Battle of Okitanawate

• Ryuzoji Takanobu (25,000) vs. Shimazu Iehisa (under the command of Shimazu Yoshihisa) (2,000)/Arima Harunobu (1,000)
  • Date: 5 May, 1584
  • Location: Hizen province

Hoping to crush both the troublesome Arima and the Shimazu expeditionary force sent to aid them, Ryuzoji Takanobu led a force onto the Shimabara Peninsula. While the Ryuzoji had never quite recovered from a defeat at the hands of the Otomo in 1569, Takanobu still had some fine leaders and a large army. Only the Arima continued to challange his domination of Hizen Province. Yet, at Okitanawate, the confident Takanobu was to suffer a fatal setback. The two main Ryuzoji columns were quickly stalled by the small if well-armed Arima navy and by the desperate élan of the Shimazu. In the growing confusion, a band of Shimazu swordsmen raced for Takanobu's position; Takanobu (like Imagawa Yoshimoto at Okehazama) believed that a fight had broken out among his own men. He realized too late the danger he was in as the Shimazu suddenly appeared, swords flying. Takanobu was killed and the news generated a general panic within the Ryuzoji ranks despite the best efforts of Nabeshima Naoshige to maintain order. The Ryuzoji at length fled the field and Takanobu's son Masaie was later made to submit to the Shimazu.

References

• Initial text from Samurai-Archives.com FWSeal & CEWest, 2005