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Hattori Hanzo (1542-23 December 1615), also called Oni no Hanzo (Devil Hanzo) was the daimyo of the Iga-Ikki clan, a general and retainer of the Tokugawa clan, and a famed ninja. He fought in the Battle of Anegawa in 1570, his first battle, and was engaged in most of the battles that Ieyasu Tokugawa fought.
Biography[]
Hattori Hanzo was born in Mikawa Province to the Hanzo clan, who served the Tokugawa clan. He often returned to Iga Province, the home of the Hanzo clan, and he trained as a professional ninja. He taught many ninjas such as Nene, the wife of Hideyoshi Hashiba. His first battle was the Battle of Anegawa in 1570, followed by Mikatagahara in 1573.
Hanzo's most famous feat was the escape from Iga in 1582, in which he escorted his master Ieyasu Tokugawa and the Tokugawa army away from the army of Mitsuhide Akechi, who had slew Nobunaga Oda and took over Kyoto. He was able to hold back the Akechi army and prevent Tokugawa from being assassinated en route to safety, and he gained fame for appearing and disappearing, as well as other ninja skills.
He proceeded to serve under Ieyasu for the rest of his life, taking part in the Fall of Odawara, where he infiltrated the Hojo castle by grasping the feet of an eagle as it flew. Hanzo later fought in the 1600 Battle of Sekigahara, where he launched sneak attacks on the Western Army lines. His other great feat occurred in 1615 during the Siege of Osaka, where he snuck into the Osaka Castle Main Ward and mortally wounded Hideyori Toyotomi. During the battle he mortally wounded his old apprentice Nene, who died in his arms, having fought for her husband's family in the battle. Hanzo died soon after the battle, possibly of wounds.