Each great samurai warlord, or daimyo, had a 'household division'
of troops, known as the Hatamoto - 'those who stand under the
flag'. The Hatamoto included the personal bodyguards, both horse
(uma mawari) and foot (kachi); the senior generals (bugyo), the
standard bearers and color-guard, couriers, and other samurai under
the warlord's personal command.
Apart from bodyguard and other duties in immediate attendance on
the daimyo, both horse and foot guards often played crucial roles
in battle - their intervention could turn defeat into victory, and
their collapse meant final disaster. As favored fighting men under
the warlord's eye, members of the bodyguards could hope for
promotion, and some rose to be daimyo themselves.
All three great leaders of the 16-17th century - including Oda,
Hideyoshi and Tokugawa - had their own elite corps. Such troops
were naturally distinguished by dazzling apparel and heraldry, with
banners both carried and attached to the back of the armor, all of
which are detailed in an array of color artwork specially created
for this publication.
General
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