Uesugi Norimasa
Encyclopedia
was a daimyō
of feudal Japan
, and held the post of Kantō Kanrei
, the Shogun's
deputy in the Kantō. He is perhaps best known as the adoptive father of Uesugi Kenshin
, one of the most famous warlords in Japanese history.
At the battle of Kawagoe
in 1545, both major branches of the Uesugi family were defeated by the Hōjō clan
; Norimasa's campaigns only continued to be less and less successful. In 1551, he was defeated once again by Hōjō Ujiyasu
, and fled to Echigo Province
, where he sought asylum with his vassal Nagao Kagetora
. Nagao agreed to grant his lord shelter and protection, but only under certain conditions. Norimasa was forced to name Nagao his heir, and to grant him the titles of 'Lord of Echigo' and 'Kantō Kanrei'. Nagao then changed his name to Uesugi, to reflect his inheritance of Norimasa's lineage; he took the given name Terutora for a short time before choosing to be called Kenshin.
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 feudal Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and held the post of Kantō Kanrei
Kanrei
or, more rarely, kanryō, was a high political post in feudal Japan; it is usually translated as Shogun's Deputy. After 1349, there were actually two Kanrei, the Kyoto Kanrei and the Kantō Kanrei....
, the Shogun's
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
deputy in the Kantō. He is perhaps best known as the adoptive father of Uesugi Kenshin
Uesugi Kenshin
was a daimyo who ruled Echigo province in the Sengoku period of Japan.He was one of the most powerful lords of the Sengoku period. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries...
, one of the most famous warlords in Japanese history.
At the battle of Kawagoe
Battle of Kawagoe
The 1545-1546 ' was part of a failed attempt by the Uesugi clan to regain Kawagoe Castle from the Late Hōjō clan in the sengoku period of Japan...
in 1545, both major branches of the Uesugi family were defeated by the 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...
; Norimasa's campaigns only continued to be less and less successful. In 1551, he was defeated once again by 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 fled to Echigo Province
Echigo Province
was an old province in north-central Japan, on the shores of the Sea of Japan. It was sometimes called , with Echizen and Etchū Provinces. Today the area is part of Niigata Prefecture, which also includes the island which was the old Sado Province. This province was the northernmost part of the...
, where he sought asylum with his vassal Nagao Kagetora
Uesugi Kenshin
was a daimyo who ruled Echigo province in the Sengoku period of Japan.He was one of the most powerful lords of the Sengoku period. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries...
. Nagao agreed to grant his lord shelter and protection, but only under certain conditions. Norimasa was forced to name Nagao his heir, and to grant him the titles of 'Lord of Echigo' and 'Kantō Kanrei'. Nagao then changed his name to Uesugi, to reflect his inheritance of Norimasa's lineage; he took the given name Terutora for a short time before choosing to be called Kenshin.