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==Imagawa Ryôshun's early life==

==Imagawa Ryôshun's early life==

During his early years Ryoshun was taught Buddhism, Confucianism and Chinese, archery, and the military arts such as strategy and horse-back riding by his father (governor of the [[Tokaido|Tôkaidô]] sea provinces Totomi and Suruga), along with poetry, which was to become one of his greatest passions. In his twenties he studied under Tamemoto of the Kyogoku school of poetry, and Reizei Tamehide of the Reizei school. At some point, he was appointed to head the boards of retainers and coadjudicators. He had taken religious vows when the Ashikaga Bakufu called upon him to travel to Kyushu and assume the post of constable of the region in [[1370]] after the failure of the previous constable to quell the rebel uprisings in the region, largely consisting of partisans of the Souther Court supporting one of the rebellious [[Emperor Go-Daigo|Emperor Go-Daigo's]] sons, Prince Kanenaga. By [[1374]]-[[1375]], Ryôshun had crushed the rebellion, securing for the Bakufu northern Kyushu, and ensuring the eventual failure of the rebellion and the consequent success of the Bakufu Shogunate.

During his early years Ryoshun was taught Buddhism, Confucianism and Chinese, archery, and the military arts such as strategy and horse-back riding by his father (governor of the [[Tokaido|Tôkaidô]] sea provinces Totomi and Suruga), along with poetry, which was to become one of his greatest passions. In his twenties he studied under Tamemoto of the Kyogoku school of poetry, and Reizei Tamehide of the Reizei school. At some point, he was appointed to head the boards of retainers and coadjudicators. He had taken religious vows when the Ashikaga Bakufu called upon him to travel to Kyushu and assume the post of constable of the region in [[1370]] after the failure of the previous constable to quell the rebel uprisings in the region, largely consisting of partisans of the Souther Court supporting one of the rebellious [[Emperor Go-Daigo|Emperor Go-Daigo's]] sons, [[Prince Kanenaga]]. By [[1374]]-[[1375]], Ryôshun had crushed the rebellion, securing for the Bakufu northern Kyushu, and ensuring the eventual failure of the rebellion and the consequent success of the Bakufu Shogunate.

==Kyushu Tandai (1371-1395)==

==Kyushu Tandai (1371-1395)==

Ryoshun's skill as a strategist was obvious, and he moved rapidly through northern Kyushu with a great deal of success, bringing the region under his control by October [[1372]]. This was an impressive achievement considering Prince Kanenaga had been fortifying his position in this region for more than a decade. Kanenaga was not defeated outright however, and went on the defensive, leading to a stalemate that lasted through to [[1374]], when Kanenaga's general, Kikuchi Takemitsu, died, leaving his military with no strong leader. Ryoshun seized the opportunity and planned a final attack.

Ryoshun's skill as a strategist was obvious, and he moved rapidly through northern Kyushu with a great deal of success, bringing the region under his control by October [[1372]]. This was an impressive achievement considering Prince Kanenaga had been fortifying his position in this region for more than a decade. Kanenaga was not defeated outright however, and went on the defensive, leading to a stalemate that lasted through to [[1374]], when Kanenaga's general, [[Kikuchi Takemitsu]], died, leaving his military with no strong leader. Ryoshun seized the opportunity and planned a final attack.

Ryoshun met with three of the most powerful families on Kyushu to gain their support in the attack, those families being the Shimazu, the Otomo and the Shoni. Things seemed to be going well until Ryoshun suspected the head of the Shoni family of treachery and had him killed at a drinking party. This outraged the Shimazu, who had originally been the ones to convince the Shoni to throw their lot in with Ryoshun, and they returned to their province of Satsuma to raise a force against Ryoshun. This gave Prince Kanenaga time to regroup, and he forced Ryoshun back North, prompting Ryoshun to request assistance from the Bakufu.  

Ryoshun met with three of the most powerful families on Kyushu to gain their support in the attack, those families being the [[Shimazu clan|Shimazu]], the [[Otomo clan|Otomo]] and the [[Shoni clan|Shoni]]. Things seemed to be going well until Ryoshun suspected the head of the Shoni family of treachery and had him killed at a drinking party. This outraged the Shimazu, who had originally been the ones to convince the Shoni to throw their lot in with Ryoshun, and they returned to their province of Satsuma to raise a force against Ryoshun. This gave Prince Kanenaga time to regroup, and he forced Ryoshun back North, prompting Ryoshun to request assistance from the Bakufu.  

Help never arrived, forcing Ryoshun to take matters in to his own hands, and he continued to push the loyalists forces until their resistance ended with Prince Kanenaga's death in [[1383]]. The death of Shimazu chieftain Ujihasa in [[1385]] also helped ease tensions between Ryoshun and the Shimazu for a time.

Help never arrived, forcing Ryoshun to take matters in to his own hands, and he continued to push the loyalists forces until their resistance ended with Prince Kanenaga's death in [[1383]]. The death of Shimazu chieftain Ujihasa in [[1385]] also helped ease tensions between Ryoshun and the Shimazu for a time.

In [[1395]] both the Ouchi and Otomo families conspired against Ryoshun, informing the Bakufu that he was plotting against the Shogun, in a move that was likely an attempt to restore the post of constable to the family that had held it prior to Ryoshun, the Shibukawa family. Ryoshun was relieved of his post and returned to the capital. Ryoshun had, in addition, acted fairly independently in his neotiations with the Shimazu, the Otomo and the Shoni, and also in negotiations with Korea; this recall was prompted by all three causes being used against by his enemies in the Shogun's court.

In [[1395]] both the Ouchi and Otomo families conspired against Ryoshun, informing the Bakufu that he was plotting against the Shogun, in a move that was likely an attempt to restore the post of constable to the family that had held it prior to Ryoshun, the [[Shibukawa clan|Shibukawa family]]. Ryoshun was relieved of his post and returned to the capital. Ryoshun had, in addition, acted fairly independently in his neotiations with the Shimazu, the Otomo and the Shoni, and also in negotiations with Korea; this recall was prompted by all three causes being used against by his enemies in the Shogun's court.

==Later years (1395-1420)==

==Later years (1395-1420)==

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Muromachi Period]]

[[Category:Muromachi Period]]