Background
Takatora Todo was born on February 16, 1556 Shiga, Japan. He was the second son of Torataka.
Statue of Tōdō Takatora at Imabari Castle.
高虎 藤堂
Takatora Todo was born on February 16, 1556 Shiga, Japan. He was the second son of Torataka.
Takatora Todo went into the service of Nagamasa Asai at an early age. He was only 14 when he fought for Nagamasa in the Battle of Anegawa, where his master was defeated and killed (1570).
Takatora Todo then joined Hidenaga Hashiba and distinguished himself in many battles including the expedition to Chugoku District, the battles of Shizugatake, Eomaki and Nagakute and conquests of Kyushu and Shikoku, for which he was granted the title of Lord of Sado with a fief of 10,000 koku of rice. Conquered Nirayama Castle in Izu (Shizuoka Prefecture) (1587), and the following year with the death of Hidenaga went into the services of Hideyasu, his ex-master's adopted son (1588).
During the Bunroku-no-Eki (invasion of Korea) commanded the naval fleet. When Hideyasu died he became a priest at Mount Koya. Hideyoshi, however, appointed him castellan of Uwajima Castle, and he participated in the second invasion of Korea and captured many castles (1597). After Hideyoshi's death he went into the services of Ieyasu Tokugawa, whose confidence he soon won, and was treated as a hereditary vassal. Distinguished himself again in the Sekigahara Battle (1600) for which he was made Castellan of Imabari Castle with half of Shikoku as his fief. Later was granted another fief of 220,000 koku in Ise (Mie Prefecture) and given the Tsu Castle for his residence and Ieyasu entrusted him with all affairs of the state.