Samurai and Shoguns [Set]: Nagashino 1575 Kawanakajima 1553-64 Sekigahara 1600 (Praeger Illustrated Military History)

Sekigahara was the most decisive battle in Japanese history. Fought against the ritualised and colourful backdrop of Samurai life, it was the culmination of a long-standing power struggle between Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hashiba Hideyoshi, two of the most powerful men in Japan. Armies of the two sides met on the plain of Sekigahara on 21 October 1600, in thick fog and deep mud. By the end of the day 40,000 heads had been taken and Ieyasu was master of Japan. Within three years the Emperor would grant him the title he sought - Shogun. Byrant describes the campaign leading up to this great battle and examines Sekigahara, including the forces and personalities of the two major sides and that of the turncoat Kobayakawa Hideaki.Stephen R. Turnbull is the author of 'Samurai and Shoguns [Set]: Nagashino 1575 Kawanakajima 1553-64 Sekigahara 1600 (Praeger Illustrated Military History)', published 2005 under ISBN 9780275988661 and ISBN 027598866X.