| Ujiyasu Hōjō | |
| | |
|---|---|
| Born: | 1515 |
| Place of Birth: | Sagami Province |
| Died: | October 21, 1571 |
| Cause of Death: | Unknown |
| Place of Death: | Sagami Province |
| Style name: | 北条 氏康 |
| Served: | Hōjō |
| Participation(s): | Siege of Kawagoe (1545) Battle of Mimasetoge |
Ujiyasu Hōjō was the son of Ujitsuna Hōjō. He continued the family tradition, and had long struggle with Shingen Takeda and Kenshin Uesugi.[1]
Biography
Edit
Early LifeEdit
Ujiyasu Hōjō was the son of Ujitsnua Hōjō. The third generation was represented by Ujiyasu Hōjō, 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 Tomooki Uesugi, of the Ogigayatsu branch of the Uesugi.[3]
After Ujitsuna's DeathEdit
When Tomosada Uesugi heard of the death of Ujitsuna he tried unsuccessfully to recapture Edo castle. In 1545 Tomosada allied himself with Haruuji Ashikaga and marched against Kawagoe Castle, which was defended by Ujiyasu's brother, Tsunanari Hōjō. Tsunanari's garrison was only 3,000 strong, but it managed to hold out against 85,000 besiegers. Ujiyasu Hōjō 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. Ujiyasu Hōjō fought off a siege of Odawara in 1560 and one of Edo castle in 1563.[4] In the second siege of Musashi-Matsuyama Ujiyasu allied with Shingen Takeda, besieged the Matsuyama castle in Musashi province which was held by Norikatsu Uesugi. Here Shingen Takeda made good use of his miners from Kai who was burrowed into the hill on which the castle was built. At the second battle of Kounodai, Ujiyasu Hōjō defeated Yoshihiro Satomi.[5]
DeathEdit
He 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]
FamilyEdit
Sons
SourcesEdit
- ↑ Samurai Sourcebook, stephen Turnbull pg.39
- ↑ Samurai Commanders 2 940-1576, Stephen Turnbull pg.48
- ↑ Samurai Sourcebook, Stephen Turnbull pg.209
- ↑ Samurai Commanders 2 940-1576, Stephen Turnbull pg.48
- ↑ Samurai Sourcebook, Stephen Turnbull pg.216
- ↑ Samurai Commanders 2 940-1576, Stephen Turnbull pg.48
