Ryuzoji Iekane
Iekane was the 5th son of Ryûzôji Yasuie and succeeded to the head of his family by dint of outliving his elder brothers. He defeated the Oûchi in 1506 following their own defeat of Shôni Masauke (in which the latter was killed) and again at the battle of Chikugogawa in 1530. He gradually drew away from the Shôni and grew in power within Hizen, although he had long since officially retired. However, in 1544 another Shôni retainer, Baba Yorichika, concerned by Iekane's power, sprung a trap on Iekane. Although Iekane lost many members of his family in Yorichika's attack, he escaped to Chikugo province and took up with Kamachi Akimori, lord of Yanagawa castle. Although Iekane was by then nearly 90, he led an army back into Hizen the following year and defeated and killed Baba. He died on 10 April 1546.
References
- Initial text from Sengoku Biographical Dictionary (Samurai-Archives.com) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005
