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Japan: Shibata Katsuie (aka Gonroku, 1522 – 1583) was a Japanese military commander during the Sengoku Period who served Oda Nobunaga.

Japan: Shibata Katsuie (aka Gonroku, 1522 – 1583) was a Japanese military commander during the Sengoku Period who served Oda Nobunaga.

Katsuie was the retainer of Oda Nobukatsu (Oda Nobuyuki). In 1575, after gaining control of Echizen, he took command of Kitanosho Castle (Hokujō) and was ordered to conquer the Hokuriku region. In a meeting in Kiyosu to determine the successor to Nobunaga, he supported Oda Nobutaka, the third son, for whom Katsuie had performed the genpuku ritual. He allied with Oda Nobutaka and Takigawa Kazumasu to battle Toyotomi Hideyoshi. However, his domain was sealed off in the winter by snowfalls and this limited his ability. He retreated to Kitanoshō castle but with the army destroyed, Katsuie had no option but to surrender. Katsuie committed seppuku and set the fire to the castle. He implored his wife Oichi to take their daughters and leave, but she decided to follow his death, while letting her daughters escape.

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