Tōdō Takatora
Japanese daimyo / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tōdō Takatora (藤堂 高虎, February 16, 1556 – November 9, 1630) was a Japanese daimyō of the Tōdō clan from the Azuchi–Momoyama to Edo periods. He rose from relatively humble origins as an ashigaru (a light foot soldier) to become a daimyō.
Tōdō Takatora | |
---|---|
First Lord of Imabari | |
In office 1600–1608 | |
Preceded by | none |
Succeeded by | Matsudaira Sadafusa |
First Daimyō of Tsu | |
In office 1608–1630 | |
Preceded by | none |
Succeeded by | Tōdō Takatsugu |
Personal details | |
Born | February 16, 1556 Tōdō Village, Ōmi Province, Japan |
Died | November 9, 1630(1630-11-09) (aged 74) Edo, Japan |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Azai clan Toyotomi clan Eastern Army Tokugawa shogunate |
Unit | Tōdō clan |
Battles/wars | Tajima Campaign Siege of Miki Battle of Shizugatake Siege of Negoro-ji Invasion of Shikoku Kyushu Campaign Invasion of Korea |
During his lifetime he changed his feudal master seven times and worked for ten people, but in the end he rendered loyalty to Tokugawa Ieyasu, who became his last master.[1][2]
Tōdō Takatora is famous for excellence in castle design. He is said to have been involved in building as many as twenty castles,[1][2] including Edo Castle, Wakayama Castle, Uwajima Castle, Imabari Castle, Iga Ueno Castle and Sasayama Castle.[3]
it is mentioned in the historical records that todo takatora Tōdō Takatora was a large man with around 190 cm in height.[4] After his death, historical records stated that Takatora body were covered with lesions and battle scars, and some of his fingers were torn off and had no nails.[5]