Sieges of Kuromaru
Encyclopedia
The Kuromaru or Black Fortress, was a fortress of Kanrei
Shiba Takatsune
located in Japan's Echizen province
(present-day Nittazuka, Fukui
, Fukui Prefecture
). It was attacked twice during the Nanboku-chō
Wars of the 14th century, during which it was likely both built and destroyed.
The fortress was first attacked in August 1338 by a small force under Nitta Yoshisada
, numbering roughly fifty horse
, in what would come to be known as the battle of Fujishima. Hosokawa Akiuji
had been ordered by Ashikaga Takauji
to aid Shiba Takatsune in the defense, and encountered Nitta's force a short distance from the fortress. The warrior monks
of the Heisen-ji monastery, originally part of Nitta's force, were bribed by Shiba to abandon the attack, and Nitta's rush to fill the ensuing gap in his formations led to him and his horsemen running into Hosokawa's. In the battle which followed, Nitta was mortally wounded by an arrow.
The following year, upon his enthronement, Emperor Go-Murakami
ordered the late Nitta's brother, Wakiya Yoshisuke, to lead another attack on the fortress. This assault was successful, and ended in Shiba's surrender.
chronicles the events of the death of Yoshisada at Kuromaru. It states that an arrow wounded his horse, making it unable to jump over a ditch. It fell and trapped Yoshisada's left leg. An arrow in the flurry struck him between the brows, and he drew his sword and slit his throat. The resemblance to the death of Minamoto no Yoshinaka
as described in the Heike Monogatari has led to questions about whether the account is factual.
, daimyo of the Fukui Domain
. The construction of the helmet indicated that it had belonged to a high-ranking warrior, and the domain judged that it had belonged to Yoshisada. The helmet is now at the Fujishima Shrine in Fukui http://www.genbu.net/data/etizen/fujisima_title.htm. A marker, the Nittazuka, stands at the site where the farmer found the helmet.
Kanrei
or, more rarely, kanryō, was a high political post in feudal Japan; it is usually translated as Shogun's Deputy. After 1349, there were actually two Kanrei, the Kyoto Kanrei and the Kantō Kanrei....
Shiba Takatsune
Shiba Takatsune
was the Constable of Echizen Province during the 14th century Nanboku-chō Wars in Japan. He acted to block the northward progress of Nitta Yoshisada, who supported the Emperor's Southern Court against the Shogun's Northern Court...
located in Japan's 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...
(present-day Nittazuka, Fukui
Fukui, Fukui
is the capital of Fukui Prefecture, Japan. The city is located in the north-central part of the prefecture on the coast of the Sea of Japan.-Demographics:...
, Fukui Prefecture
Fukui Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Fukui.- Prehistory :The Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry, on the Sugiyama River within the city limits of Katsuyama, has yielded the Fukuiraptor kitadaniensis and Fukuisaurus tetoriensis as well as an unnamed...
). It was attacked twice 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 of the 14th century, during which it was likely both built and destroyed.
The fortress was first attacked in August 1338 by a small force under 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....
, numbering roughly fifty horse
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
, in what would come to be known as the battle of Fujishima. Hosokawa Akiuji
Hosokawa Akiuji
was a samurai general in the service of the Ashikaga Northern Court, during Japan's Nanboku-chō period.In 1338, he was sent by Ashikaga Takauji to assist in the defence of the Kuromaru, a fortress belonging to Kanrei Shiba Takatsune. His men clashed with fifty horsemen under the command of Nitta...
had been ordered by 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...
to aid Shiba Takatsune in the defense, and encountered Nitta's force a short distance from the fortress. The 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....
of the Heisen-ji monastery, originally part of Nitta's force, were bribed by Shiba to abandon the attack, and Nitta's rush to fill the ensuing gap in his formations led to him and his horsemen running into Hosokawa's. In the battle which followed, Nitta was mortally wounded by an arrow.
The following year, upon his enthronement, Emperor Go-Murakami
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...
ordered the late Nitta's brother, Wakiya Yoshisuke, to lead another attack on the fortress. This assault was successful, and ended in Shiba's surrender.
Taiheiki
Chapter 20 of the TaiheikiTaiheiki
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....
chronicles the events of the death of Yoshisada at Kuromaru. It states that an arrow wounded his horse, making it unable to jump over a ditch. It fell and trapped Yoshisada's left leg. An arrow in the flurry struck him between the brows, and he drew his sword and slit his throat. The resemblance to the death of Minamoto no Yoshinaka
Minamoto no Yoshinaka
was a general of the late Heian Period of Japanese history. A member of the Minamoto samurai clan, Minamoto no Yoritomo was his cousin and rival during the Genpei War between the Minamoto and the Taira clans....
as described in the Heike Monogatari has led to questions about whether the account is factual.
Helmet of Yoshisada
In 1656, a farmer tilling the land near the site of the battle uncovered a helmet and presented it to Matsudaira MitsumichiMatsudaira Mitsumichi
was a Japanese daimyo of the Edo period who ruled the Fukui Domain. The second son of Matsudaira Tadamasa, he was the second lord of the domain after its official name change to Fukui.-Biography:...
, daimyo of the Fukui Domain
Fukui Domain
The was a feudal domain in Echizen Province of Japan during the Edo period. It is also sometimes called '. The family name of the heads of the domain is "Matsudaira".- List of heads :# Hideyasu# Tadanao...
. The construction of the helmet indicated that it had belonged to a high-ranking warrior, and the domain judged that it had belonged to Yoshisada. The helmet is now at the Fujishima Shrine in Fukui http://www.genbu.net/data/etizen/fujisima_title.htm. A marker, the Nittazuka, stands at the site where the farmer found the helmet.