Key Facts
- Duration
- Two weeks (13–27 September 1567)
- Campaign length
- Six years of intermittent warfare
- Rivalry origin
- Over 20 years before the siege
- Castle renamed
- Inabayama renamed Gifu Castle after victory
- Nobunaga's HQ
- Gifu Castle until Azuchi Castle built in 1575
Strategic Narrative Overview
The siege lasted only two weeks, from 13 to 27 September 1567. Nobunaga's retainer Kinoshita Tōkichirō—later known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi—played a decisive role: in prior years he had negotiated alliances with local warlords and constructed a forward staging castle on enemy territory. During the assault itself, Tōkichirō led a commando-style raid to infiltrate the castle and open its gates, enabling the main attacking force to break through.
01 / The Origins
The siege was the culmination of a six-year campaign by Oda Nobunaga to wrest control of Mino Province from the Saitō clan. The rivalry between the Oda and Saitō clans dated back more than twenty years, originating with Nobunaga's father, Oda Nobuhide, and Saitō Dōsan. Weak Saitō leadership in the years before the siege caused many samurai vassals and allies to defect to Nobunaga, significantly undermining the clan's ability to resist.
03 / The Outcome
The siege ended in decisive victory for Nobunaga. The Saitō clan was subjugated, and many remaining samurai submitted voluntarily. Nobunaga repaired and renamed the captured fortress Gifu Castle, using it as his primary residence and military headquarters. He gained control of fertile Mino Province along with new supporters and resources, positioning himself for an advance toward Kyoto. The victory also marked a turning point in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's rise to prominence.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Oda Nobunaga, Kinoshita Tōkichirō (Toyotomi Hideyoshi).
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.