Changes

* ''Born: [[1432]]''

* ''Born: [[1432]]''

* ''Died: [[1519]]''

* ''Died: [[1519]]''

==The Conquest of Izu==

==The Conquest of Izu==

In [[1449]], [[Ashikaga Shigeuji]] had become the Kanto Kubo, a post which in theory made him the voice of Ashikaga authority in the Eastern Provinces. In fact, the power of his post had waned. Shigeuji attempted to reverse this and his first move was to kill his deputy, [[Uesugi Noritada]]. This touched off a general war between Shigeuji and the two branches of the powerful Uesugi family (the [[Yamanouchi clan|Yamanouchi]] and [[Ogigaytsu clan|Ogigayatsu]]). Various other clans became involved in the long struggle and in [[1455]] [[Imagawa Noritada]] threw in with the [[Uesugi clan|Uesugi]] and contributed to their cause by capturing and burning Kyoto. Shigeuji thereafter resided in [[Shimosa province|Shimosa Province]]. Afterwards, the government in Kyoto dispatched [[Ashikaga Masatomo]] as the new Kanto Kubo. Conditions in Kamakura and its environs were so unfavorable, however, that Masatomo elected to take up in Izu Province at [[Horikoshi castle]] (he was thusly known as the Horikoshi Kubo.) In [[1491]], Masatomo died. His elder son, known to us only as Chachamaru, had been passed over as heir-apparent by a younger half-brother, Jundouji. Chachamaru seized power and in the course of so doing had Jundouji and his mother (or mother-in-law) killed, and became Kamakura Kubo (Some sources claim that Masatomo had somehow been done in by Chachamaru as well). Not satisfied that his position was now secure, Chachamaru began killing off former supporters of Jundouji. By [[1493]] Izu Province was descending into civil war, with outside lords taking an active interest in the proceedings. At this time, Jundouji's older brother, [[Ashikaga Yoshizumi]], took control in Kyoto in a coup, becoming the 11th Ashikaga Shogun. This weakened the position of the already widely despised Chachamaru even further. Just across the border at [[Kokokuji castle]], Ise Nagauji discerned an obvious opportunity to increase his own position. Supported by the Imagawa, Ise invaded and took Izu in a brisk campaign, forcing Chachamaru to flee to Kai Province. In point of fact, sources actually conflict on the year of Nagauji's invasion, with many older descriptions claiming 1491. Relatively newer studies place Ise's campaign in 1493, at the time of Yoshizumi's ascendency to Shogun. Whatever the case, the ranks of Ise's band were swelled by former Ashikaga retainers. After this point, Ise enjoyed at first de facto and then official independence from the Imagawa.  

In [[1449]], [[Ashikaga Shigeuji]] had become the Kanto Kubo, a post which in theory made him the voice of Ashikaga authority in the Eastern Provinces. In fact, the power of his post had waned. Shigeuji attempted to reverse this and his first move was to kill his deputy, [[Uesugi Noritada]]. This touched off a general war between Shigeuji and the two branches of the powerful Uesugi family (the [[Yamanouchi clan|Yamanouchi]] and [[Ogigaytsu clan|Ogigayatsu]]). Various other clans became involved in the long struggle and in [[1455]] [[Imagawa Noritada]] threw in with the [[Uesugi clan|Uesugi]] and contributed to their cause by capturing and burning Kamakura. Shigeuji thereafter resided in [[Shimosa province|Shimosa Province]]. Afterwards, the government in Kyoto dispatched [[Ashikaga Masatomo]] as the new Kanto Kubo. Conditions in Kamakura and its environs were so unfavorable, however, that Masatomo elected to take up in Izu Province at [[Horigoe castle]] (he was thusly known as the Horigoe Kubo.) In [[1491]], Masatomo died. His elder son, known to us only as [[Chachamaru]], had been passed over as heir-apparent by a younger half-brother, Jundouji. Chachamaru seized power and in the course of so doing had Jundouji and his mother (or mother-in-law) killed, and became Kamakura Kubo (Some sources claim that Masatomo had somehow been done in by Chachamaru as well). Not satisfied that his position was now secure, Chachamaru began killing off former supporters of Jundouji. By [[1493]] Izu Province was descending into civil war, with outside lords taking an active interest in the proceedings. At this time, Jundouji's older brother, [[Ashikaga Yoshizumi]], took control in Kyoto in a coup, becoming the 11th Ashikaga Shogun. This weakened the position of the already widely despised Chachamaru even further. Just across the border at [[Kokokuji castle]], Ise Nagauji discerned an obvious opportunity to increase his own position. Supported by the Imagawa, Ise invaded and took Izu in a brisk campaign, forcing Chachamaru to flee to Kai Province. In point of fact, sources actually conflict on the year of Nagauji's invasion, with many older descriptions claiming 1491. Relatively newer studies place Ise's campaign in 1493, at the time of Yoshizumi's ascendency to Shogun. Whatever the case, the ranks of Ise's band were swelled by former Ashikaga retainers. After this point, Ise enjoyed at first de facto and then official independence from the Imagawa.  

As for Chachamaru, he was later attacked and killed by Nagauji, apparently in [[1498]]. Just how this was accomplished is unclear.

As for Chachamaru, he was later attacked and killed by Nagauji, apparently in [[1498]]. Just how this was accomplished is unclear.

==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]], [[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<ref>This version of events is considered the most likely, and is backed up by the ''Odawara Hojo-ki''</ref>. The Omori took up at [[Okazaki castle|Okazaki]] and [[Sanada castle|Sanada castles]] and in time became [[Go-Hojo clan|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.  

Already, Shinkuro had officially retired in favor of his son Ujitsuna and in [[1519]] he passed away. In his memory, Ujitsuna built the Sounji in Sagami, an act that impressed the Hôjô retainers.  

Already, Shinkuro had officially retired in favor of his son Ujitsuna and in [[1519]] he passed away. In his memory, Ujitsuna built the Sounji in Sagami, an act that impressed the Hôjô retainers.  

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==

==Notes==

 

 

Owada Tetsuo. ''Sengoku Busho Shireba Shiru Hodo.'' 2003. (18th Ed.)  

* Owada Tetsuo. ''Sengoku Busho Shireba Shiru Hodo.'' 2003. (18th Ed.)  

[[Category:Samurai]]

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