Date Masamune

Date Masamune was a regional ruler of Japan's Azuchi–Momoyama period through early Edo period. Heir to a long line of powerful daimyō in the Tōhoku region, he went on to found the modern-day city of Sendai. An outstanding tactician, he was made all the more iconic for his missing eye, as Masamune was often called dokuganryū (独眼竜), or the "One-Eyed Dragon of Ōshū". As a legendary warrior and leader, Masamune is a character in a number of Japanese period dramas. Masamune succeeded his father, Terumune, as the head of the Date clan in 1584, at the age of 17. He quickly expanded his domain by conquering neighboring territories, often using diplomacy and alliances as well as military force. He supported the hegemons Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, and fought in many battles, such as the Battle of Hitotoribashi, the Siege of Kurokawa, the Battle of Suriagehara, the Korean Campaign, the Battle of Sekigahara, and the Osaka Campaign. Masamune was also interested in foreign culture and trade, and sent an embassy to Europe in 1613, which visited Spain, Italy, and the Vatican. He also welcomed missionaries and traders from Spain and Portugal, and allowed the construction of a Christian church in his domain. He was known for his cultural patronage, and encouraged the development of arts, crafts, and literature in his domain. He also built many castles, temples, and shrines, such as the Aoba Castle and the Zuihōden mausoleum. Masamune died in 1636, at the age of 68, from esophageal cancer. He was buried at the Zuihōden, where his descendants also rest. He was succeeded by his son, Tadamune, who continued to rule the Sendai domain until the Meiji Restoration. Masamune's legacy is still evident in the culture and history of Sendai and the Tōhoku region.