Ichinomiya Castle

{{Short description|Building in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan}}

{{Infobox military structure

| name = Ichinomiya Castle

| nativename-a = {{lang|ja|一宮城}}

| partof =

| location = Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan

| image = Itimayajo13.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Stone wall of Honmaru Base

| type = Mountaintop castle

| height =

| ownership = Ogasawara clan, Ichinomiya clan, Chōsokabe clan

| controlledby =

| condition = ruins

| built = 1338

| builder = Ogasawara clan

| used =

| materials = Stone walls

| demolished = 1638

| battles =

| past_commanders =

| garrison =

| occupants =

| events =

| coordinates =

| map_type = Japan Tokushima Prefecture#Japan

| map_relief = 1

}}

Ichinomiya Castle is a mountaintop castle in Tokushima, Japan.

History

Built in 1338, the castle was built on a strategically important site, with a river in front and on a mountain, both features giving it some protection as natural defenses. It was originally built by the Osagawara clan, which was appointed to govern Awa domain. In the conflict between Emperor Godaigo and Ashikaga Takauji, the founder of the Muromachi shogunate, the Osagawara supported the Emperor. With his defeat, the Ogasawara lost the castle, which was then given to the Ichinomiya clan"Ichinomiya Castle" Japancastle http://www.japancastle.jp/2014/08/Ichinomiya-castle.html

From the 14th to the 16th centuries, generations of the Ichinomiya family ruled the castle. Hachisuka Iemasa was made lord of the castle after that. The castle was dismantled in 1615."Ichinomiya-Castle" J Castle http://www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/228-Ichinomiya-Castle {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414192647/http://jcastle.info/castle/profile/228-Ichinomiya-Castle |date=2016-04-14 }} It was a hilltop castle, and it was built on the same site that Ichinomiya Castle originally was sited."Ichinomiya Castle" gojapango https://www.gojapango.com/places/tokushima-prefecture/tokushima/castles/ichinomiya-castle/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328040916/https://www.gojapango.com/places/tokushima-prefecture/tokushima/castles/ichinomiya-castle/ |date=2018-03-28 }} In a conflict between Motochika Chosokabe and the Miyoshi, even though the Ichinomiya supported him, Motochika mistrusted the clan and removed the castle from their control, directly controlling it himself."Ichinomiya Castle" Japancastle http://www.japancastle.jp/2014/08/Ichinomiya-castle.html The castle was finally demolished under the policy of Ikkoku Ichijyo Rei, or "one domein one castle rule" of 1615.

= Shikoku campaign =

In 1585, Toyotomi Hideyoshi started a campaign against Chosokabe Motochika and his clan. Hideyoshi marched with 100,000 soldiers against Motochika, who had 40,000. Toyotomi Hidenaga, the younger brother, led 40,000 soldiers to lay siege to the castle. After initially attacking it, they then moved to destroy the water source for the castle. Considering they were outnumbered, and had no water supply, the castle surrendered to Toyotomi. With the surrender of the castle, Chosokabe Motochika himself surrendered. The battle around the castle was the central part of the campaign."Ichinomiya Castle" Japancastle http://www.japancastle.jp/2014/08/Ichinomiya-castle.html{{cite book|last1=Turnbull|first1=Stephen|title=The Samurai Sourcebook|date=1998|publisher=Cassell & Co|location=London|isbn=9781854095237|page=236}}

Current site

Presently, most of the remains of the castle that still stand currently are some bailey walls, and stairs. The site is signposted and accessible for tourists.

"Ichinomiya-Castle" J Castle http://www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/228-Ichinomiya-Castle {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414192647/http://jcastle.info/castle/profile/228-Ichinomiya-Castle |date=2016-04-14 }}

The Castle was listed as one of the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles in 2017.{{cite web|url=http://jokaku.jp/japan-top-100-castles/best-100-castles-of-japan-2nd-selection/|title=続日本100名城|publisher=日本城郭協会|language=ja|access-date=25 July 2019|archive-date=2 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202170315/http://jokaku.jp/japan-top-100-castles/best-100-castles-of-japan-2nd-selection/|url-status=dead}}

Literature

{{Commons category|Ichinomiya Castle (Awa)}}

  • {{cite book |title=An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles | last=De Lange |first=William |year=2021 |pages=600 pages|publisher=Toyo Press |location=Groningen |isbn=978-9492722300}}

References