Changes

==War for Sagami==

==War for Sagami==

In [[1494]], the deaths of two powerful forces in the Kanto, Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Sadamasa, and the lord of [[Odawara castle|Odawara Castle]], [[Omori Ujiyori]], gave Ise an opportunity in Sagami Province that he was more than ready to grasp. Omori Ujiyori, an important Uesugi vassal, died on the 5th day of the 10th month, and was succeeded by his son Fujiyori, and by then Sadamasa was dead as well. [[Omori Fujiyori]] thus lost not just his father, but also his powerful overlord. Ise was quick to avail himself of this new opportunity. He presented himself to the young lord of Odawara as a friend and father figure, bringing him such expensive gifts as his treasury would allow. In [[1495]] (the 11th or 16th day of the second month, sources differ on the exact date), Nagauji used a large deer hunt as an excuse to bring his soldiers deep into Omori territory. He captured the castle quickly in a move completely unexpected by Fujiyori, and Fujiyori was left with no option but to flee. The Omori took up at [[Okazaki castle|Okazaki]] and [[Sanada castle|Sanada Castles]] and in time became Hôjô vassals. Another version of events, certainly a fable, is that Nagauji took Fujiyori on the deer hunt, and by the end of the day, Fujiyori was dead, and Odawara was in the hands of Hôjô Nagauji. In any event, Odawara would be continually upgraded over the following decades until it stood as one of the most formidable strongholds in all of Japan.  

In [[1494]], the deaths of two powerful forces in the Kanto, Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Sadamasa, and the lord of [[Odawara castle]], [[Omori Ujiyori]], gave Ise an opportunity in Sagami Province that he was more than ready to grasp. Omori Ujiyori, an important Uesugi vassal, died on the 5th day of the 10th month, and was succeeded by his son Fujiyori, and by then Sadamasa was dead as well. [[Omori Fujiyori]] thus lost not just his father, but also his powerful overlord. Ise was quick to avail himself of this new opportunity. He presented himself to the young lord of Odawara as a friend and father figure, bringing him such expensive gifts as his treasury would allow. In [[1495]] (the 11th or 16th day of the second month, sources differ on the exact date), Nagauji used a large deer hunt as an excuse to bring his soldiers deep into Omori territory. He captured the castle quickly in a move completely unexpected by Fujiyori, and Fujiyori was left with no option but to flee. The Omori took up at [[Okazaki castle|Okazaki]] and [[Sanada castle|Sanada castles]] and in time became Hôjô vassals. Another version of events, certainly a fable, is that Nagauji took Fujiyori on the deer hunt, and by the end of the day, Fujiyori was dead, and Odawara was in the hands of Hôjô Nagauji. In any event, Odawara would be continually upgraded over the following decades until it stood as one of the most formidable strongholds in all of Japan.  

Ise turned over Odawara to his brother Yajirô and returned to Nirayama, his home castle in Izu. The following year, Yamanouchi-Uesugi Akisada invaded Sagami. Ise joined a coalition of Sagami lords that included Omori Fujiyori, the [[Ota clan|Ota]], the [[Muira clan|Muira]], and the [[Ueda clan|Ueda]]. Yet this allied army was crushed on the battlefield by Akisada and Ise lost many of his retainers. In [[1504]] Ise had sufficiently recovered to send an army to support Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Tomoyoshi against the Yamanouchi at Tachikawa in Musashi Province.  

Ise turned over Odawara to his brother Yajirô and returned to Nirayama, his home castle in Izu. The following year, Yamanouchi-Uesugi Akisada invaded Sagami. Ise joined a coalition of Sagami lords that included Omori Fujiyori, the [[Ota clan|Ota]], the [[Muira clan|Muira]], and the [[Ueda clan|Ueda]]. Yet this allied army was crushed on the battlefield by Akisada and Ise lost many of his retainers. In [[1504]] Ise had sufficiently recovered to send an army to support Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Tomoyoshi against the Yamanouchi at Tachikawa in Musashi Province.  

In [[1512]] Ise attacked the neighboring [[Miura clan]]. He brought down Okazaki Castle and forced [[Miura Yoshiatsu]] to westward to [[Muira castle|Muira Caste]]. Kamakura then fell to the Ise. Shinkuro now consolidated his gains. He sent troops to the Taima Post Station (present-day Sagamihara City), a strategic location since it dominated the crossroads of Sagami, Musashi, and Kai Provinces. He also threw up a castle at Tamawara to counter the movements of the Ota, who were Muira allies. In fact, [[Ota Sukeyasu]] did lead a relief army to aid the Muira but was attacked by the Ise en route. The Ota were routed and Sukeyasu was killed.  

In [[1512]] Ise attacked the neighboring [[Miura clan]]. He brought down Okazaki Castle and forced [[Miura Yoshiatsu]] to westward to [[Muira castle]]. Kamakura then fell to the Ise. Shinkuro now consolidated his gains. He sent troops to the Taima Post Station (present-day Sagamihara City), a strategic location since it dominated the crossroads of Sagami, Musashi, and Kai Provinces. He also threw up a castle at Tamawara to counter the movements of the Ota, who were Muira allies. In fact, [[Ota Sukeyasu]] did lead a relief army to aid the Muira but was attacked by the Ise en route. The Ota were routed and Sukeyasu was killed.  

Apart from his military moves, Shinkuro attempted to demonstrate that he was the new lord of Kamakura in other ways, chiefly, by being a benefactor. He granted tax exemptions to the Kenchouji, Engakuji, and Toukeiji temples, setting a precedent future Hôjô lords would emulate. The siege of the Muira lasted until the 7th month of [[1516]], when the Ise were finally able to bring down [[Arai castle|Arai Castle]]. Miura Yoshiatsu and [[Muira Yoshimoto]] committed suicide.  

Apart from his military moves, Shinkuro attempted to demonstrate that he was the new lord of Kamakura in other ways, chiefly, by being a benefactor. He granted tax exemptions to the Kenchouji, Engakuji, and Toukeiji temples, setting a precedent future Hôjô lords would emulate. The siege of the Muira lasted until the 7th month of [[1516]], when the Ise were finally able to bring down [[Arai castle|Arai Castle]]. Miura Yoshiatsu and [[Muira Yoshimoto]] committed suicide.  

In addition to his political and military skill, Shinkuro was a gifted administrator, and earned the good will of the peasants in his land by lowering taxes to forty percent (down from as much as seventy percent). He is perhaps best known for composing the [[Soun-ji Dono Nijuichi Kajo]], or 'Lord Soun's Twenty-one Articles', a collection of do's and don'ts intended for future retainers of the Hôjô house. Many scholars mark the year Soun conquered Izu as the opening of the Sengoku period, and Soun himself as one of the first and best examples of 'gekokujo' (the weak overcoming the strong) in action, for Soun, a relative unknown, was able to take a province for his own without an Imperial decree or permission from the Shôgun.  

In addition to his political and military skill, Shinkuro was a gifted administrator, and earned the good will of the peasants in his land by lowering taxes to forty percent (down from as much as seventy percent). He is perhaps best known for composing the [[Soun-ji Dono Nijuichi Kajo]], or 'Lord Soun's Twenty-one Articles', a collection of do's and don'ts intended for future retainers of the Hôjô house. Many scholars mark the year Soun conquered Izu as the opening of the Sengoku period, and Soun himself as one of the first and best examples of 'gekokujo' (the weak overcoming the strong) in action, for Soun, a relative unknown, was able to take a province for his own without an Imperial decree or permission from the Shôgun.  

Although Ise is remembered as Hôjô Soun, it is almost certain that he never used the name 'Hôjô' in his life, that creative tag being adopted by Ujitsuna in [[1523]] or [[1524]].  

Although Ise is remembered as Hôjô Soun, it is almost certain that he never used the name 'Hôjô' in his life, that creative tag being adopted by Ujitsuna in [[1523]] or [[1524]].

 

==Sources==

==Sources==