Changes

It is believed that, for a time, there may have been two lords vying for control of Nanzan. [[Ofusato]], the first lord of Nanzan, presented himself to the Chinese Imperial Court in 1388, and died while in [[Korea]], ten years later. Theories abound about whether the process of succession in Nanzan was a natural, peaceful one, or whether each successive king achieved his position by rising up again, and killing, his predecessor. As a result, the true lineage is also obscured.

It is believed that, for a time, there may have been two lords vying for control of Nanzan. [[Ofusato]], the first lord of Nanzan, presented himself to the Chinese Imperial Court in 1388, and died while in [[Korea]], ten years later. Theories abound about whether the process of succession in Nanzan was a natural, peaceful one, or whether each successive king achieved his position by rising up again, and killing, his predecessor. As a result, the true lineage is also obscured.

In the 1390s, the kings of all three kingdoms died within a few years, and succession disputes erupted across the island; similar events occurred in [[Nanking]] at the same time, with the death of the [[Hongwu Emperor]] in 1398. When the Lord of Nanzan, Ofusato, died that same year, his brother [[Yafuso]] seized power, and sought formal recognition from China. Previously, China had only ever recognized one head of state on Okinawa, but now all three kingdoms sent envoys and vied for the prestige, wealth, and power that would come with China's favor; no response came from China for eleven years. In 1406, [[Bunei]], King of Chûzan, was formally invested by representatives of the Ming Court in his position; [[Taromai]], king of Nanzan, received this honor in 1415, but quarrels within his royal court prevented Nanzan from ever gaining power.

In the 1390s, the kings of all three kingdoms died within a few years, and succession disputes erupted across the island; similar events occurred in [[Nanking]] at the same time, with the death of the [[Hongwu Emperor]] in 1398. When the Lord of Nanzan, Ofusato, died that same year, his brother [[Yafuso]] seized power, and sought formal recognition from China. Previously, China had only ever recognized one head of state on Okinawa, but now all three kingdoms sent envoys and vied for the prestige, wealth, and power that would come with China's favor; no response came from China for eleven years. In 1406, [[Bunei]], King of Chûzan, was formally [[Chinese investiture envoys|invested by representatives of the Ming Court]] in his position; [[Taromai]], king of Nanzan, received this honor in 1415, but quarrels within his royal court prevented Nanzan from ever gaining power.

Following Taromai's death in the late 1420s, succession disputes further weakened Nanzan. Shô Hashi, lord of Chûzan, who had conquered Hokuzan ten years earlier, now seized the opportunity to take Nanzan. He thus united the island of Okinawa into the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]], marking the end of the independent kingdom of Nanzan.

Following Taromai's death in the late 1420s, succession disputes further weakened Nanzan. Shô Hashi, lord of Chûzan, who had conquered Hokuzan ten years earlier, now seized the opportunity to take Nanzan. He thus united the island of Okinawa into the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]], marking the end of the independent kingdom of Nanzan.