Tough to rate as a "purely military" leader, although its clear he possessed some skill and was willing to embrace new technology (firearms) in his quest for success.

Much of his success was, in fact, diplomatic, and his rise to power and retention of it was as much due to words as swords.

Building on the work of his predecessors, Tokugawa accomplished the unification of Japan following several centuries of warfare, largely thanks to his use of firearms and clever diplomacy. Tokugawa created an unique form of government where feudal lords retained substantial autonomy, but had to reside half the year in the capital (Edo/Tokyo) and leave hostages to ensure their obedience. The emperor was kept in Kyoto as a figurehead, while real power rested with the feudal lords and the 'Shogun' (Warlord); first Tokugawa, later his descendents. The common people were disarmed, firearms were outlawed, and contact with Europe became highly restricted. The samurai, who had previously engaged in constant fighting, were forced to turn to peaceful pursuits. Japan escaped the gradual decadence that overcame much of the non-European world, post-1500; this is largely due to Tokugawa's success in unifying Japan, establishing civil peace and a relatively non-despotic govenment. There is a good fictional portrait of Tokugawa in James Clavell's novel, Shogun.