Oda Nobunaga was one of the greatest of Samurai commanders. His ruthless military campaigns were a major element in the unification of Japan. By 1568 he had taken Kyoto and deposed the last Ashikaga Shogun, Yoshiaki. At Anegawa, Nobunaga's victory over the Asai and Askura clans further strenghtened his territorial acquisitions. Nobunaga's 12-year campaign against the tenacious and fanatical populist Buddist Ikko-Ikki army as well as the Tendai Buddist warrior monks on the Hiezan holy mountain were major military feats which eluded many other daimyos.
In 1582, Nobunaga responded to an emergency request for reinforcements by General Hideyoshi who was locked in battle with the Mori and sent a portion of his forces to assist. The departure of much of his army left Nobunaga vulnerable, and the traitorous General Akechi struck. Nobunaga was trapped in Honnoji Temple, which was set on fire. Before the fires engulfed him, Nobunaga committed suicide.
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