Changes

As the invading army bore down on Shuri, another attempt at negotiation was considered but ultimately rejected, as the Ryukyuans realized it was too late. Soldiers lined up at the ornamental [[Shureimon]], the outermost gate of the castle, overlapping their wooden shields in an attempt to produce a defense, but soon fell back to the Kankaimon. The attackers swept defenders off the walls with arquebus fire, as they had done elsewhere, and scaled the walls using ladders.

As the invading army bore down on Shuri, another attempt at negotiation was considered but ultimately rejected, as the Ryukyuans realized it was too late. Soldiers lined up at the ornamental [[Shureimon]], the outermost gate of the castle, overlapping their wooden shields in an attempt to produce a defense, but soon fell back to the Kankaimon. The attackers swept defenders off the walls with arquebus fire, as they had done elsewhere, and scaled the walls using ladders.

The invaders entered Shuri Castle on 4/3 and looted it, along with a number of nearby temples and noble residences, stealing or destroying Buddhist scriptures and a variety of other objects of religious or historical significance, along with considerable portions of the royal treasure. They captured Prince [[Prince Sho Ko|Gushichan Chôsei]] and the Sanshikan on 4/2, and Prince Sashiki Chôshô (the future King [[Sho Ho|Shô Hô]]) on 4/3.<ref name=miyako24/> They then turned on Naha, entering the city both by land, and through the now undefended harbor.  

The invaders entered Shuri Castle on 4/3 and looted it, along with a number of nearby temples and noble residences, stealing or destroying Buddhist scriptures and a variety of other objects of religious or historical significance, along with considerable portions of the royal treasure. They captured Prince [[Prince Sho Ko|Gushichan Chôsei]] and the Sanshikan on 4/2, and Prince Sashiki Chôshô (the future King [[Sho Ho|Shô Hô]]) on 4/3.<ref name=miyako24/> While the invaders were packing up their "loot" and coordinating their hostages, a number of royal retainers escaped the castle, perhaps led by the three sons of Urasoe ''ueekata'', and briefly continued the fight; in the course of their defeat, the three sons were killed.<ref>Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 233.</ref> The Shimazu forces then turned on Naha, entering the city both by land, and through the now undefended harbor.

Shô Nei surrendered on the fifth day of the fourth lunar month of 1609<ref name=Smits>Smits. ''Visions of Ryukyu''. pp15-19. Some other sources, such as ''Miyakonojô to Ryûkyû ôkoku'' (2012), 22-24, give the date as 4/4.</ref>, and was taken hostage, along with his queen, the heir to the throne, and roughly one hundred of his officials<ref>Kerr. p159.</ref>. Members of the Sanshikan were sent to the islands to the south, to convey the news of the invasion and to seek their surrender on behalf of the Satsuma forces; by 5/5, the entire kingdom had submitted to Satsuma authority, without any samurai so much as setting foot on any of the more southterly islands.

Shô Nei surrendered on the fifth day of the fourth lunar month of 1609<ref name=Smits>Smits. ''Visions of Ryukyu''. pp15-19. Some other sources, such as ''Miyakonojô to Ryûkyû ôkoku'' (2012), 22-24, give the date as 4/4.</ref>, and was taken hostage, along with his queen, the heir to the throne, and roughly one hundred of his officials<ref>Kerr. p159.</ref>. Members of the Sanshikan were sent to the islands to the south, to convey the news of the invasion and to seek their surrender on behalf of the Satsuma forces; by 5/5, the entire kingdom had submitted to Satsuma authority, without any samurai so much as setting foot on any of the more southterly islands.