Battle of Okitanawate explained

Conflict:Battle of Okitanawate
Partof:Sengoku period
Date:May 3,[1] 1584
Place:Near Shimabara, Hizen Province
Coordinates:32.8025°N 130.3644°W
Map Type:Japan Nagasaki Prefecture#Japan
Map Relief:yes
Result:Arima-Shimazu victory
Combatant1:forces of Shimazu Yoshihisa and Arima clan
Combatant2:forces of Ryūzōji Takanobu
Commander1:Arima Harunobu
Shimazu Iehisa
Shimazu Toyohisa
Niiro Tadamoto
Commander2:Ryūzōji Takanobu
Nabeshima Naoshige
Strength1:6,300[2]
Strength2:25,000-50,000[3]

The, also known as the Battle of Shimabara, was fought on May 3 of 1584 between the combined forces of the Shimazu and Arima clans, and the Ryūzōji army.

Ryūzōji Takanobu was attacking a number of independent clans close to his territories. In 1582 he attacked the Arima clan and Arima Harunobu decided to ask the help of Shimazu Yoshihisa. Yoshihisa sent an army in December of that year but not much progress was made until 1584. When the army was reorganized and commanded by the able Shimazu Iehisa, younger brother of Yoshihisa, the allies put Shimabara under siege and Takanobu marched to relieve the castle with his main army.

On May 3 the Shimazu-Arima army entrenched on a hill in front of Shimabara and received the attack of the Ryūzōji who were well armed with muskets, including high calibre ones. They attacked the hill in three columns, one advancing along the road, another advancing along the hills and a third along the beach.[4]

They were harassed by the Arima with large caliber arquebuses mounted on boats. The columns were defeated when the Shimazu enticed the Ryūzōji into a false retreat, Harunobu attacked the enemy's main force, and Shimazu retainer, Kawakami Tadakata, allowing a flying column of samurai to take Ryūzōji Takanobu's head.[5]

Notes and References

  1. 24 April of Tenshō 12 The Cambridge History of Japan: Early modern Japan. p344
  2. https://books.google.com/books?id=ycdGHcKLcd8C The Cambridge History of Japan: Early modern Japan. p344
  3. https://books.google.com/books?id=ycdGHcKLcd8C The Cambridge History of Japan: Early modern Japan. p344
  4. https://books.google.com/books?id=RMBdoimD2kIC The Samurai: a military history. p170
  5. Book: Turnbull. Stephen. The Samurai Sourcebook. 1998. Cassell & Co. London. 9781854095237. 234–235.