[Part 2] What was the "Mogami Yatsudate" alliance of local lords in Dewa Province? | The allies of the Yatsudate and the trigger for the Tensho Mogami Rebellion

Other forces that joined forces with the Mogami Eight Shields

We've looked at an overview of the alliance of local lords in Dewa Province known as the Mogami Eight Shields, but these were not the only forces that allied with Mogami Yoshimori and Date Terumune

Other factions also took a stance of cooperating with the Eight Shields, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that this was more of a war involving Dewa and Mutsu provinces than simply an internal conflict within the Mogami clan

In this section, let's take a look at some of the main forces that joined forces with the Eight Shields

Hosokawa Naomoto

First, there is Hosokawa Naomoto, the lord ofOguni. Oguni Castle was a mountain castle located in what is now Honjo, Mogami-cho, Mogami-gun, and the presence of place names such as "Omote-koji," "Samurai Yashiki," and "Shoya Yashiki" at the foot of the mountain suggests that it formed a kind of castle town.

Naomoto had married his daughter to Tendō Yorizumi (Yorihisa), the leader of the Mogami Eight Shields, and in that sense, he could be considered an ally of the Eight Shields

As their surname suggests, they are believed to be related to the Hosokawa clan, one of the three families that held the position of Kanrei (deputy shogun) during the Muromachi period, but it is not precisely known which branch they belong to

Hosokawa Naomoto had been in conflict with Mogami Yoshiaki from an early stage, but then an even more decisive event occurred

In 1581, Yoshiaki Mogami, who was strengthening his influence in the area, held a military parade at Tendōgahara, which is now Obanazawa City. This was a military review, and participating in it was tantamount to demonstrating one's loyalty to Yoshiaki

Naomoto refused to participate in this horse parade, which led to an attack andthe Battle of Mankigahara, invaded the small country.

Hosokawa Naomoto's forces numbered only 350. However, Naomoto chose to fight a decisive battle on the plains rather than defend his castle. Naturally, he could not overcome the tenfold difference in troop numbers, and Naomoto's Hosokawa clan was destroyed

This victory allowed Mogami Yoshiaki's army to gain control of the water transport routes to the Sea of ​​Japan, successfully expanding their sphere of influence. As a reward for this achievement, Kuramasu Mitsutada was given Oguni Castle, which he had captured, further enhancing his reputation as a skilled strategist

As I have repeatedly mentioned, Yoshiaki Mogami struggled to capture the Eight Shields of Mogami, but undermining the surrounding forces supporting the Eight Shields in this way was also an important strategy

Hosokawa Naomoto's defeat can be seen as evidence of such military strategy

Bukkoji Temple

a Jōdo sect temple located in what is now Tendo CityButsukōji Temple, was also a force that allied itself with the Mogami Eight Shields.

You might wonder why temples would cooperate in the Sengoku period conflicts, but at that time, it wasn't uncommon for temples to possess armed forces such as warrior monks

Under the patronage of the Satomi clan, the origin of the Tendō clan, Bukkōji Temple expanded its influence and eventuallya large temple complex in the Murayama region, boasting as many as 24 branch templesgrew into

In terms of location, it was positioned to protect the western side of Tendō Castle, belonging to the Tendō clan, and it is said that many temples at the time boasted fortress-like defensive capabilities

When the Tendō clan, as the leader of the Eight Shields, clashed with Mogami Yoshiaki, Bukkōji Temple sided with the Tendō clan, and it is said that when the Tendō clan was destroyed, the temple buildings of Bukkōji Temple were also burned down

In other words, it could be seen as evidence that the temple was recognized as a target for attack, and conversely, it could also be seen as demonstrating the strength of the temple as an armed force

Mr. Kaminoyama

, whose base was Kaminoyama Castle located in what is now Kaminoyama CityThe Kaminoyama clan, was a clan that branched off from the Tendo clan, which was related to the Shiba clan.

The head of the family during the time when they allied with the Mogami Eight ShieldsMitsukaneUeyama. His ancestors, the Shiba clan, had been appointed as commanders or assistants of the Hyōefu (military guard) for generations, so he adopted the Chinese name "Buwei" as his surname.

Therefore, his initial name was "Takee Yoshimasa," and later he also went by the name "Satomi Mitsukane."

Mitsukane had married the sister of Yoshimori, the father of Mogami Yoshiaki, thus establishing a direct marital relationship with the Mogami clan

He troubled Mogami Yoshiaki by forming an alliance with Date Terumune, who was Yoshimori's adopted son, but he was eventually betrayed by his senior retainers, Satomi Yoshichika and his son Minbu, through stratagem, and was defeated and killed

These facts suggest that Yoshiaki Mogami was desperately trying to undermine the Eight Shields and their supporting forces from within through divisive tactics

Mr. Higashine

The Higashine clan was a branch of the Tendō clan, who were the leaders of the Mogami Eight Shields. The head of the clan at the time was the seventh generation,Higashine Yorikage,who was the younger brother of Tendō Yorizumi (Yorihisa).

He was adopted by Yorisoku Higashine, inherited the family headship, and supported his brother as the lord of Higashine Castle

As I have repeatedly stated, the Eight Shields gradually fell apart due to the machinations of Mogami Yoshiaki, and their collapse became inevitable with the defection of the brave general Nobusawa Mitsunobu

However, it is said that Higashine Yorikage remained loyal to the Tendo clan and resisted Yoshimitsu until the very end, ultimately dying in battle along with only a few dozen of his retainers

Much about Yorikage's achievements remains unclear, and there are conflicting accounts. However, Yorikage, who never wavered from his principles until the very end, is remembered for his strength and resilience, along with the other members of the Eight Shields who also remained loyal

What caused the outbreak of the "Tensho Mogami Rebellion"?

It can be broadly summarized that the emergence of the Mogami Eight Shields, a confederation of local lords in Dewa Province, was triggered by the unstable security and political situation in the region

It appears that the situation became even more tense when the Date clan, who were related to the Mogami clan, became involved in the internal conflict within the Mogami clan. But what exactly was the background of the "Tensho Mogami Rebellion," a conflict between Mogami Yoshimori and his son Yoshimitsu?

Let's conclude this article by examining the causes of this battle, in which the Mogami Eight Shields were undoubtedly most deeply involved

Traditional traditions regarding the cause of the conflict between father and son Yoshimori and Yoshimitsu

The cause of the conflict between Yoshimori and Yoshimitsu Mogami, who were actually father and son, has traditionally been explained simply as a "succession dispute."

In other words, in 1570, YoshimoriYoshimitsutried to pass on the family headship to his second son, Nakano

At this time, a reconciliation was reached through the mediation of Ujiie Sadao, a senior retainer of the Mogami clan, and Yoshimitsu, who inherited the family headship, became the lord of Yamagata Castle. However, local lords who opposed the policies of the new regime once again supported the previous lord, Yoshimori, and plotted to oust Yoshimitsu

Then, in 1574, Yoshimori sent a letter to his son-in-law, Date Terumune, requesting reinforcements, and it is believed that the Tensho Mogami Rebellion broke out when Terumune dispatched troops to the Mogami territory

The mystery of the existence of "Nakano Yoshitoki"

However, it has been pointed out that Yoshimori's second son, Nakano Yoshitoki, who was the cause of the succession dispute, is a person whose existence is questionable

This is because the first document in which Yoshitoki's name appears, "Keiho Dewa no Kuni Fudoki," was compiled in 1792, more than 200 years after the incident

While the possibility that Yoshimitsu had a younger brother cannot be ruled out, some are questioning the credibility of the story that Yoshimori clashed with the eldest son, Yoshimitsu, out of favoritism towards Yoshitoki

Although the name "Nakano" appears in the genealogies of the Mogami clan and in contemporary documents of the Date clan, this does not necessarily prove the existence of Nakano Yoshitoki. Some studies (※) even question the possibility that the Tensho Mogami Rebellion itself did not exist in the form it is known today

(*) Kanzaburo Hase, "Historical Museum Newsletter No. 12 / Research Musings 5," Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum

Furthermore, there is a theory that the Tensho Mogami Rebellion was not a succession dispute, but rather a conflict triggered by resistance to the rule of Yoshimitsu after he inherited the family headship. Given that the name of Nakano Yoshitoki cannot be found in historical records from that time, it is not unreasonable to consider it a fabrication

(Toshiyuki Awano, "The Formation Process of the Sengoku Daimyo Mogami Clan - Focusing on the Internal Conflicts in the Genki and Early Tensho Periods," *Shigaku Ronshu* (Collection of Historical Studies), No. 10 (Komazawa University, 1980))

Conclusion

How the local lords of the Tohoku region confronted the challenges of the Sengoku period is not widely known

However, it is no exaggeration to say that these powerful local samurai always held the key to influencing the course of events, and their actions were a matter of great importance that even powerful Sengoku warlords had to pay close attention to

While it's generally considered taboo to speculate about "what ifs" in history, if fate and the flow of the times had been favorable, it wouldn't have been surprising if any of the Mogami Eight Shields had risen to prominence on the historical stage

Reflecting on such things is also part of the enjoyment of history

[Series] What was the "Mogami Yatsudate," a coalition of local lords in Dewa Province?

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

[Part 1] What was the "Mogami Yatsudate," a coalition of local lords in Dewa Province? | The rivalry between the Mogami and Date clans, powerful figures in Tohoku during the Sengoku period

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/52242

To begin with, when you think of "warlords of Tohoku during the Sengoku period," who comes to mind? While there are countless stories of brave and fierce generals, the most famous is undoubtedly Date Masamune, the first lord of the Sendai domain, known as the "One-Eyed Dragon." However, Masamune's rise to prominence as a powerful figure in Tohoku was marked by fierce struggles, and his maternal uncle, Mogami Yoshiaki, who became the first lord of the Yamagata domain, remained a formidable obstacle. In the Tohoku region, not only were there powerful warlords like the Date and Mogami clans, but also numerous local lords vying for power, making unification difficult...

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Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

[Part 2] What is the Mogami Yatsudate, a confederation of local lords in Dewa Province? | Members of the Mogami Yatsudate, a confederation of local lords in Dewa Province

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/52246

Representative Local Lords Who Made Up the Mogami Eight Shields Now, let's take a look at the members who made up the Mogami Eight Shields. As mentioned earlier, during the Tensho Mogami Rebellion, they sided with the combined forces of Yoshimori, the father of Mogami Yoshiaki, and his son-in-law, Date Terumune. Ultimately, the Mogami Eight Shields were defeated by Yoshiaki, but it was not a battle that could be settled in a short period of time. Even for Yoshiaki, conquering the Eight Shields was not easy, and the conflict continued even after he defeated Yoshimori. He not only used pure military force, but also employed political marriages and stratagems to sow internal divisions within the Eight Shields and bring them under control.

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Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

[Part 2] What was the "Mogami Yatsudate" alliance of local lords in Dewa Province? | The allies of the Yatsudate and the trigger for the Tensho Mogami Rebellion

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/52250

Other Forces that Allied with the Mogami Eight Shields We have looked at an overview of the Mogami Eight Shields, a coalition of local lords in Dewa Province, but these were not the only forces that allied with Mogami Yoshimori and Date Terumune. There were other forces that took a stance of cooperating with the Eight Shields, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that this was more of a war involving Dewa and Mutsu Provinces than simply an internal conflict within the Mogami clan. In this section, let's take a look at some of the representative forces that allied with the Eight Shields. Hosokawa Naomoto First, there is Hosokawa Naomoto, the lord of Oguni Castle in Dewa Province. Oguni Castle is now located in the Mogami...

Koroku Taito( History writer and novelist )

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