1. An outstanding tactician, he was made all the more iconic for his missing eye, as Masamune was often called dokuganryu, or the "One-Eyed Dragon of Oshu".
32 Facts About Date Masamune
1. 2.
Date Masamune was born as Bontenmaru later Tojiro, as the eldest son of Date Terumune, likely born in Yonezawa Castle.
3.
At the age of 14 in 1581, Date Masamune led his first campaign, helping his father fight the Soma clan.
4.
In 1584, at the age of 17, Date Masamune succeeded his father, Terumune, who chose to retire from his position as daimyo.
5.
Date Masamune's army was recognized by its black armor and golden headgear.
6.
Date Masamune is known for a few things that made him stand out from other daimyo of the time.
7.
The Date Masamune clan had built alliances with neighboring clans through marriages over previous generations, but local disputes remained commonplace.
8.
Shortly after Masamune's succession in 1584, a Date retainer named Ouchi Sadatsuna defected to the Ashina clan of the Aizu region.
9.
Date Masamune declared war on Ouchi and the Ashina for this betrayal, and started a campaign to hunt down Sadatsuna.
10.
In 1589, the Date Masamune clan fought many battles with their neighbours afterwards, including the Siege of Kurokawa and Battle of Suriagehara against Ashina clan.
11.
Later, Date Masamune fought in the Siege of Sukagawa and defeated Nikaido clan.
12.
Date Masamune moved there, rebuilt the Iwatesawa Castle, renamed it Iwadeyama, and encouraged the growth of a town at its base.
13.
Date Masamune stayed at Iwadeyama for 13 years and turned the region into a major political and economic center.
14.
In 1604, Date Masamune, accompanied by 52,000 vassals and their families, moved to what was then the small fishing village of Sendai.
15.
Date Masamune left his fourth son, Date Muneyasu, to rule Iwadeyama.
16.
Date Masamune would turn Sendai into a large and prosperous city.
17.
Later in 1616, when Tokugawa Ieyasu was on his deathbed, Date Masamune visited him and read him a piece of Zen poetry.
18.
Date Masamune was viewed with caution by Ieyasu and Hidetada, but gained trust during the reign of Iemitsu.
19.
In 1636, Date Masamune died of a combination of esophageal cancer and peritonitis at the age of 68 years.
20.
Date Masamune was returned to Sendai in the same daimyo procession as when he was alive.
21.
Date Masamune built many palaces and worked on many projects to beautify the region.
22.
Date Masamune is known to have encouraged foreigners to come to his land.
23.
Further, once Tokugawa Ieyasu outlawed Christianity, Date Masamune reversed his position, and though disliking it, let Ieyasu persecute Christians in his domain.
24.
Date Masamune showed sympathy for Christian missionaries and traders in Japan.
25.
Date Masamune allowed Sotelo as well as other missionaries to practice their religion and win converts in Tohoku.
26.
Date Masamune notably funded and backed one of Japan's few journeys of far-flung diplomacy and exploration in this period.
27.
Date Masamune ordered the building of the exploration ship San Juan Bautista, using foreign ship-building techniques.
28.
Date Masamune sent one of his retainers, Hasekura Tsunenaga, Sotelo, and an embassy numbering 180 on a successful voyage to establish relations with the Pope in Rome.
29.
However, some sources suggest that Date Masamune's eldest daughter, Irohahime, was a Christian.
30.
Date Masamune is a prominent character in the Sengoku Basara series, and has been featured in every major release, portrayed as a reckless, but astute general with a penchant for using humorous English verses, he is notable for carrying six katanas, which he can equip as "dragon's claws", wielding them between his fingers, three in each hand.
31.
In Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga, Date Masamune is reincarnated as a French bulldog nicknamed Boo in modern-day Japan.
32.
Date Masamune is a route character in the Ikemen Sengoku otome game.