Sakamoto Castle
{{Short description|Castle in Ōtsu, Shiga, Japan}}
{{Infobox military structure
| name =Sakamoto Castle
| nativename-a={{lang|ja|坂本城}}
| partof =
| location = Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan
| image =Sakamotojo02.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =Statue of Mitsuhide in Sakamoto Castle park
| type = Mizu style castle
| height =
| ownership = Oda clan, Toyotomi clan
| controlledby =
| condition = ruins
| built = 1571
| builder = Akechi Mitsuhide
| used =
| materials =
| demolished = 1586
| battles =
| past_commanders = Akechi Mitsuhide, Niwa Nagahide, Asano Nagamasa
| garrison =
| occupants =
| events =
| coordinates ={{coord|35|3|35.374|N|135|52|37.744|E|region:JP-25|display=it}}
| map_type = Japan Shiga Prefecture#Japan
| map_alt =
| map_relief = 1
|code =
}}
{{nihongo|Sakamoto Castle|坂本城|Sakamoto-jō}} was a lakeside castle in the Sengoku period, located in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.{{cite web|url=https://www.biwako-visitors.jp/spot/detail/876 |title=坂本城|publisher=滋賀県観光情報|language=Japanese|accessdate=25 July 2019}}
Akechi Mitsuhide was the commander of the castle.{{cite web|url=https://www.sankei.com/west/news/181114/wst1811140037-n1.html |title=坂本城跡から将棋の駒や青磁が出土 琵琶湖水運の拠点として繁栄|date=14 November 2018 |publisher=産経west|language=Japanese|accessdate=25 July 2019}}
History
After the Siege of Mount Hiei, Sakamoto was given to Akechi Mitsuhide who built Sakamoto Castle under orders from the warlord Oda Nobunaga because Sakamoto was a strategically important place to rule. Luís Fróis described the castle as the second best castle in Japan at the time.
After the loss of Battle of Yamazaki, Mitsuhide tried to return to the castle but he was killed on the way.{{cite web|url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%9D%82%E6%9C%AC%E5%9F%8E-179965 |title=坂本城 |publisher=コトバンク|language=Japanese|accessdate=25 July 2019}} Surrounded by Toyotomi's army, Mitsuhide's adopted son Akechi Hidemitsu set fire to the castle and killed himself.{{cite web|url=https://otsu.or.jp/sengoku/sakamoto.html |title=坂本城 |publisher=大津歴史舞台|language=Japanese|accessdate=25 July 2019}}
In 1583, Sakamoto castle was given to Niwa Nagahide and he rebuilt the castle. In 1586, Asano Nagamasa abandoned the castle and moved to Ōtsu Castle by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's order. (Stones and materials were transferred to Ōtsu Castle.)
Nowadays nothing remains of the original castle, and a statue of Akechi Mitsuhide stands in Sakamoto Castle's park.{{cite web|url= https://www.travel.co.jp/guide/article/32849/ |title=明智光秀の幻の城、近江・坂本城跡には何があるのか |publisher=Line トラベル|language=Japanese|accessdate=25 July 2019}}{{cite web|url= https://rekijin.com/?p=28911 |title=坂本城と亀山城の歴史を紐解く！ |publisher=歴人マガジン|language=Japanese|accessdate=25 July 2019}} (Low stone wall remains in the Lake Biwa and can be seen when the water level drops.{{cite web|url=https://shirobito.jp/article/637 |title=今一番アツい戦国武将！ 明智光秀ゆかりの城|publisher=城びと|language=Japanese|accessdate=25 July 2019}}) A gate from Sakamoto Castle was relocated to Saikyō-ji Temple near the castle. (Akechi clan's tombs are also at Saikyō-ji Temple.)
Gallery
Sakamotojo01.jpg|Monument of Sakamoto Castle
Sakamotojo05.jpg|Monument of Sakamoto Castle Honmaru base
Sakamotojo06.jpg|Monument of Sakamoto Castle Ninomaru base
Saikyoji02.jpg|Former Sakamoto Castle's gate (Gate of Saikyo-ji Temple)
Sakamotojo08.jpg|View from Sakamoto Castle park
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www2.city.otsu.shiga.jp/kankou/db/html/152012.html Sakamoto Castle by Otsu city official]
Category:Castles in Shiga Prefecture
Category:Former castles in Japan
Category:Ruined castles in Japan