Battle of Bubaigawara
Encyclopedia
The was part of the decisive Kōzuke-Musashi Campaign
during the Genkō War
in Japan that ultimately ended the Kamakura Shogunate
. Fought in present day Fuchū
on May 15 and 16, 1333, it pitted the anti-shogunate imperial forces led by Nitta Yoshisada
against the forces of the Hōjō
. It was the final major battle in Kōzuke-Musashi Campaign
and was preceded by the Battle of Kumegawa
.
, Nitta Yoshisada
took time to rest his horses and men. Meanwhile, the forces loyal to the Shogun retreated to Bubaigawara to regroup. Unbeknownst to Nitta, the Shogun's forces had received reinforcements on the 14th greatly restoring strength and morale.
As the Imperial forces advanced on Bubaigawara on the 15th, the Shogun's forces attacked with a great archery barrage and thus halted the Imperial attack. The main body of the Shogun's army then engaged the Nitta's army, and despite aggressive counterattacks by Nitta, heavy losses forced Nitta to retreat.
Had the Shogunate forces immediately pressed their advantage of the first day, it was likely their victory would have been complete. However, during the night of the 15th, Nitta received critical reinforcements led by Miura Yoshikatsu. And at dawn on the 16th, Miura led his fresh troops and attacked an unsuspecting enemy. Nitta Yoshisada
and his brother Nitta Yoshisuke
advanced to the front while Miura harassed the enemy from the rear.
where they regrouped. The forces led by Nitta pursued and were victorious during the Siege of Kamakura
.
Kozuke-Musashi Campaign
The Kōzuke-Musashi campaign was a rapid and direct assault during the Japanese Genkō War by Nitta Yoshisada that led up to the Siege of Kamakura in 1333. It consisted of a number of battles over a brief period...
during the Genkō War
Genko War
The —also known as the —was a civil war in Japan which marked the fall of the Kamakura shogunate and end of the power of the Hōjō clan. The war thus preceded the Nanboku-chō period and the rise of the Ashikaga shogunate...
in Japan that ultimately ended the Kamakura Shogunate
Kamakura shogunate
The Kamakura shogunate was a military dictatorship in Japan headed by the shoguns from 1185 to 1333. It was based in Kamakura. The Kamakura period draws its name from the capital of the shogunate...
. Fought in present day Fuchū
Fuchu, Tokyo
is a city located in western Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 255,394 and a population density of 8,700 persons per km². The total area was 29.34 km²...
on May 15 and 16, 1333, it pitted the anti-shogunate imperial forces led by 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 the forces of the Hōjō
Hojo clan
See the late Hōjō clan for the Hōjō clan of the Sengoku Period.The in the history of Japan was a family who controlled the hereditary title of shikken of the Kamakura Shogunate. In practice, the family had actual governmental power, many times dictatorial, rather than Kamakura shoguns, or the...
. It was the final major battle in Kōzuke-Musashi Campaign
Kozuke-Musashi Campaign
The Kōzuke-Musashi campaign was a rapid and direct assault during the Japanese Genkō War by Nitta Yoshisada that led up to the Siege of Kamakura in 1333. It consisted of a number of battles over a brief period...
and was preceded by the Battle of Kumegawa
Battle of Kumegawa
The was part of the decisive Kōzuke-Musashi Campaign during the Genkō War in Japan that ultimately ended the Kamakura Shogunate. Fought in present day Higashimurayama at the foot of the Hachikokuyama ridge on May 12, 1333, it pitted the anti-shogunate imperial forces led by Nitta Yoshisada...
.
The battle
After his victory three days earlier at the Battle of KumegawaBattle of Kumegawa
The was part of the decisive Kōzuke-Musashi Campaign during the Genkō War in Japan that ultimately ended the Kamakura Shogunate. Fought in present day Higashimurayama at the foot of the Hachikokuyama ridge on May 12, 1333, it pitted the anti-shogunate imperial forces led by Nitta Yoshisada...
, 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....
took time to rest his horses and men. Meanwhile, the forces loyal to the Shogun retreated to Bubaigawara to regroup. Unbeknownst to Nitta, the Shogun's forces had received reinforcements on the 14th greatly restoring strength and morale.
As the Imperial forces advanced on Bubaigawara on the 15th, the Shogun's forces attacked with a great archery barrage and thus halted the Imperial attack. The main body of the Shogun's army then engaged the Nitta's army, and despite aggressive counterattacks by Nitta, heavy losses forced Nitta to retreat.
Had the Shogunate forces immediately pressed their advantage of the first day, it was likely their victory would have been complete. However, during the night of the 15th, Nitta received critical reinforcements led by Miura Yoshikatsu. And at dawn on the 16th, Miura led his fresh troops and attacked an unsuspecting enemy. 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....
and his brother Nitta Yoshisuke
Nitta Yoshisuke
thumb|200px also known as , was the brother of Nitta Yoshisada in the early fourteenth century, and supported the Southern Court of Emperor Go-Daigo in the Nanboku-cho period, capturing Kamakura with his brother from the Hōjō clan in 1333....
advanced to the front while Miura harassed the enemy from the rear.
The Result
The battle resulted in a rout in favor of the Nitta brothers and Miura. Although the Shogunate forces held the initial advantage, their failure to exploit it led to defeat.Aftermath
The remnants of the Hōjō forces retreated in disarray to KamakuraKamakura, 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...
where they regrouped. The forces led by Nitta pursued and were victorious during the Siege of Kamakura
Siege of Kamakura (1333)
The 1333 siege of Kamakura was a battle of the Genkō War, and marked the end of the power of the Hōjō clan, which had dominated the regency of the Kamakura shogunate for over a century...
.