Asakura Yoshikage, head of the Asakura clan and the regent of Ashikaga Yoshiaki, refused an invitation to a court banquet in Kyōto, an act Nobunaga declared disloyal to both the shogun and the emperor. Nobunaga raised an army and marched on Echizen.[1]
Several reports from Mikawa Monogatari, Nobunaga Koki, Tokugawa Jikki, and a supplement from Ietada Nikki recorded that Ieyasu and his forces also participated in this punitive campaign when they fought at Mount Tenzutsu castle. On April 25th, the Oda-Tokugawa forces captured the castle, killing 1,370 enemies.[2]
Nobunaga's forces continued the next day to besiege Kanegasaki castle,[2] which was held by Maeba Yoshitsugu. Hashiba Hideyoshi, one of Nobunaga's chief generals, led the attack on the fortress of Kanegasaki. Sassa Narimasa led a contingent of horse guards and worked to support Hideyoshi using a firearms troop. Azai Nagamasa, who had been Asakura's longtime ally, led an army to relieve the besieged Kanagasaki castle with the help of the Rokkaku clan and Ikkō-ikki.[citation needed]
Later, Nobunaga found himself surrounded by Azai-Asakura, Rokkaku and Ikkō-ikki forces. When defeat looked certain, Nobunaga retreated from Kanegasaki castle. Ikeda Katsumasa led 3,000 soldiers and helped Nobunaga escape. Akechi Mitsuhide joined Hideyoshi to serve as the rear-guard for the departing forces. This act was the first mark of Nagamasa's betrayal of the Oda clan.[citation needed]
Nobunaga retreated without contacting Ieyasu. After dawn, Ieyasu was guided by Kinoshita Tokichi (later Toyotomi Hideyoshi), an Oda vassal, to withdraw from the battle.[3]
Aftermath
The fighting retreat at Kanegasaki enabled Nobunaga to once more cheat death. He later amassed an army which would be victorious against the Azai-Asakura army at the Battle of Anegawa. Hideyoshi's rear defense for his lord's escape is one of his fabled accomplishments under Nobunaga.