Hojo Ujinao
Encyclopedia
Hōjō Ujinao was a Japanese daimyo
of the late Sengoku period
, and the final head of the Late Hōjō clan
. An important figure in the history of Azuchi-Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the siege
in 1590. Despite this, he survived, and his family carried on as small daimyo in the Edo period
.
Born in Odawara Castle in 1562, Ujinao was the grandson of Hōjō Ujiyasu
, and was first named Kuniōmaru. His mother was the daughter of Takeda Shingen
. Coming of age in early 1577, he took the formal name Ujinao. Ujinao married Toku Hime
, the second daughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu
, as a condition for peace between their two clans. In maturity, Ujinao held junior 5th court rank, lower grade (ju-go-i-ge) and the title Sakyō-dayu. In 1590, Odawara fell to siege
at the hands of Toyotomi Hideyoshi
; his father and uncle were forced to commit seppuku
, but Ujinao was spared because he was Tokugawa Ieyasu's son-in-law. He and his wife were exiled to Mount Kōya
, where he died late the following year.
His adoptive son, Hōjō Ujimori, was the first daimyo of Sayama-han (Kawachi Province, 10,000 koku).
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...
of the late 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...
, and the final head of the Late Hōjō clan
Late Hojo clan
The ' was one of the most powerful warrior clans in Japan in the Sengoku period and held domains primarily in the Kantō region.The clan is traditionally reckoned to be started by Ise Shinkurō, who came from a branch of the prestigious Ise clan, a family in the direct employment of the Ashikaga...
. An important figure in the history of Azuchi-Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the siege
Siege of Odawara (1590)
The third ' occurred in 1590, and was the primary action in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaign to eliminate the Hōjō clan as a threat to his power. The months leading up to it saw hasty but major improvements in the defense of the castle, as Hideyoshi's intentions became clear...
in 1590. Despite this, he survived, and his family carried on as small daimyo in the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
.
Born in Odawara Castle in 1562, Ujinao was the grandson of Hōjō Ujiyasu
Hojo Ujiyasu
was the son of Hōjō Ujitsuna and a daimyō of the Odawara Hōjō clan.Upon his father's death in 1541, a number of the Hōjō's enemies sought to take advantage of the opportunity to seize major Hōjō strongholds...
, and was first named Kuniōmaru. His mother was the daughter of Takeda Shingen
Takeda Shingen
, of Kai Province, was a preeminent daimyo in feudal Japan with exceptional military prestige in the late stage of the Sengoku period.-Name:Shingen was called "Tarō" or "Katsuchiyo" during his childhood...
. Coming of age in early 1577, he took the formal name Ujinao. Ujinao married Toku Hime
Toku Hime (1565–1615)
Toku-hime was a princess during the Sengoku and Edo periods of Japanese history. She was the second daughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu; her mother was Lady Nishigori , one of Ieyasu's concubines...
, the second daughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
, as a condition for peace between their two clans. In maturity, Ujinao held junior 5th court rank, lower grade (ju-go-i-ge) and the title Sakyō-dayu. In 1590, Odawara fell to siege
Siege of Odawara (1590)
The third ' occurred in 1590, and was the primary action in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaign to eliminate the Hōjō clan as a threat to his power. The months leading up to it saw hasty but major improvements in the defense of the castle, as Hideyoshi's intentions became clear...
at the hands of Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
; his father and uncle were forced to commit seppuku
Seppuku
is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. Seppuku was originally reserved only for samurai. Part of the samurai bushido honor code, seppuku was either used voluntarily by samurai to die with honor rather than fall into the hands of their enemies , or as a form of capital punishment...
, but Ujinao was spared because he was Tokugawa Ieyasu's son-in-law. He and his wife were exiled to Mount Kōya
Mount Koya
is the name of mountains in Wakayama Prefecture to the south of Osaka. Also, Kōya-san is a modifying word for Kongōbuji . There is no one mountain officially called Kōya-san in Japan....
, where he died late the following year.
His adoptive son, Hōjō Ujimori, was the first daimyo of Sayama-han (Kawachi Province, 10,000 koku).