Ikoma Chikamasa Explained

Order:Lord of Takamatsu
Term Start:1570
Term End:1600
Predecessor:Ikoma Chikashige
Successor:Ikoma Kazumasa
Ikoma Chikamasa
Native Name:生駒 親正
Native Name Lang:jpn
Birth Date:1526
Death Date:March 25, 1603
Death Place:Takamatsu Castle (Sanuki)
Allegiance: Oda clan
Toyotomi clan
Western Army
Rank:Daimyo, chūrō
Unit: Ikoma clan
Commands:Takamatsu Castle
Battles:Siege of Inabayama
Ishiyama Hongan-ji War
Battle of Nagashino
Battle of Yamazaki
Battle of Shizugatake
Siege of Odawara
Battle of Bunroku
Sekigahara campaign

Ikoma Chikamasa (生駒 親正, 1526 – March 25, 1603) was a Japanese daimyō during the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo periods around the turn of the 17th century. His father was Ikoma Chikashige. Chikamasa was appointed one of the san-chūrō (three arbiters) by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, along with Horio Yoshiharu and Nakamura Kazuuji.

Military life

Service under Nobunaga

In 1566, he became a retainer of Oda Nobunaga when he attacked Mino Province. He worked under Hashiba Hideyoshi from then on, and was involved in various battles such as the Battle of Nagashino 1575 and also Ishiyama Hongan-ji War, in the battle against the Saika party at Kii Province in 1577.

Service under Hideyoshi

He served Toyotomi Hideyoshi after Nobunaga died, and was active in several battles such as the Battle of Yamazaki 1582, the Battle of Shizugatake 1583, the Siege of Odawara 1590, and the Battle of Bunroku 1592. He was given lands in Sanuki Province yielding 171,800 koku of rice because of his service. In Hideyoshi's last years, Ikoma Chikamasa, Nakamura Kazuuji, and Horio Yoshiharu were appointed to the position of chūrō under Toyotomi.

Battle of Sekigahara

In 1600 at the Battle of Sekigahara, Chikamasa was part of Ishida Mitsunari's force while his son, Ikoma Kazumasa was part of Tokugawa Ieyasu's force. Chikamasa remained at Sanuki and sent his retainers, Onoki Shigekatsu, in his stead to attack Tanabe castle in Tango Province. He chose this strategy to preserve the Ikoma clan regardless of which side prevailed. Because Kazumasa fought in Ieyasu's force, Ieyasu allowed Chikamasa to rule his existing domain after the battle, but Chikamasa took responsibility for fighting on the losing side by transferring the headship of the family to Kazumasa.

Death

After Sekigahara, Chikamasa became a priest and withdrew to Mount Kōya. He was soon permitted to return to Sanuki Province. In 1603, he died in Takamatsu castle.

References