Ujiteru was the 2nd son of Hôjô Ujiyasu and was adopted into the Ôshi family. He held Takiyama and then Hachioji castle in Musashi province, along with three other castles over the course of his career. Ujiyasu is said to have considered Ujiteru superior to his elder brother Ujimasa in most respects, although he was most noted for his diplomatic ability. Along with his brother Ujikuni, Ujiteru was defeated at the battle of Mimasetoge by Takeda Shingen (1569). He later urged his brother Ujimasa to form an alliance with Oda Nobunaga. Although the Hôjô and Oda had nominally cooperated in the invasion of the Takeda domain in the Spring of 1582, Ujimasa distrusted Nobunaga's intentions and was roused by Oda encroachment into Kôzuke. He disregarded Ujiteru's advice, which at any rate became a moot point with Nobunaga's death in June. When Odawara surrendered to Toyotomi Hideyoshi in August of 1590, Ujiteru was made to commit suicide along with Ujimasa.
Their graves, today just a short walk from Odawara Station, are said to have been placed atop the same stone where the two brothers performed their seppuku. The graves were fixed up by the Inaba clan in the 17th century, and though damaged in the Great Kantô Earthquake of 1923, were repaired again the following year.[1]
References
- Initial text from Samurai-Archives.com FWSeal & CEWest, 2005.
- ↑ Plaques at gravesite.