Overview
Ieyasu Tokugawa was a warlord of
Japan's Warring States era. From Mikawa, he became a loyal officer of
Nobunaga Oda following Nobunaga's triumph over
Yoshimoto Imagawa at the Battle of Okehazama. After Nobunaga's assassination years later, Tokugawa vied against
Hideyoshi Toyotomi for the right to carry on their lord's legacy, but eventually backed down and allowed his rival to take command.
Hideyoshi managed to unite the land under his rule. However, after he died, Ieyasu once again sought power for himself and fought against those still loyal to the Toyotomi. His Eastern Army successfully defeated the Western Army at the Battle of Sekigahara, which eventually led to his taking control of Japan for himself. The government established under Ieyasu's leadership, the Tokugawa Shogunate, would remain in power for generations, bringing an end to the Warring States era.
In Video Games
As one of the most important figures of Japanese history, Ieyasu Tokugawa has been portrayed in numerous video games over the years. In the
Samurai Warriors series, he is a short, rotund fighter that waits patiently for his opportunity to rise to power. In the
Sengoku Basara series, he is depicted as a handsome young man that fights using his fists and has a purely heroic personality and attitude. He has also been commonly featured as a historical personality of the
Civilization series, took the lead role in the original
Kessen and a supporting role in
Kessen III, and appeared in the
Nobunaga's Ambition series as an officer.
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