Stories of the Japanese 01292 [Muromachi/Yoshimochi Period] The Rebellion of Kitabatake Mitsumasa
While preparing for this article, I noticed that there are many instances where it is said, 'It used to be said this way based on war chronicles, but recent leading theories suggest this.' It seems that historians of the past used war chronicles and primary historical sources without much distinction.
February, the 22nd year of Oei (1415). Kitabatake Mitsumasa (?-1429) of the Later Southern Court raised an army at Asaka Castle (Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture) in Ise Province. This was the beginning of the Kitabatake Mitsumasa Rebellion.
Until now, this rebellion has been considered to be:
an uprising by the Southern Court side, angered by the betrayal of the promise made during the Meitoku Peace Treaty that 'the Southern and Northern Courts would ascend the throne alternately.'
However, recent research suggests that it is also a strong theory that the cause was not a conflict between the Northern and Southern Courts, but merely a land dispute.
After the Meitoku Peace Treaty, the Kitabatake clan maintained its relationship with the Muromachi Shogunate by fostering ties with the Shiba clan. However, after the death of Shiba Yoshimasa, the Shiba clan lost its influence within the Shogunate, making it increasingly difficult for the Kitabatake clan to protect its territory.
Under these circumstances, Yoshimochi instructed Kitabatake Mitsumasa to:
'Cede two of your territories to the Obara clan.'
The Obara clan were a branch of the Kitabatake family, but they had gradually strengthened their ties with the Shogunate and became local lords directly under the Shogunate's control.
Kitabatake Mitsumasa asserted his ownership rights against these demands and fought back, but despite the ongoing dispute, the Obara clan forcibly seized the territory. Having finally reached the end of his patience, Kitabatake Mitsumasa raised an army and captured the Obara clan's home castle.
Looking at the circumstances above, the primary cause of the Kitabatake Mitsumasa Rebellion was likely a land dispute. While it is possible that the conflict between the Northern and Southern Courts, which ended 20 years earlier, was still smoldering, it was likely not the direct cause.
Upon learning of Mitsumasa's rebellion, Yoshimochi appointed Isshiki Yoshitsura as the commander of the suppression army and sent him out with Kyogoku Takakazu and Toki Mochimasu (1406-1474). Incidentally, Isshiki Yoshitsura was 16 years old, and the Mino Shugo, Toki Mochimasu, was only 9. It seems that losing one's father at an early age leads to bearing heavy responsibilities while still a child.
The suppression army crossed the Kumozu River around April 20th and advanced favorably, capturing Asaka Castle by May 16th. However, on June 24th, the suppression army had its provisions seized by the enemy in guerrilla warfare, and in July, they were forced into a difficult battle, retreating after a simultaneous attack by the former Kusunoki clan and others.
In August, Yoshimochi proposed a peace plan and announced on October 14th that Mitsumasa would be pardoned. Yoshimochi was forced to make major concessions.
In this article, I use the names after the coming-of-age ceremony even for the period before it, as changing names frequently makes it difficult to understand. However, when we enter the Sengoku period, I might use childhood names for super-famous people like 'Takechiyo' or 'Kihoshi' before their coming-of-age ceremony.