Kitabatake Akiie
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese court noble
, and an important supporter of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-chō
Wars. He also held the posts of Commander-in-Chief of the Defense of the North, and Governor
of Mutsu Province
. His father was Imperial advisor Kitabatake Chikafusa
.
In 1333, Akiie was ordered to accompany the six-year-old eighth son of Emperor Go-Daigo
, Prince Norinaga
, to Mutsu, where the Prince became Governor-General of Mutsu and Dewa. These two large provinces
constituted much of the north-western end of Honshū
, the area now known as Tohoku
. Soon afterwards, he was appointed to the post of Chinjufu Shogun
, or Commander-in-Chief of the Defense of the North. This was a position that had been held by Minamoto no Yoshiie
two hundred years earlier. A number of families formed a league under his direction, supporting the Southern Court; these included the samurai families of Yūki, Date
, Nambu, Soma, and Tamura. The Soma and several other daimyō were convinced to change sides by Takauji, however.
Three years later, he led an army nominally under the command of Norinaga to the outskirts of Kyoto
to reinforce the forces of Nitta Yoshisada
against Ashikaga Takauji
. Nitta and Kitabatake were aided by warrior monks
from Enryakuji, and the temple of Miidera, whose monks supported Ashikaga Takauji, was burned to the ground.
Traveling to Kyūshū
, Kitabatake gathered support for the Southern Court in the absence of Ashikaga Takauji, one of the strongest leaders of the Northern Court
.
In 1337, despite facing opposition at home in the north, Kitabatake was ordered by Emperor Go-Daigo to come to the aid of his army to the south of Kyoto. Kitabatake led his forces slowly south, fighting the Northern Court in many battles. He was defeated at Tonegawa
before pushing south and occupying Kamakura
, the capital of the Ashikaga shogunate
, and making his way to Nara
, fighting at Iga and Sekigahara. In Nara, while trying to rest and reorganize his forces, he was set upon by Kō no Moronao
and barely escaped to Kawachi Province
. He recouped and pushed through enemy forces at Tennōji (near modern-day Osaka
), but was eventually defeated and killed at Izumi in 1338 at the age of twenty. His death is described in the epic Taiheiki
and in his father's Jinnō Shōtōki
.
Kuge
The was a Japanese aristocratic class that dominated the Japanese imperial court in Kyoto until the rise of the Shogunate in the 12th century at which point it was eclipsed by the daimyo...
, and an important supporter of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-chō
Nanboku-cho
The , spanning from 1336 to 1392, was a period that occurred during the formative years of the Muromachi bakufu of Japan's history.During this period, there existed a Northern Imperial Court, established by Ashikaga Takauji in Kyoto, and a Southern Imperial Court, established by Emperor Go-Daigo in...
Wars. He also held the posts of Commander-in-Chief of the Defense of the North, and Governor
Shugo
was a title, commonly translated as "Governor," given to certain officials in feudal Japan. They were each appointed by the shogun to oversee one or more of the provinces of Japan...
of Mutsu Province
Mutsu Province
was an old province of Japan in the area of Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefecture and the municipalities of Kazuno and Kosaka in Akita Prefecture...
. His father was Imperial advisor Kitabatake Chikafusa
Kitabatake Chikafusa
was a Japanese court noble and writer of the 14th century who supported the Southern Court in the Nanboku-cho period, serving as advisor to five Emperors. Some of his greatest and most famous work was performed during the reign of Emperor Go-Daigo, under whom he proposed a series of reforms,...
.
In 1333, Akiie was ordered to accompany the six-year-old eighth son of Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo was the 96th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....
, Prince Norinaga
Emperor Go-Murakami
was the 97th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, and a member of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-chō period of rival courts. He reigned from September 18, 1339 until March 29, 1368 . His personal name was...
, to Mutsu, where the Prince became Governor-General of Mutsu and Dewa. These two large provinces
Provinces of Japan
Before the modern prefecture system was established, the land of Japan was divided into tens of kuni , usually known in English as provinces. Each province was divided into gun ....
constituted much of the north-western end of Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
, the area now known as Tohoku
Tohoku region
The is a geographical area of Japan. The region occupies the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region consists of six prefectures : Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata....
. Soon afterwards, he was appointed to the post of Chinjufu Shogun
Chinjufu Shogun
Chinjufu shōgun , often translated as "Commander-in-Chief of the Defense of the North," was a military post in classical and feudal Japan...
, or Commander-in-Chief of the Defense of the North. This was a position that had been held by Minamoto no Yoshiie
Minamoto no Yoshiie
Minamoto no Yoshiie , also known as Hachimantarō, was a Minamoto clan samurai of the late Heian period, and Chinjufu shogun...
two hundred years earlier. A number of families formed a league under his direction, supporting the Southern Court; these included the samurai families of Yūki, Date
Date family
The ' was a lineage of daimyo who controlled northern Japan in the late 16th century and into the Edo period. Their most famous member was Date Masamune, who established the family's power by avenging his father's death and through support of Tokugawa Ieyasu.-History:The Date family was founded in...
, Nambu, Soma, and Tamura. The Soma and several other daimyō were convinced to change sides by Takauji, however.
Three years later, he led an army nominally under the command of Norinaga to the outskirts of Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
to reinforce the forces of Nitta Yoshisada
Nitta Yoshisada
was the head of the Nitta family in the early fourteenth century, and supported the Southern Court of Emperor Go-Daigo in the Nanboku-chō period, capturing Kamakura from the Hōjō clan in 1333....
against Ashikaga Takauji
Ashikaga Takauji
was the founder and first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromachi period of Japan, and ended with his death in 1358...
. Nitta and Kitabatake were aided by warrior monks
Sohei
were Buddhist warrior monks of feudal Japan. At certain points of history they held considerable power, obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate....
from Enryakuji, and the temple of Miidera, whose monks supported Ashikaga Takauji, was burned to the ground.
Traveling to Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, Kitabatake gathered support for the Southern Court in the absence of Ashikaga Takauji, one of the strongest leaders of the Northern Court
Northern Court (Japan)
The , also known as the "Ashikaga Pretenders" or "Northern Pretenders", were a set of six pretenders to the throne of Japan during the Nanboku-chō period from 1336 through 1392...
.
In 1337, despite facing opposition at home in the north, Kitabatake was ordered by Emperor Go-Daigo to come to the aid of his army to the south of Kyoto. Kitabatake led his forces slowly south, fighting the Northern Court in many battles. He was defeated at Tonegawa
Battle of Tonegawa
The Battle of Tonegawa was a battle during the final years of the Sengoku period of Japan. During the year of 1571, the famed Uesugi Kenshin had advanced to the province of Kozuke and had attacked the satellite castle of Takeda Shingen --Ishikura castle--. Shingen had responded to Kenshin's...
before pushing south and occupying Kamakura
Kamakura, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about south-south-west of Tokyo. It used to be also called .Although Kamakura proper is today rather small, it is often described in history books as a former de facto capital of Japan as the seat of the Shogunate and of the Regency during the...
, the capital of the Ashikaga shogunate
Ashikaga shogunate
The , also known as the , was a Japanese feudal military regime, ruled by the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan.This period is also known as the Muromachi period and gets its name from Muromachi Street of Kyoto where the third shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu established his residence...
, and making his way to Nara
Nara, Nara
is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
, fighting at Iga and Sekigahara. In Nara, while trying to rest and reorganize his forces, he was set upon by Kō no Moronao
Ko no Moronao
was a Japanese samurai of the Nanboku-chō period who was the first to hold the position of Shitsuji . He was appointed by Ashikaga Takauji, the first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. As Deputy, he served not only an administrative governmental function, but also as general of the Shogun's armies...
and barely escaped to Kawachi Province
Kawachi Province
was a province of Japan in the eastern part of modern Osaka Prefecture. It originally held the southwestern area that was split off into Izumi Province...
. He recouped and pushed through enemy forces at Tennōji (near modern-day Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
), but was eventually defeated and killed at Izumi in 1338 at the age of twenty. His death is described in the epic Taiheiki
Taiheiki
The is a Japanese historical epic , written in the late 14th century. It deals primarily with the Nanboku-chō, the period of war between the Northern Court of Ashikaga Takauji in Kyoto, and the Southern Court of Emperor Go-Daigo in Yoshino....
and in his father's Jinnō Shōtōki
Jinno Shotoki
is a Japanese historical book written by Kitabatake Chikafusa , a court noble in the Nanboku-chō period. The work sought both to clarify the genesis and potential consequences of a contemporary crisis in Japanese politics, and to dispel or at least ameliorate the prevailing disorder.The text...
.