Prince Takanaga
Encyclopedia
was the second son of Emperor Go-Daigo
of Japan, and fought for his father in the Nanboku-chō
Wars. Since the characters
used to write "Takanaga" can also be read as "Takayoshi", the prince is sometimes known by that name as well.
Appointed Seitō Shōgun (Commander-in-Chief of the Defense of the East) in November 1335, he was commissioned along with Nitta Yoshisada
to destroy the Northern Court
leaders Ashikaga Takauji
and Ashikaga Tadayoshi
. He fought a number of battles alongside Nitta, and led his own force in besieging Kyoto.
The following year, he was sent along with his brother Tsunenaga
to be escorted by Nitta Yoshiaki
to Echizen Province
where, it was hoped, they could escape the attacks of the Ashikaga
. Fleeing the Ashikaga, Nitta brought the Princes away from Yoshino
, where the Southern Court of Go-Daigo was based, towards Tsuruga in Echizen. They faced a terrible defeat in the battle of Minatogawa
, but survived and eventually made it to the castle of Kanagasaki
. In January 1337 the castle came under siege, and by April those inside were reduced to eating horseflesh to survive, and almost resorted to cannibalism before surrendering. Takanaga and Yoshiaki committed suicide before the castle fell.
Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo was the 96th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....
of Japan, and fought for his father in 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. Since the characters
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
used to write "Takanaga" can also be read as "Takayoshi", the prince is sometimes known by that name as well.
Appointed Seitō Shōgun (Commander-in-Chief of the Defense of the East) in November 1335, he was commissioned along with 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....
to destroy 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...
leaders 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...
and Ashikaga Tadayoshi
Ashikaga Tadayoshi
was a general of the Northern and Southern Courts period of Japanese history and a close associate of his elder brother Takauji, the first Muromachi shogun. Son of Ashikaga Sadauji and of a daughter of Uesugi Yorishige, the same mother as Takauji, he was a pivotal figure of the chaotic transition...
. He fought a number of battles alongside Nitta, and led his own force in besieging Kyoto.
The following year, he was sent along with his brother Tsunenaga
Prince Tsunenaga
' was one of the sons of Japanese Emperor Go-Daigo. He became involved in the Nanboku-chō wars between the true Imperial line and the Ashikaga clan....
to be escorted by Nitta Yoshiaki
Nitta Yoshiaki
' , son of Nitta Yoshisada, fought for Emperor Go-Daigo, against the Ashikaga at the end of the Kamakura period. He was one of the chief generals at the fortress of Kanagasaki, which fell to the Ashikaga; Yoshiaki was killed, and Prince Tsunenaga captured....
to Echizen Province
Echizen Province
was an old province of Japan, which is today the northern part of Fukui Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Etchū and Echigo Provinces.Echizen is famous for washi . A text dated AD 774 mentions the washi made in this area. Echizen-produced Washi is still the most commonly sold traditional...
where, it was hoped, they could escape the attacks of the Ashikaga
Ashikaga clan
The ' was a prominent Japanese samurai clan which established the Muromachi shogunate and ruled Japan from roughly 1336 to 1573.The Ashikaga were descended from a branch of the Minamoto clan, deriving originally from the town of Ashikaga in Shimotsuke province .For about a century the clan was...
. Fleeing the Ashikaga, Nitta brought the Princes away from Yoshino
Yoshino, Nara
is a town located in Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, Japan.As of September 1, 2007, the town had an estimated population of 9397 and a density of 97.93 persons per km². The total area was 95.65 km².-Geography:...
, where the Southern Court of Go-Daigo was based, towards Tsuruga in Echizen. They faced a terrible defeat in the battle of Minatogawa
Battle of Minatogawa
The Battle of Minatogawa also known as the Battle of Minato River was fought in 1336 between Japanese forces loyal to Emperor Go-Daigo and the Ashikaga clan. The Imperial forces were led by Kusunoki Masashige and Nitta Yoshisada, while the Ashikaga were led by Ashikaga Takauji. The Ashikaga were...
, but survived and eventually made it to the castle of Kanagasaki
Siege of Kanagasaki (1337)
The 1337 was the final battle for the Nitta family in their support of the Southern Imperial Court against the Ashikaga Pretenders of the Northern Court....
. In January 1337 the castle came under siege, and by April those inside were reduced to eating horseflesh to survive, and almost resorted to cannibalism before surrendering. Takanaga and Yoshiaki committed suicide before the castle fell.