HE swiftly annexed Suwa County and pacified Saku County.
The Suwa clan, which was a Shinto priest overseeing the Suwa-taisha shrine, used its religious authority to grow into influential warlords within the Suwa region. The Suwa clan reached its peak during Suwa Yorimitsu era, but was annexed by Shingen during the reign of his grandson Suwa Yorishige. It is also the family home of Takeda Katsuyori’s mother (Suwa Goryonin)
Takeda Shingen, after inheriting his family’s leadership, initiated an invasion of Suwa County in June of the 11th year of the Tenbun era (1542) and ultimately conquered the Suwa clan, who were the lords of Uehara Castle.
Shingen assigned his trusted retainer, Itagaki Nobukata, in charge of Uehara Castle and expanded his domain beyond its borders. Battles ensued with figures like Takato Yoritsugu, the lord of Takato Castle in Kamiina County, and Fujisawa Yorichika, the lord of Minowa Castle, but by the 14th year of the Tenbun era, Shingen had successfully pacified these regions.
Shingen began his expansion into Saku County in the 12th year of the Tenbun era. He compelled Iwamurada Oi Sadataka to surrender and exiled the lord of Mochizuki Castle, to Komoro. Later, in the 15th year of Tenbun era, he also secured the surrender of Oi Sadakiyo (the son of Oi Sadataka) of Uchiyama Castle. In the 16th year of Tenbun era, he not only defeated the lord of Shiga Castle but also defeated the Uesugi’s forces that came as reinforcements. While the lords of Komoro Castle and other surrounding local clans in Saku County, supported by the Uesugi clan, continued to resist stubbornly, the situation was clearly in favor of the Takeda clan.
Shingen suffered his first defeat in February of the 17th year of the Tenbun era, when he battled against Murakami Yoshikiyo, the lord of Katsurao Castle in the Uedahara battle. Rebellions against Takeda broke out in Saku and Suwa, but in the Battle of the Shiojiri Pass (Shiojiritoge) in July, Shingen defeated Ogasawara Nagatoki, the guardian of Shinano Province, and once again pacified Suwa and Saku Counties.
In the 19th year of the Tenbun era, Shingen attacked and expelled Ogasawara Nagatoki from Chikuma County. He then attempted to capture Murakami faction by attacking Toishi Castle in Chisagata County. However, Shingen suffered his second defeat in this campaign.
Starting with the exile of Ogasawara Nagatoki, followed by continuous battles with Murakami Yoshikiyo.
Despite suffering defeats, there were no large-scale uprisings, and Shingen was able to conquer Azumi County in the 21st year of the Tenbun era. The next year, he defeated the former Ogasawara faction in Chikuma District who were still resisting with the support of Murakami Yoshikiyo. Shingen marched from Matsumoto along the Hokkoku road to capture Yoshikiyo. Along the way, he compelled various strongholds like Kariyahara Castle to surrender and other castles one after another. Pressured by the momentum of the Takeda army, the local clans of the former Ogasawara faction surrendered to Shingen.
As the Takeda forces attacked the Murakami faction’s local clans, and in the face of the overwhelming power of the Takeda army, they gradually abandoned Murakami side and pledged allegiance to the Takeda clan one after another. As a result, Yoshikiyo found himself in a situation where his main stronghold, Katsurao Castle, was besieged. Therefore, Yoshikiyo abandoned Katsurao Castle and fled to Echigo in April of 22nd year of the Tenbun Period
In the 23rd year of the Tenbun era, Shingen defeated Kiso Yoshiyasu and his son Yoshimasa, who were the lords of Kiso Fukushima Castle. He then marched further into Shimoina. It is said that Ogasawara Nobutaka, lord of Matsuo Castle, had defected to Shingen. Shingen, under the pretense of supporting Matsuo Ogasawara in reclaiming their territory, marched into Shimoina,
He expelled Ogasawara, secured the surrender of the Shimoina, and in October, forced the lord of Kannomine Castle, Yoritomoto Chiku, who had continued to resist, to surrender as well, thus completely conquering Shimoina and pacifying the region.
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