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Tokugawa gained military control over all the local daimyo.
A strong military family, the Tokugawa, was able to seize military control of every local daimyo in 1600. In Edo, now known as Tokyo, the Tokugawa established a considerably more powerful bureaucratic military government. It governed every aspect of society, including the agricultural and business spheres. -
The Era of Warring States
In the 15th and 16th centuries the era of warring states took place. There were dozens of stand alone states and they were at conflict with one another. The need for warriors was high at this time and there weren`t enough samurai to protect everyone. -
Invasion of Ryuku
From March through May of 1609, armies from the Satsuma feudal domain in Japan invaded Ryukyu, which began the Ryukyu Kingdom's status as a vassal state under the Satsuma kingdom. During the campaign, the Ryukyuan military fiercely resisted the invasion force on all but one of the islands. In addition to its long-standing tribute connection with China, Ryukyu would continue to be a vassal state under Satsuma until it was formally annexed by Japan as the Okinawa Prefecture in 1879. -
Nossa Senhora da Graça incident
The Nossa Senhora da Graça incident, also known as the Madre de Deus incident, was a four-day naval battle in 1610 between a Portuguese carrack and Japanese samurai junks belonging to the Arima clan near Nagasaki's waters. -
Siege of Osaka
The Siege of Osaka (, saka no Eki, or, more colloquially, saka no Jin) was a series of battles fought by the Japanese Tokugawa shogunate against the Toyotomi clan, which resulted in the Toyotomi clan's destruction. -
Shimabara Rebellion
Matsukura Katsuie, the daimy of the Shimabara Domain, implemented unpopular policies instituted by his father, Matsukura Shigemasa, such as drastically raising taxes to fund the construction of the new Shimabara Castle and violently prohibiting Christianity. -
Shakushain's revolt
Between 1669 and 1672, Shakushain's revolt was an Ainu rebellion against Japanese authority on Hokkaido. It was led by Ainu chieftain Shakushain against the Matsumae clan, which represented Japanese trading and governmental interests in the Hokkaido region, which was then under Japanese control (Yamato people). -
Menashi–Kunashir rebellion
The Menashi-Kunashir rebellion, also known as the Menashi-Kunashir battle, occurred in 1789 on the Shiretoko Peninsula in northeastern Hokkaido between Ainu and Wajin. It all started in May 1789, when Ainu attacked Wajin on Kunashir Island, as well as parts of the Menashi District and at sea. Over 70 Wajin were killed. -
Battle of Shimonoseki Straits
The USS Wyoming, commanded by Captain David McDougal, sailed into the strait and engaged the US-built but undermanned Japanese fleet alone. McDougal engaged for nearly two hours before withdrawing, sinking two enemy vessels and severely damaging the other, inflicting forty Japanese casualties. Wyoming sustained significant damage, with four crew members killed and seven injured. -
The End of the Samurai
As the value of martial arts declined, many samurai became bureaucrats, teachers, or artists. The feudal era in Japan ended in 1868, and the samurai class was abolished a few years later.
