Sanada Masayuki

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Sanada Masayuki

Role / Field:

Sengoku Daimyo who navigated the fall of the Takeda clan to establish an independent domain.

Born:

1547

Died:

1611-07-13

Century / Era:

1547s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Sanada Masayuki (真田 安房守 昌幸; 1547 – July 13, 1611) was a Japanese Sengoku period lord and daimyō. He was the head of Sanada clan, a regional house of Shinano Province, which became a vassal of the Takeda clan of Kai Province. Along with his father and brothers, Masayuki served the Takeda clan during its heyday, when it was led by Takeda Shingen. After its downfall, Masayuki took the lead of his clan and, despite little power, he managed to establish himself as an independent daimyō under the Toyotomi regime through skillful political maneuvers amidst the powerful Tokugawa, Hōjō and Uesugi clans. Known for having defeated the powerful Tokugawa army in the Battle of Kami river and Siege of Ueda, Masayuki is now considered one of the greatest military strategists of his era.

Career & Major Achievements

In recent times, a number of portrayals in novels, films and other forms of media have contributed to his increased popularity. He was born the third son of Sanada Yukitaka in 1547, but the exact date is unknown. His childhood name was Gengorō (源五郎). At birth, he had no right to succeed his father because of his two older brothers, Nobutsuna and Masateru. In 1553, at seven years old, he was sent to the Takeda clan's headquarters in Kai as a hostage.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

There he becomes part of the Okukinjūshū (奥近習衆), a group of six young servants close to Takeda Shingen. According to the Kōyō Gunkan, Shingen favoured him as he soon recognized that Masayuki's talents and insight rivaled those of his father Yukitaka. As such, he is sometimes included among the Twenty Four Generals, alongside his father and two older brothers. In 1558, he became the foster son of the Mutō family, a branch of the Ōi clan, of which Shingen's mother descended from, and adopted the name Mutō Kihei (武藤喜兵衛). Towards 1564, he married Yamanote-dono (山手殿), a daughter of Uda Yoritada, who was a local lord of Tōtōmi Province.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1547: Birth of Sanada Masayuki — Sengoku Daimyo who navigated the fall of the Takeda clan to establish an independent domain.
2. 1553: 1553 Milestone — In 1553, at seven years old, he was sent to the Takeda clan's headquarters in Kai as a hostage.
3. 1558: 1558 Milestone — In 1558, he became the foster son of the Mutō family, a branch of the Ōi clan, of which Shingen's mother descended from, and adopted the name Mutō Kihei (武藤喜兵衛).
4. 1564: 1564 Milestone — Towards 1564, he married Yamanote-dono (山手殿), a daughter of Uda Yoritada, who was a local lord of Tōtōmi Province.
5. 1611 (1611-07-13): Passing & Historical Legacy — Sanada Masayuki passed away on 1611-07-13, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Sanada Masayuki

True or False: “Did Sanada Masayuki initially succeed his father, Sanada Yukitaka, immediately after the Battle of Nagashino?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): No, both his older brothers, Nobutsuna and Masateru, were killed at the Battle of Nagashino, allowing him to claim the inheritance.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Sanada Masayuki