Siege of Minowa explained

Conflict:Siege of Minowa
Partof:Sengoku period
Date:1566
Place:Minowa Castle, Kōzuke province
Coordinates:36.4044°N 138.9514°W
Map Type:Japan Gunma Prefecture#Japan
Map Relief:yes
Result:Siege successful; Takeda victory
Combatant1:Uesugi clan
Combatant2:Forces of Takeda Shingen
Commander1:Kamiizumi Hidetsuna
Nagano Narimori
Commander2:Takeda Shingen
Naitō Masatoyo
Strength1:3,000
Strength2:5,000

The 1566 siege of Minowa was one of several battles fought by the Takeda clan in their campaigns to seize the lands of the Uesugi clan, during Japan's Sengoku period. It is part of a larger power struggle between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin.[1]

Some years before, Nagano Narimasa, lord of Minowa castle and faithful retainer to the Uesugi, died. In order to protect the region from the depredations of the Takeda, the Nagano family kept his death a secret until his heir could settle into power.

The Takeda attacked in 1566, and were held off for a time, with the young heir, Nagano Narimori, and famous swordsman Kamiizumi Hidetsuna, leading the defense. Intense hand-to-hand fighting eventually led to Hidetsuna leading a bold charge from the castle, which was initially successful. However, Narimori was killed soon afterwards, and the castle fell.

Naitō Masatoyo was given Minowa Castle in Kōzuke Province after it fell to the Takeda.[2]

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: Turnbull, Stephen. Kawanakajima 1553–64: Samurai power struggle. 2013-01-20. Bloomsbury Publishing. 978-1-4728-0022-0. en.
  2. Web site: 日本の城がわかる事典「箕輪城」の解説 . 23 October 2021 . kotobank.