Naomasa was born in Tôtômi province, the only son of Ii Naochika (A **Imagawa retainer executed in 1562). He entered the service of TOKUGAWA IYeyasu IN ABOUT 1578. He commanded 3,000 men at the Battle of Nagakute and did great damage to the ikeda troops WITH GUNNERY FIRE, BY UTILIZING THE RECENTLY OBTAINED "TANEGASHIMA" ("MATCHLOCK RIFLE"). WE HAVE A TANEGASHIMA "WALL GUN "  THAT IS INSCRIBED WITH THE " Ii " FAMILY "BANNER, OR BATTLE MON" (SEE PHOTO).  Following the Tokugawa transfer to Kanto in 1590, Naomasa was presented with Minowa Castle in Kôzuke province, worth *120,000 koku, OF RICE. At the start of the Sekigahara campaign, he lead in the attack on Gifu Castle, at the actual Battle of Sekigahara, HE commanded 3,600 men. In the battle he acted as an escort to IYEYASU'S son TADAYOSHI, ON THE BATTLE GROUND ( A POSITION OF "GREAT RESPONSIBILITY" ).  he managed to draw first blood, BY OUT maneuvering the troops of "Fukushima Masanori" and attacking "Ukita Hideie's" FORCES. Near the end of the battle he was shot and wounded by a "Shimazu sniper". As a reWARD he was awarded THE Sawayama (AREA) in Ômi Province (worth some 180,000 koku). HE died in 1602, as a result of his "Sekigahara" wound. He was known to dress his men in red armor and his troops were often known as Ii's 'Red Devils' for their fighting spirit (NAOMASA was called "Aka-oni", or the red devil). He was succeeded by his son Naotsugu.

"Naotaka" was the second son of ii Naomasa. His elder brother "Naotsugu" had fallen out for favor for not fighting at "Osaka Castle" and "Naotaka" ASSUMED HIS RESPONSIBILITIES. He distinguished himself DURING the Osaka Campaigns (commanding 3,200 men at the Battle of "Tennôji" in June 1615) after which HE was granted his elder brother's land at "Sawayama" in Ômi province. He completed THE work on "Hikone Castle" in 1622, THAT HAD BEEN started by his Father in 1603. The "Ii" O Daimyo FAMILY was one of the most influential in both POLITICAL and ECONOMIC affairs. They lost power in THE 1870'S, WHEN THE MEIJI government abolished Tokugawa's rule, AND FORCED THE "DAIMYO'S" INTO RETIREMENT.

THIS IS THE ONLY MATCHLOCK WITH THE TRIGGER AT THE BUTT OF GUN THAT WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. IT WAS USED SO THAT A SAMURAI (FOR EXAMPLE) MAY LEAN THE GUN OVER HIS SADDLE OR A WALL WHILE FIRING.

Please see history of Naomasa above...

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