Battle of Tatarahama (1336)
Encyclopedia
The 1336 battle of Tatarahama (多々良浜の戦い, Tatarahama no tatakai) was one of many battles constituting the Nanboku-chō Wars
in Japan, in which two rival Imperial Courts battled for legitimacy and control of the country. It was decisive in securing control of the island of Kyūshū
for the Northern Imperial Court, which was closely connected to the Ashikaga shogunate
.
stronghold was taken; Shōni Sadatsune fled, but was defeated soon afterwards, and committed suicide along with a number of his retainers.
Shogun Ashikaga Takauji
, arriving in Munakata
, a short distance away, at this time in early April, learned of the siege of Dazaifu and the death of Shōni Sadatsune.
Gathering forces, he marched from Munakata on April 15, and journeyed to Tatarahama, fifteen miles (24 km) away, where he met the opposing army, consisting primarily of warriors of the Kikuchi
, Aso, Mihara, and Kuroki clans under the command of a Kikuchi lord.
By the end of the battle, the Kikuchi clan forces had been chased by Ashikaga Tadayoshi
to Dazaifu, at which point they fled into the hills. The Aso and Akizuki clan
commanders committed suicide, and other commanders simply surrendered.
Takauji rewarded his commanders for their bravery and service, but offered pardon to his opponents, and to several clans not participating in the battle, who thus joined him in its aftermath. Kyūshū thus became united under the shogunate, and the Northern Imperial Court.
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...
in Japan, in which two rival Imperial Courts battled for legitimacy and control of the country. It was decisive in securing control of the island of Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
for the Northern Imperial Court, which was closely connected to the Ashikaga shogunate
Ashikaga shogunate
The , also known as the , was a Japanese feudal military regime, ruled by the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan.This period is also known as the Muromachi period and gets its name from Muromachi Street of Kyoto where the third shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu established his residence...
.
Prelude
Early in 1336, a number of Kyūshū clans, anticipating the movements of the shogun's army against them, made efforts to unite and present a formidable resistance. A number of skirmishes were fought against clans loyal to the shogun on the island, including a siege of Dazaifu, in which the Shōni clanShoni clan
was a family of Japanese nobles descended from the Fujiwara family, many of whom held high government offices in Kyūshū. Prior to the Kamakura period , "Shōni" was originally a title and post within the Kyūshū government, roughly translating to "Junior Counselor", and working under a Daini...
stronghold was taken; Shōni Sadatsune fled, but was defeated soon afterwards, and committed suicide along with a number of his retainers.
Shogun 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...
, arriving in Munakata
Munakata, Fukuoka
is a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, in the north Chikuzen region of the prefecture.As of April 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 94,660 and the density of 791 persons per km 2...
, a short distance away, at this time in early April, learned of the siege of Dazaifu and the death of Shōni Sadatsune.
Gathering forces, he marched from Munakata on April 15, and journeyed to Tatarahama, fifteen miles (24 km) away, where he met the opposing army, consisting primarily of warriors of the Kikuchi
Kikuchi clan
The of Higo Province was a powerful daimyo family of Higo, Kyūshū. The Kikuchi lineage was renowned for its valiant service in defense of the emperor and against foreign invaders. The clan first distinguished itself during the Jürchen invasion of northern Kyūshū in 1019...
, Aso, Mihara, and Kuroki clans under the command of a Kikuchi lord.
Battle
The military chronicle Baishō-ron describes Tatarahama as "a stretch of over three miles (5 km) of dry foreshore, crossed at the south end by a small stream. The precincts of the Hakozaki Hachiman Shrine consist of some five square miles of pine forest. To the south lies the city of Hakata."By the end of the battle, the Kikuchi clan forces had been chased by Ashikaga Tadayoshi
Ashikaga Tadayoshi
was a general of the Northern and Southern Courts period of Japanese history and a close associate of his elder brother Takauji, the first Muromachi shogun. Son of Ashikaga Sadauji and of a daughter of Uesugi Yorishige, the same mother as Takauji, he was a pivotal figure of the chaotic transition...
to Dazaifu, at which point they fled into the hills. The Aso and Akizuki clan
Akizuki clan
The Akizuki clan is a Japanese noble family from prehistoric age. In the Sengoku period, the Akizuki clan was a king of samurai on Japanese "Akizuki-country" in the Kyūshū island. From after the Sengoku period to end of the World War II, the Akizuki family was a Japanese contemporary noble again...
commanders committed suicide, and other commanders simply surrendered.
Takauji rewarded his commanders for their bravery and service, but offered pardon to his opponents, and to several clans not participating in the battle, who thus joined him in its aftermath. Kyūshū thus became united under the shogunate, and the Northern Imperial Court.