Changes

* ''Born: [[1538]]''

* ''Born: [[1538]]''

* ''Died: [[1590]]''

* ''Died: [[1590]]''

 

Ujimasa officially took power in [[1560]], but followed most of his father [[Hojo Ujiyasu|Hôjô Ujiyasu's]] advice until the latter died in [[1571]]. He fought in most of Ujiyasu's latter campaigns, and while not a great warrior, Ujimasa showed himself a capable administrator. One of his first acts was to patch things up with the [[Takeda clan|Takeda]], with whom the [[Hojo clan|Hôjô]] were at war with in 1570. This angered [[Uesugi Kenshin]], who proceeded to raid the Hôjô's northern holdings. In [[1572]] Ujimasa dispatched 2,000 troops to assist [[Takeda Shingen]] in a campaign against [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] and after Shingen's death ([[1573]]) offered to act as a mediator between his heir [[Takeda Katsuyori|Katsuyori]] and [[Oda Nobunaga]].  

Ujimasa was the eldest son of [[Hojo Ujiyasu|Hôjô Ujiyasu]] and officially assumed leadership of the Hôjô in [[1560]], but followed most of his father's advice until the latter died in [[1571]]. He fought in most of Ujiyasu's latter campaigns, and while not a great warrior, Ujimasa showed himself a capable administrator. One of his first acts was to improve relations up with the [[Takeda clan|Takeda]], with whom the [[Hojo clan|Hôjô]] were at war with in 1570. This angered [[Uesugi Kenshin]], who proceeded to raid the Hôjô's northern holdings. In [[1572]] Ujimasa dispatched 2,000 troops to assist [[Takeda Shingen]] in a campaign against [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] and after Shingen's death ([[1573]]) offered to act as a mediator between his heir [[Takeda Katsuyori|Katsuyori]] and [[Oda Nobunaga]].  

In [[1578]] Kenshin died, and [[Uesugi Kagetora]], Ujimasa's brother (earlier adopted by Kenshin), was an heir apparent to the Uesugi house. He became involved in a bitter feud with [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]], which severely weakened the Uesugi house. Kagetora was forced to commit suicide before Hojo troops could arrive to help, but the struggle had all but ended the Uesugi threat to the Hôjô domain. In addition, the Takeda had been devastated in their defeat at [[Battle of Nagashino|Nagashino]] ([[1575]]), leaving Ujimasa to consolidate the Hôjô's domain without further outside interference.  

In [[1578]] Kenshin died, and [[Uesugi Kagetora]], Ujimasa's brother (earlier adopted by Kenshin), was an heir apparent to the Uesugi house. He became involved in a bitter feud with [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]], which severely weakened the Uesugi house. Kagetora was forced to commit suicide before Hojo troops could arrive to help, but the struggle had all but ended the Uesugi threat to the Hôjô domain. In addition, the Takeda had been devastated in their defeat at [[Battle of Nagashino|Nagashino]] ([[1575]]), leaving Ujimasa to consolidate the Hôjô's domain without further outside interference.  

The Hôjô were torn on a course of action. Ujinao was inclined to risk his 50,000 warriors all in a field battle, but the sheer magnitude of the enemy armies allowed his father and retainers to talk him into adopting a purely defensive posture. Most of the Hôjô's forces were drawn within Odawara's walls, leaving the chain of forts that acted as satellites to the main castle to fall one after another. By June some 200,000 troops were arrayed around Odawara, and the rest of the Kanto was largely in Hideyoshi's hands. It is probable that Ujimasa hoped a prolonged siege would prove too much to bear logistically for the Toyotomi forces-in much the same way that earlier attempts by the Takeda and Uesugi to besiege Odawara had failed for lack of supplies. The Hôjô themselves had an immense reserve of food-stuffs and ammunition. Unfortunately for Ujimasa and Ujinao, Hideyoshi had a brilliantly organized logistical train and all the time in the world on his side. Markets, theaters, and tournaments popped up in the Toyotomi camp, creating an almost peacetime flavor to this, the last and greatest of Hideyoshi's campaigns in Japan. Within Odawara, endless debate continued (to the extent that even today, a long, drawn-out debate or meeting that yields no results is called an 'Odawara conference'.) even as the weeks turned into months. In July, Hideyoshi demanded Odawara surrender, and [[Hojo Ujinori|Hôjô Ujinori]] (Ujimasa's brother) was sent by the Toyotomi to urge a peaceful end to the siege. To this point, there had been little actual fighting, save a few skirmishes seemingly designed to break up the monotony of the affair more than anything. An all-out assault promised to be a bloodbath for both sides. To the end, it would appear that Ujimasa, despite a growing danger of treason within the castle walls and faltering supplies, was determined to resist. Ujinao, however, was not so inclined, and finally agreed to surrender in early August. The Hôjô garrison was spared, but Ujimasa and his brother Ujiteru were made to commit suicide.  

The Hôjô were torn on a course of action. Ujinao was inclined to risk his 50,000 warriors all in a field battle, but the sheer magnitude of the enemy armies allowed his father and retainers to talk him into adopting a purely defensive posture. Most of the Hôjô's forces were drawn within Odawara's walls, leaving the chain of forts that acted as satellites to the main castle to fall one after another. By June some 200,000 troops were arrayed around Odawara, and the rest of the Kanto was largely in Hideyoshi's hands. It is probable that Ujimasa hoped a prolonged siege would prove too much to bear logistically for the Toyotomi forces-in much the same way that earlier attempts by the Takeda and Uesugi to besiege Odawara had failed for lack of supplies. The Hôjô themselves had an immense reserve of food-stuffs and ammunition. Unfortunately for Ujimasa and Ujinao, Hideyoshi had a brilliantly organized logistical train and all the time in the world on his side. Markets, theaters, and tournaments popped up in the Toyotomi camp, creating an almost peacetime flavor to this, the last and greatest of Hideyoshi's campaigns in Japan. Within Odawara, endless debate continued (to the extent that even today, a long, drawn-out debate or meeting that yields no results is called an 'Odawara conference'.) even as the weeks turned into months. In July, Hideyoshi demanded Odawara surrender, and [[Hojo Ujinori|Hôjô Ujinori]] (Ujimasa's brother) was sent by the Toyotomi to urge a peaceful end to the siege. To this point, there had been little actual fighting, save a few skirmishes seemingly designed to break up the monotony of the affair more than anything. An all-out assault promised to be a bloodbath for both sides. To the end, it would appear that Ujimasa, despite a growing danger of treason within the castle walls and faltering supplies, was determined to resist. Ujinao, however, was not so inclined, and finally agreed to surrender in early August. The Hôjô garrison was spared, but Ujimasa and his brother Ujiteru were made to commit suicide.  

 

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]