Siege of Hijiyama
Encyclopedia
The 1581 was one of the crucial battles in Oda Nobunaga
's campaigns to seize Iga province
during Japan's Sengoku period
. After a lengthy siege, and several successful sallies by the defenders, the castle eventually fell and was destroyed.
Gamō Ujisato
and Tsutsui Junkei
commanded Nobunaga's forces, Gamō attacking the castle's neighboring towns near modern-day Ueno
, Mie prefecture
while Tsutsui approached from the west. The defensive force rose from those villages and gathered at the fortress, some preparing an ambush halfway up the hill. Gamō and Tsutsui launched their assault at night, pressing up the hill and meeting fierce resistance before being pushed back entirely by the ambush. The defenders threw rocks and even trees, and fired bows, and muskets, from the castle.
Several nights later, the garrison launched a secret attack of their own on the enemy camp at Nagaokayama. Approaching from three directions, they lit torches upon a signal and closed in. Tsutsui's forces were alarmed and confused, and began firing arrows in every direction. Shortly, however, the torches were blown out by a fierce wind, and the battle was plunged into darkness. The garrison's warriors allegedly used passwords to help them determine friend from foe, while their foes killed many of their own in the confusion.
Despite this assault, the fortress was still under siege, badly outnumbered, and running out of food. When Gamō and Tsutsui attacked the fortress once more, they found the weather to be perfect for setting the entire complex ablaze. Wind from the mountains and dry weather combined to fan the flames and spread them across the wooden stockades, destroying the entire fortress, along with the nearby Hachiman
Shintō
shrine.
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
's campaigns to seize Iga province
Iga Province
was an old province of Japan in the area that is today western Mie Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Iga bordered on Ise, Ōmi, Yamato, and Yamashiro Provinces.-Geography:...
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...
. After a lengthy siege, and several successful sallies by the defenders, the castle eventually fell and was destroyed.
Gamō Ujisato
Gamo Ujisato
was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. The heir and son of Gamō Katahide, lord of Hino Castle in Ōmi Province, he later held Matsusaka and finally Aizuwakamatsu Castle in Mutsu Province...
and Tsutsui Junkei
Tsutsui Junkei
son of Tsusui Junshō, and a Daimyo of the province of Yamato.Very early on, Junkei had his castle taken away by Matsunaga Hisahide, one of the most powerful warriors of the region in feudal Japan at that time. Later by joining forces of Oda Nobunaga, Junkei defeated Hisahide at Mount Shigi in 1577...
commanded Nobunaga's forces, Gamō attacking the castle's neighboring towns near modern-day Ueno
Ueno, Mie
was a city located in Mie, Japan. The city was founded on September 10, 1941.On November 1, 2004 Ueno was merged with the old town of Iga, the town of Ayama, the villages of Ōyamada and Shimagahara, all from Ayama District, and the town of Aoyama, from Naga District, to form the new city of Iga.In...
, Mie prefecture
Mie Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province....
while Tsutsui approached from the west. The defensive force rose from those villages and gathered at the fortress, some preparing an ambush halfway up the hill. Gamō and Tsutsui launched their assault at night, pressing up the hill and meeting fierce resistance before being pushed back entirely by the ambush. The defenders threw rocks and even trees, and fired bows, and muskets, from the castle.
Several nights later, the garrison launched a secret attack of their own on the enemy camp at Nagaokayama. Approaching from three directions, they lit torches upon a signal and closed in. Tsutsui's forces were alarmed and confused, and began firing arrows in every direction. Shortly, however, the torches were blown out by a fierce wind, and the battle was plunged into darkness. The garrison's warriors allegedly used passwords to help them determine friend from foe, while their foes killed many of their own in the confusion.
Despite this assault, the fortress was still under siege, badly outnumbered, and running out of food. When Gamō and Tsutsui attacked the fortress once more, they found the weather to be perfect for setting the entire complex ablaze. Wind from the mountains and dry weather combined to fan the flames and spread them across the wooden stockades, destroying the entire fortress, along with the nearby Hachiman
Hachiman
In Japanese mythology, is the Japanese syncretic god of archery and war, incorporating elements from both Shinto and Buddhism. Although often called the god of war, he is more correctly defined as the tutelary god of warriors. He is also divine protector of Japan and the Japanese people...
Shintō
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
shrine.