Background

During the Muromachi period, the Matsudaira clan controlled a portion of Mikawa Province (the eastern half of modern Aichi Prefecture). Ieyasu's father, Matsudaira Hirotada, was a minor local warlord based at Okazaki Castle who controlled a portion of the Tōkaidō highway linking Kyoto with the eastern provinces. His territory was sandwiched between stronger and predatory neighbors, including the Imagawa clan based in Suruga Province to the east and the Oda clan to the west. Hirotada's main enemy was Oda Nobuhide, the father of Oda Nobunaga.

Early life (1542–1556)

Tokugawa Ieyasu was born in Okazaki Castle on the 26th day of the twelfth month of the eleventh year of Tenbun, according to the Japanese calendar. Originally named , he was the son of , the daimyo of Mikawa of the Matsudaira clan, and , the daughter of a neighbouring samurai lord, . His mother and father were step-siblings. They were just 17 and 15 years old, respectively, when Ieyasu was born.

In the year of Ieyasu's birth, the Matsudaira clan was split. In 1543, Hirotada's uncle, Matsudaira Nobutaka defected to the Oda clan. This gave Oda Nobuhide the confidence to attack Okazaki. Soon afterwards, Hirotada's father-in-law died, and his son Mizuno Nobumoto revived the clan's traditional enmity against the Matsudaira and declared for Oda Nobuhide as well. As a result, Hirotada divorced Odai-no-kata and sent her back to her family. Hirotada later remarried to different wives, and Ieyasu eventually had 11 half-brothers and sisters.

As Oda Nobuhide continued to attack Okazaki, Hirotada turned to his powerful eastern neighbour, Imagawa Yoshimoto for assistance. Yoshimoto agreed to an alliance under the condition that Hirotada send his young heir to Sunpu Domain as a hostage.

Oda Nobuhide learned of this arrangement and had Ieyasu abducted and taken to Sunpu. Ieyasu was just five years old at the time.

Nobuhide threatened to execute Ieyasu unless his father severed all ties with the Imagawa clan. However, Hirotada refused, stating that sacrificing his own son would show his seriousness in his pact with the Imagawa. Despite this refusal, Nobuhide chose not to kill Ieyasu, but instead held him as a hostage for the next three years at the Honshōji temple in Nagoya (it is said that Oda Nobunaga met Ieyasu at this place, since Ieyasu was 6 years old, and Nobunaga was 14 at that time).

In 1549, when Ieyasu was 6, his father Hirotada was murdered by his own vassals, who had been bribed by the Oda clan. At about the same time, Oda Nobuhide died during an epidemic. Nobuhide's death dealt a heavy blow to the Oda clan.

In 1551, an army under the command of Imagawa Sessai laid siege to the castle where Oda Nobuhiro, Nobuhide's eldest son, was living. Nobuhiro was trapped by the Imagawa clan, but was saved by Oda Nobunaga, Nobuhide's second son, through negotiations. Sessai made an agreement with Nobunaga to take Ieyasu back to Imagawa, and he agreed. So Ieyasu (now nine years old) was taken as a hostage to Sunpu. At Sunpu, he remained a hostage, but was treated fairly well as a potentially useful future ally of the Imagawa clan until 1556 when he was 14 years old.

Service under Yoshimoto (1556–1560)

In 1556, Ieyasu officially came of age, with Imagawa Yoshimoto presiding over his genpuku ceremony. Following tradition, he changed his name from Matsudaira Takechiyo to . He was also briefly allowed to visit Okazaki to pay his respects to the tomb of his father, and receive the homage of his nominal retainers, led by the karō Torii Tadayoshi.

One year later, at the age of 15 (according to East Asian age reckoning), he married his first wife, Lady Tsukiyama, a relative of Imagawa Yoshimoto, and changed his name again to . A year later, their son, Matsudaira Nobuyasu, was born. He was then allowed to return to Mikawa Province. There, the Imagawa then ordered him to fight the Oda clan in a series of battles.

Motoyasu fought his first battle in 1558 at the Siege of Terabe. The lord of Terabe, Suzuki Shigeteru, betrayed the Imagawa by defecting to Oda Nobunaga. This was nominally within Matsudaira territory, so Imagawa Yoshimoto entrusted the campaign to Ieyasu and his retainers from Okazaki. Ieyasu led the attack in person, but after taking the outer defences, he burned the main castle and withdrew. As anticipated, the Oda forces attacked his rear lines, but Motoyasu was prepared and drove off the Oda army.

He then succeeded in delivering supplies in the Siege of Odaka a year later. Odaka was the only one of five disputed frontier forts under attack by the Oda which remained in Imagawa hands. Motoyasu launched diversionary attacks against the two neighboring forts, and when the garrisons of the other forts went to their assistance, Ieyasu's supply column was able to reach Odaka.

Death of Yoshimoto

By 1559 the leadership of the Oda clan had passed to Oda Nobunaga. In 1560, Imagawa Yoshimoto leading a large army of 25,000 men, invaded Oda clan territory. Motoyasu was assigned a separate mission to capture the stronghold of Marune. As a result, he and his men were not present at the Battle of Okehazama where Yoshimoto was killed in Nobunaga's surprise assault.

Early Rise (1560–1570)

Alliance with Nobunaga

With Yoshimoto dead, and the Imagawa clan in a state of confusion, Motoyasu used the opportunity to assert his independence and marched his men back into the abandoned Okazaki Castle and reclaimed his ancestral seat.

Motoyasu then decided to ally with Oda Nobunaga.

A secret deal was needed because Motoyasu's wife, Lady Tsukiyama, and infant son, Nobuyasu, were held hostage in Sumpu by Imagawa Ujizane, Yoshimoto's heir.

In 1561, Motoyasu openly broke with the Imagawa and captured the fortress of Kaminogō. Kaminogō was held by Udono Nagamochi. Resorting to stealth, Motoyasu forces under Hattori Hanzō attacked under cover of darkness, setting fire to the castle, and capturing two of Udono's sons, whom he used as hostages to exchange for his wife and son.

In 1563, Nobuyasu, the first son of Motoyasu, was married to Nobunaga's daughter Tokuhime. In the same year in February, Motoyasu changed his name to Ieyasu.

For the next few years Ieyasu was occupied with reforming the Matsudaira clan and pacifying Mikawa. He also strengthened his key vassals by awarding them land and castles. These vassals included Ōkubo Tadayo, Ishikawa Kazumasa, Kōriki Kiyonaga, Sakai Tadatsugu, Honda Tadakatsu, Sakakibara Yasumasa and Hattori Hanzō.

During this period, the Matsudaira clan also faced a threat from a different source. Mikawa was a major center for the Ikkō-ikki movement, where peasants banded together with militant monks under the Jōdo Shinshū sect, and rejected the traditional feudal social order. Ieyasu undertook several battles to suppress this movement in his territories, including the Battle of Azukizaka (1564).

Battle of Batogahara

On January 15, 1564, Ieyasu had decided to concentrate his forces to attack and eliminate the íkki from Mikawa. In the íkki ranks were some of Ieyasu's vassals, like Honda Masanobu and Natsume Yoshinobu, who had deserted him for the íkki rebellion out of religious sympathy.

Ieyasu was fighting in the front line and was nearly killed when struck by several bullets which did not penetrate his armour. Both sides were using the new gunpowder weapons which the Portuguese had introduced to Japan just 20 years earlier. Ieyasu's brave conduct in the battle convinced many of the samurai in the íkki to switch sides and the íkki were defeated.

Tokugawa clan

In 1565, Matsudaira Ieyasu became master of all of Mikawa Province. In 1567 Ieyasu changed his name yet again and started the family name "Tokugawa", this time to Tokugawa Ieyasu. As he was a member of the Matsudaira clan, he claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji branch of the Minamoto clan. However, there was no proof the Matsudaira clan are descendants of Emperor Seiwa. Yet, his surname was changed with the permission of the Imperial Court, after writing a petition, and he was bestowed the courtesy title Mikawa-no-kami and the court rank of . Though the Tokugawa could claim some modicum of freedom, they were very much subject to the requests of Oda Nobunaga. Ieyasu remained an ally of Nobunaga and his Mikawa soldiers were part of Nobunaga's army which captured Kyoto in 1568. At the same time, Ieyasu was eager to expand eastward to Tōtōmi province. Ieyasu and Takeda Shingen, the head of the Takeda clan in Kai Province, made an alliance for the purpose of conquering all the Imagawa territory.

Tōtōmi campaign

In 1569, Ieyasu's troops penetrated into Tōtōmi Province. Meanwhile, Shingen's troops captured Suruga Province (including the Imagawa capital of Sunpu). Imagawa Ujizane fled to Kakegawa Castle, which led to Ieyasu laying siege to Kakegawa. Ieyasu then negotiated with Ujizane, promising that if Ujizane should surrender himself and the remainder of Tōtōmi, Ieyasu would assist Ujizane in regaining Suruga. Ujizane had nothing left to lose, and Ieyasu immediately ended his alliance with Takeda, instead making a new alliance with Takeda's enemy to the north, Uesugi Kenshin of the Uesugi clan. Through these political manipulations, Ieyasu gained the support of the samurai of Tōtōmi Province.

In 1570, Ieyasu established Hamamatsu as the capital of his territory, placing his son Nobuyasu in charge of Okazaki.

Ieyasu and Nobunaga (1570-1582)

Battle of Anegawa

In 1570, Asai Nagamasa, the brother in law of Oda Nobunaga, broke his alliance with the Oda clans during the Siege of Kanegasaki. Soon Nobunaga was ready to punish Nagamasa for his treachery. Ieyasu led 5,000 of his men to support Nobunaga at the battle.

The Battle of Anegawa occurred near Lake Biwa in Ōmi Province, Japan. The allied forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated the combined forces of the Azai clans and Asakura clans, and saw Nobunaga's prodigious use of firearms. It is notable as the first battle that involved the alliance between Nobunaga and Ieyasu.

Conflict with Takeda

In October 1571, Takeda Shingen broke the alliance with the Oda-Tokugawa clan and now allied with the Odawara Hōjō clan. He decided to make a drive for Kyoto at the urgings of the shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiaki, starting with invading Tokugawa lands in Tōtōmi. Takeda Shingen's first objective in his campaign against Ieyasu was Nishikawa Castle, Yoshida Castle and Futamata Castle. In 1572, after besieging Futamata, Shingen would press on past Futamata towards the major Tokugawa home castle at Hamamatsu. Later, Ieyasu asked for help from Nobunaga, who sent him some 3,000 troops. Early in 1573 the two armies met at the Battle of Mikatagahara, north Hamamatsu. The considerably larger Takeda army, under the expert direction of Shingen, overwhelmed Ieyasu's troops and caused heavy casualties. Despite his initial reluctance, Ieyasu was convinced by his generals to retreat. The battle was a major defeat, but in the interests of maintaining the appearance of dignified withdrawal, Ieyasu brazenly ordered the men at his castle to light torches, sound drums, and leave the gates open, to properly receive the returning warriors. To the surprise and relief of the Tokugawa army, this spectacle made the Takeda generals suspicious of being led into a trap, so they did not besiege the castle and instead made camp for the night. This error would allow a band of Tokugawa soldiers to raid the camp in the ensuing hours, further upsetting the already disoriented Takeda army, and ultimately resulting in Shingen's decision to call off the offensive altogether. Takeda Shingen would not get another chance to advance on Hamamatsu, much less Kyoto, since he would perish shortly after the Siege of Noda Castle later that same year.

Shingen was succeeded by his less capable son Takeda Katsuyori. In 1574, Katsuyori took Takatenjin fortress. Then, in 1575, during Takeda Katsuyori's raid through Mikawa Province, he attacked Yoshida castle and besieged Nagashino castle in Mikawa Province. Ieyasu appealed to Nobunaga for help and Nobunaga came personally with 30,000 strong men. The Oda-Tokugawa forces of 38,000 won a great victory and successfully defended Nagashino castle. Though the Takeda forces had been destroyed, Katsuyori survived the battle and retreated back to Kai Province.

For the next seven years, Ieyasu and Katsuyori fought a series of small battles, as the result of which Ieyasu's troops managed to wrest control of Suruga Province away from the Takeda clan.

In 1579, Lady Tsukiyama, Ieyasu's wife, and his heir Nobuyasu, were accused by Nobunaga of conspiring with Takeda Katsuyori to assassinate Nobunaga, whose daughter Tokuhime was married to Nobuyasu. For this reason, Ieyasu ordered his wife to be executed and forced his son to commit seppuku. Ieyasu then named his third son, Tokugawa Hidetada, as heir, since his second son had been adopted by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who would later become an extremely powerful daimyo.

In 1580, Oda-Tokugawa forces launched the second siege of Takatenjin; the siege came only six years after Takeda Katsuyori had taken the fortress. This second siege lasted from 1580 until 22 March 1581, and ended with the deaths of 680 men in the Okabe Motonobu garrison.

The end of the war with Takeda came in 1582 when a combined Oda-Tokugawa force attacked and conquered Kai Province. Takeda Katsuyori was defeated at the Battle of Tenmokuzan, and then committed seppuku.

Death of Nobunaga

In late June 1582, before the incident at Honnō-ji temple, Nobunaga invited Ieyasu to tour the Kansai region in celebration of the demise of the Takeda clan. When he learned that Nobunaga had been killed at the Honnō-ji temple by Akechi Mitsuhide, this meant that some provinces, ruled by Nobunaga's vassals, were ripe for conquest. Later, Ieyasu traveled back to Mikawa for gathering his forces. With the help of his retainer and ninja leader Hattori Hanzō, Ieyasu first went through Sakai, then crossed the mountains of Iga Province, finally reaching the shore in Ise Province. He returned to his home Mikawa Province by sea. Ieyasu was mobilizing his army when he learned Hideyoshi had defeated Akechi Mitsuhide at the Battle of Yamazaki.

Ieyasu and Hideyoshi (1582–1598)

After the death of Nobunaga at Honnō-ji castle, the leader of Kai province made the mistake of killing one of Ieyasu's aides. Because of this, Ieyasu promptly invaded Kai and took control. Hōjō Ujimasa, leader of the Hōjō clan responded by sending his much larger army into Shinano and then into Kai province. Later, both Ieyasu and the Hōjō clan agreed to a settlement which left Ieyasu in control of both Kai and Shinano Provinces, while the Hōjō took control of Kazusa Province (as well as bits of both Kai and Shinano Provinces).

In 1583, a war for rule over Japan was fought between Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie. Ieyasu did not take a side in this conflict, building on his reputation for both caution and wisdom. Hideyoshi defeated Katsuie at Battle of Shizugatake. With this victory, Hideyoshi became the single most powerful daimyo in Japan.

Conflict with Hideyoshi

In 1584, Ieyasu decided to support Oda Nobukatsu, the eldest surviving son and heir of Oda Nobunaga, against Hideyoshi. This was a dangerous act and could have resulted in the annihilation of the Tokugawa, due to the fact that the Oda clan collapsed after Nobunaga's death.

Tokugawa troops took the traditional Oda stronghold of Owari. Hideyoshi responded by sending an army into Owari. The Komaki and Nagakute Campaign was the only time any of the great unifiers of Japan fought each other.

The Komaki and Nagakute campaign proved indecisive and after months of fruitless marches and feints, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu settled the war through negotiation. First, Hideyoshi made peace with Oda Nobukatsu, and then he offered a truce to Ieyasu. The deal was made at the end of the year; as part of the terms Ieyasu's second son, Ogimaru (also known as Yuki Hideyasu) became an adopted son of Hideyoshi.

Ieyasu's aide, Ishikawa Kazumasa, chose to join the pre-eminent daimyo and so he moved to Osaka to be with Hideyoshi. However, few other Tokugawa retainers followed this example.

Alliance with Hideyoshi

Hideyoshi was understandably distrustful of Ieyasu, and five years passed before they fought as allies. The Tokugawa did not participate in Hideyoshi's successful Invasion of Shikoku (1585) and Kyūshū Campaign (1587).

In 1590, Hideyoshi attacked the last independent daimyo in Japan, Hōjō Ujimasa. The Hōjō clan ruled the eight provinces of the Kantō region in eastern Japan. Hideyoshi ordered them to submit to his authority and they refused. Ieyasu, though a friend and occasional ally of Ujimasa, joined his large force of 30,000 samurai with Hideyoshi's enormous army of some 160,000. The Odawara Campaign was the first battle of Ieyasu and Hideyoshi as allies. They attacked several castles on the borders of the Hōjō clan with most of his army laying siege to the castle at Odawara. Hideyoshi's and Ieyasu's army captured Odawara after six months (oddly for the time period, deaths on both sides were few). During this siege, Hideyoshi offered Ieyasu a radical deal: He offered Ieyasu the eight Kantō provinces which they were about to take from the Hōjō in return for the five provinces that Ieyasu currently controlled (including Ieyasu's home province of Mikawa). Ieyasu accepted this proposal. Bowing to the overwhelming power of the Toyotomi army, the Hōjō accepted defeat, their leaders committed suicide and Ieyasu marched in and took control of their provinces, ending the clan's reign of over 100 years.

The Sannohe faction led by Nanbu Nobunao organized a coalition of most of the Nanbu clans and pledged allegiance to Toyotomi Hideyoshi at the Siege of Odawara. In return, he was recognized as chieftain of the Nanbu clans, and confirmed as daimyo of his existing holdings in the northern districts of Mutsu Province. However, Kunohe Masazane, who felt that he had a stronger claim to the title of clan chieftain, immediately rose in rebellion.

In 1591, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu took the Kunohe Rebellion as a personal affront to Toyotomi authority and by mid-year organized a retaliatory army to retake northern Tōhoku and to restore the area to Nanbu Nobunao's control.

Rise to Power (1591–1598)

Daimyo of Kantō region

Ieyasu now gave up control of his five provinces (Mikawa, Tōtōmi, Suruga, Shinano, and Kai) and moved all his soldiers and vassals to the Kantō region. He himself occupied the castle town of Edo in Kantō. This was possibly the riskiest move Ieyasu ever made—to leave his home province and rely on the uncertain loyalty of the formerly Hōjō samurai in Kantō. In the end, it worked out brilliantly for Ieyasu. He reformed the Kantō region, controlled and pacified the Hōjō samurai and improved the underlying economic infrastructure of the lands. Also, because Kantō was somewhat isolated from the rest of Japan, Ieyasu was able to maintain a unique level of autonomy from Hideyoshi's rule. Within a few years, Ieyasu had become the second most powerful daimyo in Japan. There is a Japanese proverb which likely refers to this event: "Ieyasu won the Empire by retreating."

Council of Five Elders

In 1592, Hideyoshi invaded Korea as a prelude to his plan to attack China. The Tokugawa samurai never actually took part in this campaign, though in early 1593, Ieyasu himself was summoned to Hideyoshi's court in Nagoya (in Kyūshū, different from the similarly spelled city in Owari Province) as a military advisor and given command of a body of troops meant as reserves for the Korean campaign. He stayed in Nagoya off and on for the next five years. Despite his frequent absences, Ieyasu's sons, loyal retainers and vassals were able to control and improve Edo and the other new Tokugawa lands.

In 1593, Toyotomi Hideyoshi fathered a son and heir, Toyotomi Hideyori.

In 1598, with Hideyoshi's health clearly failing, Hideyoshi called a meeting that would determine the Council of Five Elders, who would be responsible for ruling on behalf of his son after his death. The five that were chosen as tairō (regent) for Hideyori were Maeda Toshiie, Mōri Terumoto, Ukita Hideie, Uesugi Kagekatsu, and Ieyasu himself, who was the most powerful of the five. This change in the pre-Sekigahara power structure became pivotal as Ieyasu turned his attention towards Kansai; and at the same time, other ambitious (albeit ultimately unrealized) plans, such as the Tokugawa initiative establishing official relations with New Spain (modern-day Mexico), continued to unfold and advance.

Death of Hideyoshi

Hideyoshi, after three more months of increasing sickness, died on September 18, 1598. He was nominally succeeded by his young son Hideyori but as he was just five years old, real power was in the hands of the regents. Over the next two years Ieyasu made alliances with various daimyo, especially those who had no love for Hideyoshi. Happily for Ieyasu, the oldest and most respected of the regents, Maeda Toshiie, died after just one year.

Unification of Japan (1598–1603)

Conflict with Mitsunari

With the death of Hideyoshi in 1598 and Toshiie in 1599, Ieyasu led an army to Fushimi and took over Osaka Castle, the residence of Hideyori. This angered the three remaining regents and plans were made on all sides for war.

Opposition to Ieyasu centered around Ishida Mitsunari, one of Hideyoshi's five bugyō, or top administrators of Hideyoshi's government and a powerful daimyo who was not one of the regents. Mitsunari plotted Ieyasu's death and news of this plot reached some of Ieyasu's generals. They attempted to kill Mitsunari but he fled and gained protection from none other than Ieyasu himself. It is not clear why Ieyasu protected a powerful enemy from his own men but Ieyasu was a master strategist and he may have concluded that he would be better off with Mitsunari leading the enemy army rather than one of the regents, who would have more legitimacy.

Nearly all of Japan's daimyo and samurai now split into two factions—the Western Army (Mitsunari's group) and the Eastern Army (the anti-Mitsunari group). Ieyasu supported the anti-Mitsunari group, and formed them as his potential allies. Ieyasu's allies were Katō Kiyomasa, Fukushima Masanori, Date Masamune, the Kuroda clan, the Hosokawa clan and many daimyo from eastern Japan. Mitsunari allied himself with the three other regents: Ukita Hideie, Mōri Terumoto, and Uesugi Kagekatsu as well as Ōtani Yoshitsugu, Chosokabe clan, Shimazu clan and many daimyo from the western end of Honshū.

War became imminent when Uesugi Kagekatsu, one of Hideyoshi's appointed regents, defied Ieyasu by building up his military at Aizu. When Ieyasu officially condemned him and demanded that he come to Kyoto to explain himself, Kagekatsu's chief advisor, Naoe Kanetsugu responded with a counter-condemnation that mocked Ieyasu's abuses and violations of Hideyoshi's rules, and Ieyasu was infuriated.

In July 1600, Ieyasu was back in Edo and his allies moved their armies to defeat the Uesugi clan, which they accused of planning to revolt against Toyotomi administration. On September 8, Ieyasu received information that Mitsunari had captured Fushimi castle and his allies had moved their army against Ieyasu. Ieyasu held a meeting with the Eastern Army daimyo, and they agreed to follow Ieyasu.

Later on September 15, Mitsunari's Western army arrived at Ogaki Castle. On September 29, Ieyasu's Eastern army took Gifu castle.

On October 7, Ieyasu and his allies marched along the Tōkaidō, while his son Hidetada went along through Nakasendō with 38,000 soldiers (a battle against Sanada Masayuki in Shinano Province delayed Hidetada's forces, and they did not arrive in time for the main Battle of Sekigahara). On October 20, Ieyasu's Eastern army met Mitsunari's Western army at Sekigahara, and on the following morning the battle began.

Battle of Sekigahara

The Battle of Sekigahara was the biggest and one of the most important battles in Japanese feudal history. It began on October 21, 1600. Initially, the Eastern Army led by Tokugawa Ieyasu had 75,000 men, while the Western Army numbered 120,000 men under Ishida Mitsunari. Ieyasu had also sneaked in a supply of arquebuses. Knowing that the Tokugawa forces were heading towards Osaka, Mitsunari decided to abandon his positions and marched to Sekigahara. Even though the Western army had tremendous tactical advantages, Ieyasu had already been in contact with many of the daimyo in the Western Army for months, promising them land and leniency after the battle should they switch sides, also having secretly communicated with Hideyoshi's nephew, Kobayakawa Hideaki. With a total of 170,000 soldiers facing each other, the Battle of Sekigahara ensued and ended with a complete Tokugawa victory. Later, The Western bloc was crushed and over the next few days Ishida Mitsunari and many other western nobles were captured and killed. Tokugawa Ieyasu was now the de facto ruler of Japan.

Immediately after the victory at Sekigahara, Ieyasu redistributed land to the vassals who had served him. Ieyasu left some western daimyo unharmed, such as the Shimazu clan, but others were completely destroyed. Toyotomi Hideyori (the son of Hideyoshi) lost most of his territory which were under management of western daimyo, and he was degraded to an ordinary daimyo, not a ruler of Japan. In later years the vassals who had pledged allegiance to Ieyasu before Sekigahara became known as the fudai daimyō, while those who pledged allegiance to him after the battle (in other words, after his power was unquestioned) were known as tozama daimyō. Tozama daimyō were considered inferior to fudai daimyō.

Shōgun (1603–1605)

On March 24, 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu received the title of shōgun from Emperor Go-Yōzei. Ieyasu was 60 years old. He had outlasted all the other great men of his times: Nobunaga, Shingen, Hideyoshi, and Kenshin. As shōgun, he used his remaining years to create and solidify the Tokugawa shogunate, which ushered in the Edo period, and was the third shogunal government (after the Kamakura and the Ashikaga). He claimed descent from the Minamoto clan who had founded the Kamakura shogunate, by way of the Nitta clan. His descendants would marry into the Taira clan and the Fujiwara clan. The Tokugawa shogunate would rule Japan for the next 260 years.

Following a well established Japanese pattern, Ieyasu abdicated his official position as shōgun in 1605. His successor was his son and heir, Tokugawa Hidetada. There may have been several factors that contributed to his decision, including his desires to avoid being tied up in ceremonial duties, to make it harder for his enemies to attack the real power center, and to secure a smoother succession of his son. The abdication of Ieyasu had no effect on the practical extent of his powers or his rule; but Hidetada nevertheless assumed a role as formal head of the shogunal bureaucracy.

Ōgosho (1605–1616)

Construction of Edo castle

In 1605, Ieyasu, acting as the , remained the effective ruler of Japan until his death. Ieyasu retired to Sunpu Castle in Sunpu, but he also supervised the building of Edo Castle, a massive construction project which lasted for the rest of Ieyasu's life. The result was the largest castle in all of Japan, the costs for building the castle being borne by all the other daimyo, while Ieyasu reaped all the benefits. The central donjon, or tenshu, burned in the 1657 Meireki fire. Today, the Imperial Palace stands on the site of the castle.

In 1611, Ieyasu, at the head of 50,000 men, visited Kyoto to witness the enthronement of Emperor Go-Mizunoo. In Kyoto, Ieyasu ordered the remodeling of the Imperial court and buildings, and forced the remaining western daimyo to sign an oath of fealty to him.

In 1613, he composed the , a document which put the court daimyo under strict supervision, leaving them as mere ceremonial figureheads.

In 1615, Ieyasu prepared the , a document setting out the future of the Tokugawa regime.

Relations with foreign powers

As Ōgosho, Ieyasu also supervised diplomatic affairs with the Netherlands, Spain, and England. Ieyasu chose to distance Japan from European influence starting in 1609, although the shogunate did still grant preferential trading rights to the Dutch East India Company and permitted them to maintain a "factory" for trading purposes.

From 1605 until his death, Ieyasu frequently consulted English shipwright and pilot, William Adams. Adams, fluent in Japanese, assisted the shogunate in negotiating trading relations, but was cited by members of the competing Jesuit and Spanish-sponsored mendicant orders as an obstacle to improved relations between Ieyasu and the Roman Catholic Church.

Significant attempts to curtail the influence of Christian missionaries in Japan date to 1587 during the shogunate of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. However, in 1614, Ieyasu was sufficiently concerned about Spanish territorial ambitions that he signed a Christian Expulsion Edict. The edict banned the practice of Christianity and led to the expulsion of all foreign missionaries. Although some smaller Dutch trading operations remained in Nagasaki, this edict dramatically curtailed foreign trade and marked the end of open Christian witness in Japan until the 1870s. The immediate cause of the prohibition was the Okamoto Daihachi incident, a case of fraud involving Ieyasu's Catholic vavasor, but the shogunate was also concerned about a possible invasion by the Iberian colonial powers, which had previously occurred in the New World and the Philippines.

Conflict with Hideyori

The last remaining threat to Ieyasu's rule was Toyotomi Hideyori, the son and rightful heir to Hideyoshi. He was now a young daimyo living in Osaka Castle. Many samurai who opposed Ieyasu rallied around Hideyori, claiming that he was the rightful ruler of Japan. Ieyasu found fault with the opening ceremony of a temple built by Hideyori; it was as if he prayed for Ieyasu's death and the ruin of the Tokugawa clan. Ieyasu ordered Hideyori to leave Osaka Castle, but those in the castle refused and summoned samurai to gather within the castle. Then in 1614, Tokugawa besieged the Osaka Castle against Hideyori.

Siege of Osaka

The Tokugawa forces, with a huge army led by Ieyasu and shōgun Hidetada, laid siege to Osaka castle in what is now known as "the Winter Siege of Osaka". Eventually, Tokugawa was able to force negotiations and an armistice after directed cannon fire threatened Hideyori's mother, Yodo-dono. However, once the treaty was agreed, Tokugawa filled the castle's outer moats with sand so his troops could walk across. Through this ploy, Tokugawa gained a huge tract of land through negotiation and deception that he could not through siege and combat. Ieyasu returned to Sunpu Castle, but after Toyotomi refused another order to leave Osaka, Ieyasu and his allied army of 155,000 soldiers attacked Osaka Castle again in "the Summer Siege of Osaka".

Finally, in late 1615, Osaka Castle fell and nearly all the defenders were killed, including Hideyori, his mother (Hideyoshi's widow, Yodo-dono), and his infant son. His wife, Senhime (a granddaughter of Ieyasu), pleaded to save Hideyori and Yodo-dono's lives. Ieyasu refused and either required them to commit ritual suicide, or killed both of them. Eventually, Senhime was sent back to Tokugawa alive. After killing two people at Kamakura, who have escaped from Osaka Castle. With the Toyotomi line finally extinguished, no threats remained to the Tokugawa clan's domination of Japan.

Death

In 1616, Ieyasu died at age 73. The cause of death is thought to have been cancer or syphilis. The first Tokugawa shōgun was posthumously deified with the name Tōshō Daigongen, the "Great Gongen, Light of the East". (A Gongen is believed to be a buddha who has appeared on Earth in the shape of a kami to save sentient beings). In life, Ieyasu had expressed the wish to be deified after his death to protect his descendants from evil. His remains were buried at the Gongens' mausoleum at Kunōzan, Kunōzan Tōshō-gū. As a common view, many people believe that "after the first anniversary of his death, his remains were reburied at Nikkō Shrine, Nikkō Tōshō-gū. His remains are still there." Neither shrine has offered to open the graves, so the location of Ieyasu's physical remains is still a mystery. The mausoleum's architectural style became known as gongen-zukuri, that is gongen-style. He was first given the Buddhist name Tosho Dai-Gongen, then after his death it was changed to Hogo Onkokuin.

Era of Ieyasus rule

Ieyasu ruled directly as shōgun or indirectly as Ōgosho during the Keichō era (1596–1615).

Ieyasus character

Ieyasu had a number of qualities that enabled him to rise to power. He was both careful and bold—at the right times, and in the right places. Calculating and subtle, Ieyasu switched alliances when he thought he would benefit from the change. He allied with the Late Hōjō clan; then he joined Hideyoshi's army of conquest, which destroyed the Hōjō; and he himself took over their lands. In this he was like other daimyo of his time. This was an era of violence, sudden death, and betrayal. He was not very well liked nor personally popular, but he was feared and he was respected for his leadership and his cunning. For example, he wisely kept his soldiers out of Hideyoshi's campaign in Korea.

He was capable of great loyalty: once he allied with Oda Nobunaga, he never went against him, and both leaders profited from their long alliance. He was known for being loyal towards his personal friends and vassals, whom he rewarded. He was said to have a close friendship with his vassal Hattori Hanzō. However, he also remembered those who had wronged him in the past. It is said that Ieyasu executed a man who came into his power because he had insulted him when Ieyasu was young.

Ieyasu protected many former Takeda retainers from the wrath of Oda Nobunaga, who was known to harbour a bitter grudge towards the Takeda. He managed successfully to transform many of the retainers of the Takeda, Hōjō, and Imagawa clans—all whom he had defeated himself or helped to defeat—into loyal followers. At the same time, he could be ruthless when crossed. For example, he ordered the executions of his first wife and his eldest son—a son-in-law of Oda Nobunaga; Oda was also an uncle of Hidetada's wife Oeyo.

He was cruel, relentless and merciless in the elimination of Toyotomi survivors after Osaka. For days, dozens and dozens of men and women were hunted down and executed, including an eight-year-old son of Hideyori by a concubine, who was beheaded.

Unlike Hideyoshi, he did not harbor any desires to conquer outside Japan—he only wanted to bring order and an end to open warfare, and to rule Japan.

While at first tolerant of Christianity, his attitude changed after 1613 and the executions of Christians sharply increased.

Ieyasu's favorite pastime was falconry. He regarded it as excellent training for a warrior. "When you go into the country hawking, you learn to understand the military spirit and also the hard life of the lower classes. You exercise your muscles and train your limbs. You have any amount of walking and running and become quite indifferent to heat and cold, and so you are little likely to suffer from any illness.". Ieyasu swam often; even late in his life he is reported to have swum in the moat of Edo Castle.

Later in life he took to scholarship and religion, patronizing scholars like Hayashi Razan.

Two of his famous quotes:

Life is like unto a long journey with a heavy burden. Let thy step be slow and steady, that thou stumble not. Persuade thyself that imperfection and inconvenience are the lot of natural mortals, and there will be no room for discontent, neither for despair. When ambitious desires arise in thy heart, recall the days of extremity thou hast passed through. Forbearance is the root of all quietness and assurance forever. Look upon the wrath of thy enemy. If thou only knowest what it is to conquer, and knowest not what it is to be defeated; woe unto thee, it will fare ill with thee. Find fault with thyself rather than with others.

The strong manly ones in life are those who understand the meaning of the word patience. Patience means restraining one's inclinations. There are seven emotions: joy, anger, anxiety, adoration, grief, fear, and hate, and if a man does not give way to these he can be called patient. I am not as strong as I might be, but I have long known and practiced patience. And if my descendants wish to be as I am, they must study patience.

He said that he fought, as a warrior or a general, in 90 battles.

He was interested in various kenjutsu skills, was a patron of the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū school, and also had them as his personal sword instructors.

Honours

• Senior First Rank (April 14, 1617; posthumous)

Parents and Siblings

Parents

Siblings

Mother Side

Wives and Concubines

Children

Speculated Children

Adopted children

Ancestry

Ieyasu in popular culture

In James Clavell's historical novel Shōgun, Tokugawa served as basis for the character of "Toranaga". Toranaga was portrayed by Toshiro Mifune in the 1980 TV mini-series adaptation.

is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Yamada. It was adapted into an anime series in 2011, and includes a fictional depiction of Tokugawa's life.

In Sengoku Basara game and anime series, he was shown with Honda Tadakatsu. In earlier games, he was armed with spears and led countless warriors, in later ones, he discards the spear and fights with his fists (similar to Boxing fighting style) and wants Japan united under the force of bonds.

Tokugawa is the leader of Japan in Sid Meier's Civilization IV. He is an aggressive and organized leader with an emphasis on mercantilism.

In the 2021 Netflix documentary series Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan, Ieyasu is prominently portrayed by Hayate Masao. The show depicts his life and rise to power.

Ieyasu features as a character in Ikémen Sengoku, a dating simulator otome game released by Cybird in 2015.

Ieyasu features as a character in Tarō, by Blue Spruell.

Honnōji theory

Among the many conspiracy theories surrounding the Honnō-ji Incident is Ieyasu's role in the event. Historically, Ieyasu was away from his lord at the time and, when he heard that Nobunaga was in danger, he wanted to rush to his lord's rescue in spite of the small number of attendants with him. However, Tadakatsu advised for his lord to avoid the risk and urged for a quick retreat to Mikawa. Masanari led the way through Iga and they returned home by boat.

However, skeptics think otherwise. While they usually accept the historically known facts about Ieyasu's actions during Mitsuhide's betrayal, theorists tend to pay more attention to the events before. Ever since Ieyasu lost his wife and son due to Nobunaga's orders, they reason, he held a secret resentment against his lord. Generally, there is some belief that he privately goaded Mitsuhide to take action when the two warlords were together in Azuchi Castle. Together, they planned when to attack and went their separate ways. When the deed was done, Ieyasu turned a blind eye to Mitsuhide's schemes and fled the scene to feign innocence. A variation of the concept states that Ieyasu was well aware of Mitsuhide's feelings regarding Nobunaga and simply chose to do nothing for his own benefit.

經歷

今川時代（1543年～1562年）

1542年1月31日(天文十一年十二月二十六日)，德川家康出生於三河國的岡崎城，原名松平元康（），幼名松平竹千代（）。

德川家康父親為松平廣忠，母親為於大之方。松平家位於今川與織田兩強大大名之間，父系家族偏今川家，母系偏織田家，此出身讓竹千代幼年充滿矛盾與危機。2歲時，母系家族首領水野忠政病逝，由水野信元繼任，信元隨後投向織田家，但其父親松平廣忠則帶竹千代投向今川家，並被迫與其母親於大之方離婚。6歲時，遭父親繼室之父戶田康光出賣被織田家奪為人質。8歲時，父親廣忠遭刺殺身亡，之後今川家打敗織田家，又將竹千代奪為人質用以控制岡崎城。

1560年（永祿三年），今川義元為了上洛，引軍進入尾張與首當其衝的織田軍交戰，元康參與該戰役，並擔任先鋒，負責突襲丸根城，並且取得丸根城守將佐久間大學的首級。不過今川義元於在戰役期間因為大意輕敵受到織田信長的奇襲（即桶狹間之戰），遭到信長的部下毛利新助和服部小平太梟首，其後元康返回岡崎城，元康原本尚未打算從今川氏從屬中獨立，不僅不斷出兵騷擾織田氏的領土並攻打織田氏的城寨，同時頻頻上書給義元之子今川氏真，討伐織田信長，為今川義元復仇雪恥。然而今川氏真的無能使得駿河國內的政情越加紊亂，不少今川氏的老臣紛紛出走或逃離，使得元康終於意識到今川氏確定走向敗亡的路途。

信長時代（1562年～1582年）

永祿五年（1562年）松平元康接受了織田信長的私下求和，在兩國將軍隊撤離邊界與釐清彼此的國界之後，信長邀請松平元康前往尾張的清洲城，暢敘舊情並締結盟約。松平元康與織田信長締結的軍事同盟清洲同盟，又稱為織德同盟、尾三同盟，為左右日後日本歷史發展的重要同盟，是戰國時期許多盟約中締結雙方恪守諾言最好、維持時間最長的一個盟約。

清洲同盟後，永祿六年（1563年）又爆發遍布西三河全境的一向一揆，當時松平元康的部分家臣加入了一揆軍，包括了本多正信及三方原之戰中慷慨赴義的夏目吉信，這是松平元康人生中的第一個大危機，這對當時只領有三河半國的元康是動搖國本的戰爭。經過元康近半年的苦心征戰，最終用攻心的方法將其瓦解。就這樣，岡崎周邊地區不安要素被掃除。從此，元康開始推動對今川氏的攻略。拉攏東三河的戶田氏和西鄉氏這樣的豪族的同時，軍隊向東推進，消滅了鵜殿氏一樣的敵對勢力。永祿九年（1566年）平定東三河、奧三河（三河國北部），統一三河國。

同年，自朝廷得到從五位下、三河守的任命。不久，松平元康自稱松平氏是清和源氏族新田氏的支流得川氏之末裔，並把「得川」改為「德川」，並於永祿九年十二月二十九日（1567年2月18日）得敕許，改姓德川。又把從今川義元拜領到的「元」字改為「家」字。這就是後世熟知的德川家康名字的由來。

永祿十一年（1568年），甲斐國的武田信玄開始侵略駿河今川的領地（駿河侵攻），武田信玄遣使至岡崎拜會家康，協議兩家出兵消滅今川氏，並約定戰後以大井川為界，以西歸松平氏，往東屬武田家，史稱大井川會盟。酒井忠次代表家康要求以割讓遠江國今川舊領為條件而與武田氏結成同盟，呼應駿河侵攻。同年年底，在武田大破駿府城後家康軍攻克今川領遠江國的曳馬城。

永祿十二年（1569年）駿府城失守後，今川氏的新居城挂川城又遭到包圍。氏真本固守城池，在籠城戰的最後，家康進行開城勸告的呼籲，氏真終于投降。自此家康開始支配遠江國。今川氏遭到覆滅的命運，今川氏真也被放逐。從此家康又多獲得了廿多萬石的領地，同時提高三河在諸大名眼中的地位。元龜元年（1570年），家康公將治所遷往曳馬城，改名濱松。

家康東進的同時，信長也邁出了統一全國的第一步。永祿十一年（1568年），織田信長奉室町幕府第十三代將軍足利義輝的弟弟義昭行上京之途，家康也向信長派遣了援軍。當足利義昭以信長包圍網的外交及戰略包圍織田信長時，企圖以副將軍一職來說服家康，然而家康拒絕足利義昭並繼續協助織田信長。元龜元年（1570年）織田氏和德川氏聯軍在姊川（今滋賀縣長濱市野村町附近）與淺井氏、朝倉氏對壘，史稱「姊川合戰」（日語：姉川の戰い）。此戰，德川軍以少勝多擊敗朝倉軍，又配合織田軍擊敗淺井軍，立下大功。

元龜三年（1572年）10月，信長包圍網的參與者之一武田信玄動員兩萬五千人意圖進軍京都（上洛），途經家康的遠江國。當時的家康無論是兵力、戰略以及實力也比不上信玄。起初信玄剛剛入侵遠江國時家康向信長求救，但由于忙于對付近畿一帶的反信長勢力，信長沒有派遣援兵並寫信建議家康放棄遠江退回三河。但是家康並沒有採納信長的建議，也沒有立刻出兵與武田對決。隨著遠江北部的城池一座座被信玄佔領（一部分被攻破，另一部分投降），二俁城成為信玄的下一個目標。家康由于等待信長的援軍而沒有救援二俁城，但是當佐久間信盛率領的織田家援軍到達時二俁城已經陷落，家康的居城濱松城暴露在武田家的面前。當武田軍行軍至濱松城北面時突然掉轉方向北上三方原，德川軍亦尾隨至三方原，于同年十二月二十二日下午，兩軍已經在三方原完成布陣。由于雙方兵力懸殊，且用兵之妙信玄又略高一籌，兩軍交戰至下午六時時德川、織田聯軍大敗，織田援將平手泛秀戰死。此戰德川家死傷一千六百餘人，眾多家臣戰死，家康曾一度想要切腹。其部下分四批陸續扮成德川家康吸引了信玄軍兵力，家康本人最終在家臣的拼命保護下突圍逃回濱松城。史稱三方原會戰。傳說家康遭武田軍山縣昌景追擊時，曾嚇到拉褲子。他讓人當場繪下自己愁苦的樣子，作為日後激勵之用。該畫像稱為「顰像」。至于武田信玄則繼續西征，但攻下野田城後突然折返，原因是信玄病重不久病逝。武田信玄死後，織田信長同年先後消滅了室町幕府以及朝倉義景和淺井久政，淺井長政父子。整體上威脅織田和德川的勢力暫時結束。戰國大勢趨于統一，而家康一面與武田氏對抗，一面加強領內建設。

天正二年（1574年），武田信玄死後繼承了武田家的武田勝賴率25,000大軍攻打高天神城，家康等待織田軍的增援，不過在增援到達前，高天神城已經被攻下。天正3年（1575年），武田勝賴率一萬五千人再次攻擊德川的領地長篠城，守方奧平信昌僅用500兵死守一段時間。同年5月，德川氏聯合意欲一口氣掃平武田氏的織田氏于長篠設樂原大破武田勝賴。織田信長命令士兵一人帶一把木柴，紮成一道柵欄，用3000火槍兵輪番出擊，射死上千武田氏騎兵。雖然兩軍死傷甚多，不過武田軍損失了多名大將，間接使武田家衰退，是為「長篠之戰」。

天正七年（1579年），有謠言說德川家康正妻築山殿（本名叫瀨名姬，出生于駿河庵原郡瀨名鄉，關口親永之女，母親是今川義元的妹妹，血緣上即是今川義元的甥女）聯合兒子信康（德川家康嫡長子）欲倒向武田家，以及築山殿和信康對待其妻德姬（織田信長次女）態度惡劣。因此信長下令家康立刻處決築山殿以及信康，最後築山在流放途中被家臣刺殺，信康則是切腹謝罪。

天正十年（1582年），織田和德川攻打武田領地，首先是木曾義昌背叛武田家，接著信長和家康和後北條氏政分三路攻擊武田的根據地，武田家臣則開始大量倒戈，導致織田、德川、北條三方聯軍只花了一個月就殲滅了武田家。勝賴在天目山將武田家第二十代家督的身分傳給嫡子武田信勝以完成信玄的遺願，完成信玄的遺願後，與妻子切腹自盡。家康因其戰功，被信長增封家康駿河一國。信長頒布武田狩獵令，即任何與武田有關的人都要撲殺（武田氏家臣穴山梅雪因投降信長免遭處罰），家康則暗中命令井伊直政招降並藏匿武田家的遺臣（此即後來在小牧·長久手之戰大放異彩的井伊赤備隊），與織田信長殺害遺臣有所分別，而江戶時代的武田氏族幾乎是家康在此時所藏匿的。

秀吉時代（1582年～1598年）

天正10年6月2日（1582年6月21日），消滅武田氏的勢力後，信長招待家康到安土城，部下嫌料理難吃（大多說法是信長嫌主辦人明智光秀招待不周，魚蝦有腥臭），信長當場懲處光秀。6月2日，光秀謀反，以迅雷不及掩耳之勢包圍京都本能寺，信長失蹤，史稱本能寺之變。信長一死，各大名之間展開了激烈鬥爭，爭奪政權。本能寺之變時德川家康正在堺市（又稱「堺港」，現位于大阪府中部），因急取近道需經伊賀返回三河，期間由德川四天王酒井忠次、本多忠勝、榊原康政、井伊直政、服部正成、茶屋四郎次郎（清延）等人護送平安回到三河，才免遭危難，後稱「神君伊賀穿越」。此時羽柴秀吉在山崎之戰（又稱天王山之戰）擊敗明智光秀。明智光秀逃亡至時小慄棲被專門獵殺落魄武士的農民擒擭。

天正10年，家康在平安回到岡崎後，乘機發兵進攻統治空窗期的武田舊領，與同時窺伺武田舊領的北條氏發生激烈衝突，期間依田信蕃、真田昌幸的奇襲作戰成功的截斷北條軍的補給線，北條軍在將上野與佐久郡僅有的軍力投入後亦無法挽回頹勢，尤其關東平原的佐竹義重此時又開始蠢蠢欲動，使北條終于決定與德川講和。10月29日締結和議，內容如下：一、氏直迎娶家康之女督姬。二、甲斐、信濃歸家康所有，上野則放任北條侵吞，互不幹涉。戰爭至此告一段落。

本能寺之變後，羽柴秀吉迅速趕回並成功打敗明智光秀和政敵柴田勝家之後，成為織田家家臣中，最具威望和實力之人。而此時，織田信長次子織田信雄亦日益感受到秀吉對他的極大威脅。于天正十一年（1583年），與德川家康聯合，對抗羽柴秀吉。天正十二年（1584年）3月，秀吉挾其在山崎、賤岳兩戰皆勝之餘威號稱約12萬5千餘名大軍準備開戰。當時德川軍加上信雄兵力，總數約6萬餘人，處于劣勢。于是家康在經過深思熟慮之後，所採用策略是：取內線集中優勢兵力以主動攻勢為原則，且視時機而動。3月28日德川家康急行軍抵達小牧山和自長島趕來的織田信雄軍一起集結布陣。秀吉軍遠道而來，師勞兵疲，兵力雖多，但德川軍防守嚴密，不敢貿然進攻，于是採用池田恆興所建議之迂迴戰術（另一說為其養子三好秀次所建議），派2萬大軍意圖直接攻擊德川居城三河岡崎城，使德川軍軍心動搖，不戰而敗；且小牧山地勢孤立，如果軍隊繞至小牧山後，來個前後夾攻，德川軍必敗無疑。而家康早已得到情報，並在必經之路長久手谷地設伏，池田軍大敗。當秀吉趕來救援為時已晚，戰爭于是陷入殭持階段，由于長期交戰軍兵疲憊，再加上德川家康又遲遲不與秀吉就此一戰，迫使羽柴秀吉與織田信雄單方面進行和談。自此之後，德川家康即在戰略上陷入孤立態勢。12月，德川家康基于政治及戰略考量下將次子于義丸（即後來的結城秀康）送與秀吉作養子，臣服于羽柴秀吉。

天正十三年（1585年）德川氏和北條氏雙方達成分割武田家遺領的協議。可當德川家康要求當地領主真田昌幸歸還沼田城給北條氏時，真田以此地為我故有支配而拒絕，並與敵對關係的上杉氏友好。同年7月，回到濱松城的家康得知真田昌幸謀反，立即于8月派7千兵力開赴上田城，而真田軍兵力只有1千5百人。8月2日德川軍進攻二丸遭受猛力反擊而撤退，在撤退期間同時遭到上田城城兵的追擊和來自戶石城的側面攻擊，德川軍因而陷入混亂，在追擊戰中矢澤城的士兵同時出擊。結果在神川，德川軍多數的士兵溺死。真田軍憑藉的地形之利使德川軍戰死達1千3百人，而己方只損失40人。不久真田方得知上杉軍派出增援部隊，28日德川軍開始撤退。大久保忠世諸將還留在城內打算奮力一拼。但是11月德川的譜代重臣石川數正出奔到豐臣家，至此德川軍完全放棄，全軍退出。此戰在《真田軍記》和《三河物語》都有記錄。真田昌幸因此被評為擁有優秀智謀的武將，也因此家康對真田氏評價頗高，故改採懷柔政策，將本多忠勝女兒本多小松嫁給昌幸長子信之。

天正17年（1589年）後北條氏拒絕臣服豐臣家，于是豐臣秀吉下令全日本大名討伐北條。家康在支援戰線上有不少功勞，以家康為主力的軍隊從東海道向小田原進發，最終北條氏在小田原城被包圍一段時間後投降。關白豐臣秀吉就此統一日本。戰後家康轉封關東，領有相模國、伊豆國、武藏國、上野國大部、下野國小部、下總國、上總國（至關原之戰時，約為二百五十五萬七千石），修建江戶城為主城。家康移封關東之事一宣布，內藤修理亮清成便奉家康令，率領大谷莊兵衛、村田右衛門等人，正式接受城池。天正18年八月初一，德川家康踏上了決定他後半生命運的江戶土地。

奪取霸權、關原之戰（1598年～1600年）

慶長三年（1598年），豐臣秀吉病逝，繼承人是只有六歲的獨子豐臣秀賴。豐臣秀吉於病逝前設立五大老和五奉行，家康為五大老首席。家康在秀吉病逝前，安排與部分大名進行婚姻，又在秀吉死後，私自分封領地；因此開始造成其他中老和奉行的不滿，尤以石田三成最為不滿，三成的行動惹來了加藤清正、福島正則等人襲擊(文治、武鬥派鬥爭)。在家康安排下，三成在佐和山城隱居。家康繼續在伏見城及大阪城執行政務。

慶長四年（1599年）在大阪城祝賀秀賴時，家康公察覺了對自己的暗殺計劃，主謀者是前田利長、淺野長政、大野治長及土方雄久。大阪城內要求討伐前田利長的聲勢高昂。家康在準備出兵之際，前田利長將他的生母芳春院送往江戶城成為人質，事件得以平息。

不過，不滿家康的聲音並沒有減退，戶澤正盛匯報東北地方大名上杉景勝積極進行軍備，行動極不尋常，家康派遣使者要求景勝匯報甚至迫使上洛。上杉景勝沒有理會警告，其家臣直江兼續寫了《直江狀》指責家康，家康看過後大怒，終在5月3日發表討伐上杉的宣言。雖然五奉行中的前田玄以、長束正家和增田長盛以及三中老的中村一氏及生駒親正要求中止出征，但家康決意行動，6月16日由大阪城出發，7月2日到達江戶城。

7月中旬，石田三成與部分支持豐臣家的大名開始有所行動，以打倒家康為目的，7月18日包圍伏見城，並開始進行攻擊。8月1日西軍攻下了伏見城。7月24日家康在小山的時候，斥候匯報了石田三成起兵的舉動。家康在7月25日進行小山評定，大部分的隨行大名支持德川家康的行動，並立即折返到江戶城。

8月家康回到江戶城，並派遣先鋒部隊在東海地方及東近畿地方交戰。家康在9月1日出發，9月14日到達美濃。9月15日雙方在關原交戰，最初的形勢對東軍不利，西軍逐步進迫到本陣；不過到了中午左右，保持中立的小早川秀秋受到德川軍恐嚇射擊後叛變支持東軍，形勢得以扭轉（也有論點認為小早川秀秋早就已經暗地和德川家康勾結，射擊不過只是指示叛變時機的信號而已）。最後東軍在此場戰爭取勝，自此權力落在德川家手中。

就任將軍、成立幕府（1600年～1614年）

戰後，家康積極處理政務，調配大名間的領土，而且經常在京都活動。為了成為將軍，他嘗試將德川氏的系譜改變（其實從「松平」改為「德川」時就早已改變了）。1603年（慶長八年），朝廷中的使者到達伏見城，德川家康正式被天皇冊封為征夷大將軍，並創立江戶幕府，也稱為德川幕府，同年將千姬嫁給豐臣秀賴以示友好。

慶長十年（1605年）德川家康把將軍之位交給三子德川秀忠，稱為大御所。家康公表面上在駿府城隱居，但實際上仍然以大御所的身分執掌一切政務，在岡本大八事件和大久保長安事件之中均由家康作主導。

征伐大阪、消滅豐臣（1614年～1615年）

在慶長十九年（1614年）的方廣寺鐘銘事件中，家康憑藉鐘銘內文「國家安康」，將「家康」之名諱分離，似乎有將德川家康斬首分屍之意，有對自己不利的等文句，嘗試迫使秀賴完全臣服；但是豐臣方擺出備戰的姿態：豐臣軍積極招募浪人，加強軍備，但卻沒有大名加入大阪方（除了阿波的蜂須賀家政但被家督至鎮勸說，放棄舉兵），致使德川家康下令各諸侯準備攻擊大阪城。德川軍在11月15日開始進行攻擊，並步步進迫，迫使豐臣的軍隊撤回大阪城內，12月4日前田軍和松平軍擅自攻擊真田丸，遭到真田幸村的猛烈反抗，結果大敗。家康最終利用大筒直接攻擊大阪城，迫使澱殿（豐臣秀賴的母親澱夫人）提出交涉，雙方達成協議，豐臣方面要求德川不得處分秀賴等參戰諸將，秀賴、澱殿不用前往江戶作人質，家康看似寬大的爽快答應，唯一的條件是：將大阪方面除了本丸外所有外城及城防一併拆除並且填平護城溝(這樣為了更好攻陷大阪城，而做出的舉動。)。至此大阪城成了一座裸城，戰事暫告停止，稱大阪冬之陣。

1615年，填平了一切壕溝，拆毀了二丸、三丸的大阪城形同裸城一般，家康見時機成熟再次出兵，而豐臣軍在這次戰役雖然積極迎擊，但是只剩本丸的大阪城比山砦還不如，德川軍在多處地方相繼捷報，最終迫近大阪城。但在天王寺岡山之戰中，家康一度陷入危機，真田幸村擊潰松平忠直帶領的一萬五千越後兵壓進家康本陣，導致家康旗本眾大崩潰，本陣倒退數里後才穩下陣腳，這也是家康一生除了三方原之戰外最狼狽的一戰，甚至一度被真田軍勢逼得差點自盡，本陣部隊竟然死傷潰散到只剩近衛小慄正忠一人在德川家康身邊 ，最後勉強逃出一命；同時德川秀忠在岡山戰鬥，亦因為過於突出，遭到大野軍的突擊陷入混亂，當眾將聽聞家康有危險而作出救援，在兵力懸殊的優勢下，德川軍最終取得勝利。家康為了斬草除根徹底滅掉豐臣家血脈，豐臣秀賴被逼切腹自盡，遺兒國松在戰後不久被擄獲而處死，豐臣家宣布正式滅亡，是為大阪夏之陣。

晚年（1615年～1616年）

元和元年（1615年）大阪之役後,家康公實行一國一城令和武家諸法度等政策，維持國家穩定。元和二年（1616年）正月，在一次出外獵鷹時突然腹痛倒下，從此臥病不起。3月17日受朝廷任命為太政大臣。四月十七日（公曆6月1日）巳時（約上午10時），德川家康公病逝於駿府城內，享壽七十四歲。

同年，二代將軍德川秀忠遵照父親的遺囑，將德川家康的靈柩從駿府城移靈至久能山東照宮（靜岡縣靜岡市）停靈一年後，元和三年（1617年)三月十五日，再從久能山東照宮移靈至日光東照宮（今栃木縣日光市山上)。四月十七日（6月1日）舉行下葬儀式，牌位入大殿供奉。死後尊稱神君, 追贈正一位，並賜予神號東照大權現，法名安國院。

官位

家族

;先祖

;妻妾

;子

女

;養子

;養女

逸事

• 以節儉聞名，當看到加裝飾的便器時立刻叫人砸爛。在三河時夏天就吃麥飯，有時叫部下也吃摻了麥的米飯，說是農民夏天最勞苦，怎麼能自己一個吃飽飯。有一次馬廄壞了，他說這樣能養出更頑強的馬，于是不加修理。還叫人反覆發掘駿河舊鑄錢所遺蹟，掘出了相當金千兩的銅。

登場作品

;書籍

• 三河物語（大久保忠教著）

• 信長公記（太田牛一著）

;小說

• 德川家康（講談社、山岡莊八著）

• （新潮社、司馬遼太郎著）

• （新潮社、司馬遼太郎著）

• （新潮社、司馬遼太郎著）

• 影武者德川家康（新潮社、隆慶一郎著）

• 乾坤之夢（文藝春秋、著）

• （Delacorte Press and 、著）

;影視劇

• （1940年、日活、演：宗春太郎）

• 太閤記（1957年、NTV、演：）

• （1960年、松竹、演：）

• （1961年、東映、演：）

• （1962年、ABC、演：中研二）

• 德川家康（1964年、NET、演：市川右太衛門）

• （1964年、東寶、演：）

• （1965年、NHK大河劇、演：尾上菊藏）

• （1965年、東映、演：北大路欣也）

• 戰國太平記 真田幸村（1966年、TBS、演：）

• 大奧（1968年、KTV、演：）

• （1969年、ABC、演：）

• 天與地（1969年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• （1969年、CX、演：）

• （1970年、KTV、演：）

• （1971年、KTV、演：）

• （1971年、NHK大河劇、演：山村聰）

• （1973年、NHK大河劇、演：寺尾聰）

• （1973年、NET、演：）

• （1978年、KTV、演：乃木年雄）

• （1978年、NHK大河劇、演：兒玉清）

• （1979年、東映、演：）

• 影武者（1980年、東寶、演：）

• （1980年、NTV、演：）

• （1980年、東映、演：）

• （1980年、NHK、演：）

• 女太閤記（1981年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• （1981年、TBS、演：）

• 戰國的女子們（1982年、CX、演：）

• 大奧（1983年、KTV、演：若山富三郎）

• （1983年、NTV、演：三船敏郎）

• 德川家康（1983年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• （1985年、NHK、演：）

• （1985年、TX、演：）

• （1986年、TBS、演：）

• （1987年、TBS、演：）

• 獨眼龍政宗（1987年、NHK大河劇、演：津川雅彥）

• 野風之笛（1987年、NTV、演：）

• （1987年、TX、演：）

• 武田信玄（1988年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• 春日局（1989年、NHK大河劇、演：丹波哲郎）

• （1988年、TBS、演：）

• 阿市御寮人（1989年、NTV、演：）

• （1989年、TBS、演：真田廣之）

• （1989年、TX、演：若山富三郎）

• （1989年、東寶、演：熊田正春）

• （1989年、松竹、演：）

• （1990年、東映、演：若山富三郎）

• （1990年、TX、演：）

• （1991年、TBS、演：）

• （1992年、松竹、演：）

• 信長KING OF ZIPANGU（1992年、NHK大河劇、演：鄉裕美）

• 德川家康 戰國最後的勝利者（1992年、ANB、演：北大路欣也）

• （1993年、TBS、演：三浦友和）

• 獨眼龍的野望 伊達政宗（1993年、ANB、演：石橋蓮司）

• 琉球之風（1993年、NHK大河劇、演：小林旭）

• （1994年、TX、演：風間杜夫）

• 愛與野望的獨眼龍 伊達政宗（1995年、TBS、演：山城新伍）

• （1995年、TX、演：竹中直人）

• 影武者織田信長（1996年、ANB、演：）

• 秀吉（1996年、NHK大河劇、演：西村雅彥）

• （1997年、TX、演：）

• （1998年、ANB、演：）

• 梟之城（1999年、東寶、演：）

• （1999年、NHK、演：里見浩太朗）

• 葵德川三代（2000年、NHK大河劇、演：津川雅彥）

• 利家與松（2002年、NHK大河劇、演：高嶋政宏）

• （2003年、CX、演：）

• 武藏MUSASHI（2003年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• 大奧 第一章（2004年、CX、演：）

• （2005年、TX、演：澤村一樹）

• （2006年、EX、演：）

• 功名十字路（2006年、NHK大河劇、演：西田敏行）

• （2006年、TX、演：山崎努）

• （2006年、EX、演：西鄉輝彥）

• 茶茶 天涯的貴妃（2007年、東映、演：中村獅童）

• （2007年、EX、演：椎名桔平）

• 風林火山（2007年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• （2008年、EX、演：松平健）

• 大盜石川五右衛門（2009年、松竹、演：伊武雅刀）

• 寧寧：女太閤記（2009年、TX、演：）

• （2010年、TX、演：石橋蓮司）

• 天地人（2009年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• （2011年、TX、演：松平定知）

• 江~公主們的戰國~（2011年、NHK大河劇、演：北大路欣也）

• 信長的主廚（2013年、EX、演：竹山隆範）

• 女信長（2013年、CX、演：藤木直人）

• 軍師官兵衛 （2014年、NHK大河劇、演：寺尾聰）

• 信長協奏曲（2014年、CX、演：濱田岳）

• （2015年、NHK、演：）

• （2016年、TX、演：）

• 真田丸（2016年、NHK大河劇、演：內野聖陽）

• 石川五右衛門（2016年、TX、演：）

• 女城主 直虎（2017年、NHK大河劇、演：阿部貞夫）

• （2017年、東寶、演：役所廣司）

• （2017年、CX、演：）

• （2019年、NHK、演：市村正親）

• 麒麟來了（2020年、NHK大河劇、演：風間俊介）

• 直衝青天（2021年、NHK大河劇、演：北大路欣也）

• （2021年、CX、演：鈴鹿央士）

• 家康怎麼辦（2023年、NHK大河劇、演：松本潤）

;動漫畫

• 德川家康（講談社、山岡莊八著・橫山光輝畫）

• 影武者德川家康（集英社、隆慶一郎著・原哲夫畫）

• 銀魂（集英社、空知英秋作）

• 信長協奏曲（小學館、石井步作）

• 少年德川家康（1975年、NET電視台、配音：）

;遊戲

• Crash Fever (超巫師級)

• 戰國無雙系列（配音：中田讓治）

• 戰國BASARA系列（配音：大川透）

• 信長之野望系列

• 太閣立志傳系列

• 世紀帝國3:亞洲王朝

• 戰國蘭斯

• 美男戰國：穿越時空之戀（配音：增田俊樹）

• 人中之龍 見參!（配音：阪脩）

• 激鬥棒球魂

• 仁王 (光榮、配音：市村正親)

;模型玩具

• 真空路守 NO.1 家康張斬

• Doyusha童友社1/3名刀二刀豐臣秀吉

• Doyusha童友社1/3日本名刀系列SW6~德川家康所用-葵紋太刀拵~日光東照宮藏

• Doyusha童友社 兜kabuto 德川家康

• Doyusha童友社 1/4 德川家康 南蠻鉢齒朵之兜

• bb戰士 NO.355 SD戰國傳 武神降臨篇 德川家康頑駄無

;其他

• 豐田汽車ReBORN系列廣告（演：堺雅人）

注釋