The Battle of Norada (野良田の戦い) took place during Japan's Sengoku period between forces under Azai Nagamasa and Rokkaku Yoshikata in the year 1560.[1]

Battle of Norada
Part of the Sengoku period
Date1560
Location
Kohoku in Ōmi Province
Result Azai victory
Belligerents
Azai clan Rokkaku clan
Commanders and leaders
Azai Nagamasa
Akao Kiyotsuna
Endō Naotsune
Kaihō Tsunachika
Dodo Kuranosuke 
Kyōgoku Takayoshi
Rokkaku Yoshikata
Strength
11,000 25,000

Azai Nagamasa had previously been a retainer under the Rokkaku clan, and sought independence from the Rokkaku; Rokkaku Yoshikata meanwhile sought to consolidate his power through subjugation of the Azai.

Battle

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Rokkaku Yoshikata's force numbered 25,000 and outnumbered Azai Nagamasa's force by over two to one as it counted only 11,000. Both sides arrived on the battlefield unimpeded and even before engaging, Rokkaku troops defeated the army of Dodo Kuranosuke. After that easy skirmish, they believed they had already won the battle. Highly motivated under Nagamasa, his troops charged unintimidated and in the chaos of the battle, the Rokkaku force collapsed and retreated under heavy losses.

Aftermath

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The Azai clan ousted their defunct leader Azai Hisamasa, replacing him with Nagamasa. The Rokkaku clan fell into disarray with retainers questioning Yoshikata's rule; his strength weakened never to recover to its height.

References

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  1. ^ Glenn, Chris (2023-01-05). The Samurai Castle Master: Warlord Todo Takatora. Frontline Books. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-3990-9661-4.