After the death of Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI, Ieyasu TOKUGAWA, who was seeking the post of tenkabito (the ruler of the kingdom), began invading the Aizu Domain to attack Kagekatsu UESUGI's army in 1600, claiming that Uesugi was a treacherous retainer who rebelled against the administrative authority because he had often ignored the order to go to the capital.
豊臣秀吉の死後、次の天下人の座を狙う徳川家康は、慶長5年、度重なる上洛命令を無視した上杉景勝を公儀に反抗する逆臣として征伐すると称し、会津攻めを開始した。