Nagao Tamekage
Encyclopedia
was a retainer of Japanese feudal lord Uesugi Fusayoshi, and a daimyo
in his own right, during Japan's Sengoku period
. According to some scholars, such as George Bailey Sansom
, Nagao Tamekage's career makes him representative of the emergence of the daimyo, and the shift of regional power from the shugo
(constables ), Governors, and other government officials into independent lords. He is perhaps most famous as the biological father of Nagao Kagetora, who would be adopted into the Uesugi family as Uesugi Kenshin
, and would go on to become one of the most famous of all Sengoku period daimyo.
Serving as Deputy (shugo-dai) to Fusayoshi, shugo of Echigo Province
, Tamekage led his lord's Yamanouchi Uesugi forces to victory against the Ōgigayatsu Uesugi in a series of conflicts from 1500-1505.
However, one of a number of nari-agari mono (成り上がり者), or "upstarts" of this period, Tamekage sought to usurp his lord, and battled with Uesugi forces a number of times in the first decade of the 16th century. He ultimately laid siege to Uesugi Fusayoshi in 1507, at Matsunoyama in Echigo Province
, and Fusayoshi was killed. Tamekage then went on to pursue a number of campaigns of his own, gathering territory and power. In 1510, Tamekage plotted with Jinbo Nagakiyo
in an attempt to overtake the Jinbo clan
from within, using his status as shugo-dai to bring Nagakiyo to his side. Nagakiyo then brough his brother Jinbo Nagatsuna
into the plot, which revolved around overthrowing Jinbo Yoshimune and allying with the Uesugi. The plot stretched longer than a year, and Tamekage's patience grew thin. It is believed that Tamekage "arranged" for correspondence between himself and the brothers to be discovered by an ally of Yoshimune, which would lead to their executions, perhaps a quicker route to weakening the Jinbo than the possibly ill-conceived plot with Nagakiyo. The Jinbo brothers were executed, and the Jinbo weakened.
Tamekage then engaged Uesugi Fusayoshi's successor, the new shugo Uesugi Akisada
, and defeated him as well, with the help of Hōjō Sōun
, another growing power in the region. Within a few years, Nagao and Hōjō brought about the complete collapse of the Uesugi clan.
It was said that he was ultimately defeated himself, and killed in the 1536 battle of Sendanno
, fighting against the Ikkō-ikki
of Kaga Province
, however, the Senran-ki records him stepping down in favor of his third son and becoming a monk in 1540.
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
in his own right, during Japan's Sengoku period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
. According to some scholars, such as George Bailey Sansom
George Bailey Sansom
Sir George Bailey Sansom was a historian of pre-modern Japan particularly noted for his historical surveys and attention to Japanese society....
, Nagao Tamekage's career makes him representative of the emergence of the daimyo, and the shift of regional power from the shugo
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...
(constables ), Governors, and other government officials into independent lords. He is perhaps most famous as the biological father of Nagao Kagetora, who would be adopted into the Uesugi family as Uesugi Kenshin
Uesugi Kenshin
was a daimyo who ruled Echigo province in the Sengoku period of Japan.He was one of the most powerful lords of the Sengoku period. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries...
, and would go on to become one of the most famous of all Sengoku period daimyo.
Serving as Deputy (shugo-dai) to Fusayoshi, shugo of Echigo Province
Echigo Province
was an old province in north-central Japan, on the shores of the Sea of Japan. It was sometimes called , with Echizen and Etchū Provinces. Today the area is part of Niigata Prefecture, which also includes the island which was the old Sado Province. This province was the northernmost part of the...
, Tamekage led his lord's Yamanouchi Uesugi forces to victory against the Ōgigayatsu Uesugi in a series of conflicts from 1500-1505.
However, one of a number of nari-agari mono (成り上がり者), or "upstarts" of this period, Tamekage sought to usurp his lord, and battled with Uesugi forces a number of times in the first decade of the 16th century. He ultimately laid siege to Uesugi Fusayoshi in 1507, at Matsunoyama in Echigo Province
Echigo Province
was an old province in north-central Japan, on the shores of the Sea of Japan. It was sometimes called , with Echizen and Etchū Provinces. Today the area is part of Niigata Prefecture, which also includes the island which was the old Sado Province. This province was the northernmost part of the...
, and Fusayoshi was killed. Tamekage then went on to pursue a number of campaigns of his own, gathering territory and power. In 1510, Tamekage plotted with Jinbo Nagakiyo
Jinbo Nagakiyo
, was the younger brother of Jinbo Nagatsuna. Reputed to be both a playboy and an alcoholic, he was known to hold raucous parties at his estate in Etchū Province after battle campaigns to celebrate victories. He conspired with Nagao Tamekage against his cousin Jinbō Yoshimune, and is reputed to...
in an attempt to overtake the Jinbo clan
Jinbo clan
The ' was a Japanese clan that was active in Echigo Province during the Sengoku period, as retainers of the Uesugi clan. During the Edo period, one branch of the Jinbo would enter the service of the Matsudaira clan of Aizu; another would become hatamoto in the service of the Tokugawa shogunate....
from within, using his status as shugo-dai to bring Nagakiyo to his side. Nagakiyo then brough his brother Jinbo Nagatsuna
Jinbo Nagatsuna
,Jinbō Nagatsuna was a samurai of Japan's Sengoku period, and was a cousin of Jinbō Yoshimune of Etchu. Nagatsuna fought in a number of battles against the Nagao clan of Echigo in support of his cousin Yoshimune. However, in 1510, Nagatsuna and his brother Jinbō Nagakiyo conspired with Nagao...
into the plot, which revolved around overthrowing Jinbo Yoshimune and allying with the Uesugi. The plot stretched longer than a year, and Tamekage's patience grew thin. It is believed that Tamekage "arranged" for correspondence between himself and the brothers to be discovered by an ally of Yoshimune, which would lead to their executions, perhaps a quicker route to weakening the Jinbo than the possibly ill-conceived plot with Nagakiyo. The Jinbo brothers were executed, and the Jinbo weakened.
Tamekage then engaged Uesugi Fusayoshi's successor, the new shugo Uesugi Akisada
Uesugi Akisada
was a samurai of the Uesugi clan, Kantō Kanrei and shugo of Kōzuke and Musashi Province. His loss of the Izu Province to Hōjō Sōun in 1492–1498 marked a significant development of Japan's Sengoku period....
, and defeated him as well, with the help of Hōjō Sōun
Hojo Soun
was the first head of the Late Hōjō clan, one of the major powers in Japan's Sengoku period. Born Ise Moritoki, he was originally known as Ise Shinkurō, a samurai of Taira lineage from a reputable family of Shogunate officials...
, another growing power in the region. Within a few years, Nagao and Hōjō brought about the complete collapse of the Uesugi clan.
It was said that he was ultimately defeated himself, and killed in the 1536 battle of Sendanno
Battle of Sendanno
The battle of Sendanno was a battle during the Sengoku period of Japan, one of many fought by daimyo who sought to suppress the anti-samurai uprisings of the Ikkō-ikki...
, fighting against the Ikkō-ikki
Ikko-ikki
', literally "Ikkoshū Uprising", were mobs of peasant farmers, Buddhist monks, Shinto priests and local nobles, who rose up against samurai rule in 15th to 16th century Japan. They followed the beliefs of the Jōdo Shinshū sect of Buddhism which taught that all believers are equally saved by Amida...
of Kaga Province
Kaga Province
was an old province in the area that is today the southern part of Ishikawa Prefecture. It was sometimes called .Ruled by the Maeda clan, the capital of Kaga was Kanazawa. Kaga bordered on Echizen, Etchū, Hida, and Noto Provinces...
, however, the Senran-ki records him stepping down in favor of his third son and becoming a monk in 1540.