearer, but caught the attention of Oda Nobunaga, and was given tasks to siege and construct some castles. Now known as Hashiba Hideyoshi, and began to rise up the ranks under Oda Nobunaga. He was noted to be a great negotiator and a masterful siege tactician. When Oda Nobunaga was assassinated, Hideyoshi would avenge his master, and defeated Akechi Mitushide at Battle of Yamazaki. This began the rise of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, as he would puppet the Oda Heir, by defeating other rival Oda Generals, and would become de facto head of Japan. He would unify the country and became the Kampaku, and changed his name to Toyotomi. He would defeat the Mori Clan, the Shimazu Clan, and the Chosokabe Clan. He would later defeat the the Later Hojo Clan, completing the unification of Japan. During this time, Hideyoshi would implant various reforms, such as taking away swords from peasants, tax reforms, building new castles, and solidifying the Feudal System. And then he invaded Korea to conquer China. It did not go well, and Hideyoshi's mental state would start deteriorating, such as killing his previous heir and anyone relating to him, to make way for his newly-born son. He would later die, leaving his young son under 5 Regents, one of which was Tokugawa Ieyasu
3. Tokugawa Ieyasu- Was born as Matsudaira Takechiyo, he was initially a hostage of the Oda Clan, but was returned to the Imagawa Clan to become head of the Matsudaira Clan. He would join Oda Nobunaga, after the Imagawa Clan's defeat at the Battle of Okehazama. Matsudaira Takechiyo would get his name change to Tokugawa Ieyasu, and his clan to the Tokugawa Clan. He would follow Oda Nobunaga, and defend their back, from clans such as the Takeda Clan, who nearly ended Ieyasu. He and Nobunaga would defeat the Takeda Clan at the Battle of Nagashino. However, when Oda Nobunaga was assassinated, he would return to his province of Mikawa, and later Mitsuhide was defeated by Hideyoshi. During the rise of Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu would briefly fight with him, but both made an uneasy peace. When Hideyoshi invaded Korea, the Tokugawa was exempt from sending supplies and men. When Hideyoshi died, Tokugawa became one of five regents for his son. However, during this time, Tokugawa would negotiate, and build up his power, as Ishida Mitsunari would build up his own army. Finally, it all came to head, as Tokugawa and the Eastern Army would defeat Mitsunari and the Western Army at the Battle of Sekigahara. Tokugawa Ieyasu would became Shogun, and form the Tokugawa Shogunate, and retire two years later for his son. Ieyasu would move his powerbase to Edo, and began to build it up. Then he would defeat the last Toyotomi heir during the Osaka Campaign. He would later die in 1616. Tokugawa Ieyasu was noted for his great patience, waiting for the opportunity to rise to power, and with great luck, unify the land under his banner.
Now, with all these backgrounds of these "Great Unifiers", who is your favorite, and why?
1. Oda Nobunaga- From Owari Pronvince, he was part of the Oda Clan. At first, he was known as the "Fool of Owari", as he was a undisciplined youth. However, when he grew older, he became a different man. After winning a small civil war with his relatives, he became the Daimyo of Owari. Next, Imagawa Yoshimoto invaded Owari to get Kyoto. However, the Battle of Okehazama would show Nobunaga's tactical mind, defeating the 25,000 strong Imagawa force, with only 2,000-3,000 Oda force. Next, Nobunaga would embark to unify Japan. First he defeated the Saito Clan, then reinstalled Ashikaga Yoshiaki as shogun, and then went to war with various clans, such as the Asakura Clan, the Azai Clan, various Ikko-Ikki sects, the Miyoshi Clan, the Takeda Clan, the Iga Shinobi, then the Uesugi Clan. Then he went West, against the Mori Clan, sending Hashiba Hideyoshi to siege various castles, but he later requested for more aid. However, Oda Nobunaga would be betrayed at Honno-ji, by one of his former generals, Akechi Mitsuhide. Oda Nobunaga was noted for his cruel and brutal nature, as seen with Mt. Hiei, but he was also a cultured man, who was very interested in European Culture, noted for wearing European clothing and collecting European items, and was tolerant of Christianity.
2. Toyotomi Hideyoshi- Was born to a peasant background, after being a soldier for the Imagawa, he would join with Oda Nobunaga. At first, he was merely a sandal-bearer, but caught the attention of Oda Nobunaga, and was given tasks to siege and construct some castles. Now known as Hashiba Hideyoshi, and began to rise up the ranks under Oda Nobunaga. He was noted to be a great negotiator and a masterful siege tactician. When Oda Nobunaga was assassinated, Hideyoshi would avenge his master, and defeated Akechi Mitushide at Battle of Yamazaki. This began the rise of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, as he would puppet the Oda Heir, by defeating other rival Oda Generals, and would become de facto head of Japan. He would unify the country and became the Kampaku, and changed his name to Toyotomi. He would defeat the Mori Clan, the Shimazu Clan, and the Chosokabe Clan. He would later defeat the the Later Hojo Clan, completing the unification of Japan. During this time, Hideyoshi would implant various reforms, such as taking away swords from peasants, tax reforms, building new castles, and solidifying the Feudal System. And then he invaded Korea to conquer China. It did not go well, and Hideyoshi's mental state would start deteriorating, such as killing his previous heir and anyone relating to him, to make way for his newly-born son. He would later die, leaving his young son under 5 Regents, one of which was Tokugawa Ieyasu
3. Tokugawa Ieyasu- Was born as Matsudaira Takechiyo, he was initially a hostage of the Oda Clan, but was returned to the Imagawa Clan to become head of the Matsudaira Clan. He would join Oda Nobunaga, after the Imagawa Clan's defeat at the Battle of Okehazama. Matsudaira Takechiyo would get his name change to Tokugawa Ieyasu, and his clan to the Tokugawa Clan. He would follow Oda Nobunaga, and defend their back, from clans such as the Takeda Clan, who nearly ended Ieyasu. He and Nobunaga would defeat the Takeda Clan at the Battle of Nagashino. However, when Oda Nobunaga was assassinated, he would return to his province of Mikawa, and later Mitsuhide was defeated by Hideyoshi. During the rise of Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu would briefly fight with him, but both made an uneasy peace. When Hideyoshi invaded Korea, the Tokugawa was exempt from sending supplies and men. When Hideyoshi died, Tokugawa became one of five regents for his son. However, during this time, Tokugawa would negotiate, and build up his power, as Ishida Mitsunari would build up his own army. Finally, it all came to head, as Tokugawa and the Eastern Army would defeat Mitsunari and the Western Army at the Battle of Sekigahara. Tokugawa Ieyasu would became Shogun, and form the Tokugawa Shogunate, and retire two years later for his son. Ieyasu would move his powerbase to Edo, and began to build it up. Then he would defeat the last Toyotomi heir during the Osaka Campaign. He would later die in 1616. Tokugawa Ieyasu was noted for his great patience, waiting for the opportunity to rise to power, and with great luck, unify the land under his banner.
Now, with all these backgrounds of these "Great Unifiers", who is your favorite, and why?