Battle of Kumegawa
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 Higashimurayama at the foot of the Hachikokuyama
ridge on May 12, 1333, it pitted the anti-shogunate imperial forces led by Nitta Yoshisada
against the forces of the Hōjō
Shogun. The battle was an immediate follow on from the previous day's nearby Battle of Kotesashi
.
highway. Since the previous day's battle at Kotesashi
was indecisive, both sides had expected the battle to continue. The chosen battlefield was a plane crisscrossed by small rivers and bordered by low-lying ridges. The geography gave the mounted warriors room to maneuver with their commanders overlooking the battle from the surrounding ridges such as where Nitta
raised his banner at Hachikokuyama
.
The Taiheiki
chronicles what happened. The Shogunate forces formed a large mass with intention of encompassing the Imperial forces. The Imperial forces formed a wedge to protect its center. With neither side gaining immediate advantage, the battle continued until losses forced the Shogun's forces to retreat. Losses were reported as relatively light for the Imperial forces but heavy for the Shogun's.
to await reinforcements.
and Sekido. In less than one week, Nitta led the Imperial forces 50 kilometers south and finally eliminated the Shogun's forces 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 Higashimurayama at the foot of the Hachikokuyama
Hachikokuyama
Hachikokuyama is a ridge and park in Higashimurayama, Tokyo and Tokorozawa, Saitama. Its name translates literally into English as "Eight Country Mountain" since in times past, one could view eight surrounding "countries" or regions from its top....
ridge on May 12, 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...
Shogun. The battle was an immediate follow on from the previous day's nearby Battle of Kotesashi
Battle of Kotesashi (1333)
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 Tokorozawa on May 11, 1333, it pitted the anti-shogunate imperial forces led by Nitta Yoshisada against the forces of the Hōjō Shogun. The next...
.
The battle
At dawn on May 12, the Imperial forces advanced upon the Shogunate forces' position at the via the Kamakura KaidoKamakura Kaido
is the generic name of a great number of roads built during the Kamakura period which, from all directions, converged on the military capital of Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The term itself however was created probably during the Edo Period to mean simply any old road going to Kamakura; it...
highway. Since the previous day's battle at Kotesashi
Battle of Kotesashi (1333)
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 Tokorozawa on May 11, 1333, it pitted the anti-shogunate imperial forces led by Nitta Yoshisada against the forces of the Hōjō Shogun. The next...
was indecisive, both sides had expected the battle to continue. The chosen battlefield was a plane crisscrossed by small rivers and bordered by low-lying ridges. The geography gave the mounted warriors room to maneuver with their commanders overlooking the battle from the surrounding ridges such as where Nitta
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....
raised his banner at Hachikokuyama
Hachikokuyama
Hachikokuyama is a ridge and park in Higashimurayama, Tokyo and Tokorozawa, Saitama. Its name translates literally into English as "Eight Country Mountain" since in times past, one could view eight surrounding "countries" or regions from its top....
.
The Taiheiki
Taiheiki
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 what happened. The Shogunate forces formed a large mass with intention of encompassing the Imperial forces. The Imperial forces formed a wedge to protect its center. With neither side gaining immediate advantage, the battle continued until losses forced the Shogun's forces to retreat. Losses were reported as relatively light for the Imperial forces but heavy for the Shogun's.
Result
The result was a victory for the Imperial forces; having grown weary from two days of heavy fighting, they rested at the battlefield. The Shogunate forces retreated south to BubaigawaraBattle of Bubaigawara
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...
to await reinforcements.
Aftermath
The two armies fought again three days later at BubaigawaraBattle of Bubaigawara
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...
and Sekido. In less than one week, Nitta led the Imperial forces 50 kilometers south and finally eliminated the Shogun's forces 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...
.