 | |
| Hōjō Ujiyasu | |
| Born: | 1515 |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth: | Sagami Province |
| Died: | October 21, 1571 |
| Cause of Death: | Illness |
| Place of Death: | Sagami Province |
| Style name: | 北条 氏康 |
| Served: | Hōjō |
| Participation(s): | Battle of Ozawahara Siege of Kawagoe Castle Battle of Mimasetōge |
Hōjō Ujiyasu (北条 氏康), was the son of Hōjō Ujitsuna. Ujiyasu continued the family tradition, and had long struggle with Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin.[1]
Biography[]
Life[]
Hōjō Ujiyasu was the son of Hōjō Ujitsuna. The third generation was represented by Ujiyasu, who is generally regarded as the finest of the Hōjō daimyo.[2] Ujiyasu fought his first battle at the Battle of Ozawahara at the age of fifteen. It was conducted against Uesugi Tomooki, of the Ogigayatsu branch of the Uesugi.[3]
Military Career[]
When Uesugi Tomosada heard of the death of Ujitsuna he tried unsuccessfully to recapture Edo castle. In 1545 Tomosada allied himself with Ashikaga Haruuji and marched against Kawagoe Castle, which was defended by Ujiyasu's brother, Hōjō Tsunashige. Tsunanari's garrison was only 3,000 strong, but it managed to hold out against 85,000 besiegers. Ujiyasu marched to Kawogoe's relief with 8,000 soldiers, sending a message carried by a brave samurai through the Uesugi siege lines to let his brother know that help is on the way. The relief force was another pitifully small army, but so confident was Ujiyasu that he decided to make a night attack. The plans worked perfectly and outnumbered by eight to one, the Hōjō triumphed. The coalition against them was utterly destroyed and the Hōjō control of the Kanto region was dramatically confirmed.
Hōjō Ujiyasu fought off a siege of Odawara in 1560 and one of Edo castle in 1563.[4]
During the second siege of Musashi-Matsuyama, Ujiyasu allied with Takeda Shingen, besieged the Matsuyama castle in Musashi province which was held by Uesugi Norikatsu. Here Takeda Shingen made good use of his miners from Kai who were burrowed into the hill on which the castle was built.
At the second battle of Kounodai, Hōjō Ujiyasu defeated Satomi Yoshihiro.[5]
Death[]
Ujiysu was also exceedingly active on the political front, making marriage alliances and courting support from other daimyo. It was Ujiyasu who raised the power of the Odawara Hōjō to their greatest height and when he died of illness in 1570 he left seven sons to continue his work.[6]
Sources[]
- ↑ Samurai Sourcebook, stephen Turnbull pg.39
- ↑ Samurai Commanders 1 940-1576, Stephen Turnbull pg.48
- ↑ Samurai Sourcebook, Stephen Turnbull pg.209
- ↑ Samurai Commanders 1 940-1576, Stephen Turnbull pg.48
- ↑ Samurai Sourcebook, Stephen Turnbull pg.216
- ↑ Samurai Commanders 1 940-1576, Stephen Turnbull pg.48