Date Masamune

[CEWest]

,)


(well, I thought it was funny...)

[Tachikaze]

I get it.

Humor, arr arr!

Eye, for one, find it tasteless!

http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif

[Irving]

i don't get it.

someone clue me in. this humour is obviously to uhh err basic for me.. http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
Chaos is born from order.
Cowardice is born from bravery.
Weakness is born from strength.
-Sun Tzu

[Yagyu Jubei]

LOL
Date Masamune was a one eyed man!

[LordTed]

I am glad i know that now ')

[Yagyu Jubei]

Date Masamune
1567-1636

A hero of Ou who never failed to exhibit courage and skill

Founder of the state of Sendai, which was to become the acknowledged centre of the Tohoku region, he inherited the family headship in 1584. On the death of his father the following year, he single-mindedly set about expanding his territories. In 1589, he pacified the Aizu area bringing the vast expanses of southern Tohoku into his sway. He was feared by Hideyoshi who in 1590 brought Masamune onto his side at the campaign of Odawara, resulting in Hideyoshi's gaining control of the region.
Soon after the death of Hideyoshi, Masamune's eldest daughter was engaged to Ieyasu's son, Tadateru, aligning the Date and Tokugawa houses. At Sekigahara, he fought on the Oshu front, defeating the Uesugi, and for this his landholding of 620,00 koku was confirmed.
In 1601, Masamune improved Sendai Castle, and the town below, and conducted surveying and irrigation work, laying the foundations for the future wealth of the state of Sendai. In 1613, he received shogunal permission to explore trade with Europe, and sent Hasekura Tsunenaga to Rome, although by the time Tsunenaga returned in 1615, anti-Christian policies meant his efforts were wasted. Masamune died in his Edo mansion at Sakurada in 1636.
Sendai was a model of Momoyama culture, boasting excellent masters of poetry, calligraphy, tea and no theatre.
Masamune lost his right eye as a youth, and became known as the 'cyclops tiger'. But he was sensitive to this, and all posthumous portraits show his with both eyes.


taken from
http://www.sengoku-expo.net/E/menuindex.html



[This message has been edited by Yagyu Jubei (edited 12-31-2001).]

[CEWest]

A footnote to this, he 'lost' his eye to some sort of childhood illness, however, if I remember correctly, a vassal ripped the eye out of his head ostensibly to prevent that from happening in battle - apparently it must have been sticking out of the socket.
- I think I'd prefer risking losing it in battle...