Sakuma Morishige | |
Native Name: | 佐久間 盛重 |
Death Date: | June 11, 1560 |
Death Place: | Marune fortress |
Allegiance: | Oda clan |
Rank: | Samurai |
Battles: | Battle of Ino Siege of Marune |
Commands: | Marune fortress |
was a Japanese samurai from Sakuma clan who served Oda Nobunaga. He is believed to be the first "general' killed by gunfire in Japan.
In 1556, Morishige fought at the Battle of Ino against Oda Nobuyuki.
In 1560, during the invasion of Owari Province by Imagawa Yoshimoto, leading up to the Battle of Okehazama, Morishige was appointed to defend the Marune fortress on the border of the province.
The fortress came under attack by Tokugawa Ieyasu (who was at that time named Matsudaira Motoyasu). During the Siege of Marune, Ieyasu made effective use of concentrated arquebus fire. Morishige was killed by a bullet, and the fortress fell to Imagawa forces.[1] [2]