Honda Tadakatsu is widely recognized as one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's best generals, having participated in nearly all of his master's key conflicts. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Anegawa (1570), when he assisted in the defeat of the troops of the Azai and Asakura clans with Tokugawa's ally, Oda Nobunaga. Later that year, during the Siege of Odawara, he was appointed commander in chief of the defense forces but was defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Despite this loss, he continued to serve Tokugawa Ieyasu until his death in 1598. After Tadakatsu's death, his son Honda Tsunehisa followed in his footsteps and served as one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's most loyal generals during the last years of the war against Hideyori. In 1612, after the victory over the combined forces of Oda Nobutada and Tokugawa Hidetaka, Honda Toshinaga was officially promoted to the rank of brigadier general and assigned to command the garrison of Edo (modern-day Tokyo). However, because of his father's reputation, many samurai from other provinces came to serve under him, so that by the time he died in December of that same year, he was given the title of colonel general.