Okitanawate 1584

Learning of the main advance of the Ryuzoji army, which hoped to crush his domain, Shimazu Iehisa chose to make a stand at Okitanawate despite being heavily outnumbered. In addition to being a confined area, Iehisa constructed a palisade across …

1584-05-03

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Learning of the main advance of the Ryuzoji army, which hoped to crush his domain, Shimazu Iehisa chose to make a stand at Okitanawate despite being heavily outnumbered. In addition to being a confined area, Iehisa constructed a palisade across one end of the valley and then divided his army, placing an ambush force on each side of the valley. Ryuzoji Takanobu was confident of victory as he advanced with his army down the valley, but as his force approached the palisades, the Shimazu ambush force rose up and attacked from each side. As the Ryuzoji vanguard began to waver, Akaboshi Nobuie charged forward, which caused panic among the attackers Takanobu sent a message to the front to inquire what was happening, but the message was misunderstood and the Ryuzoji forces started to withdraw. The Ryuzoji withdrawal turned into a rout when Ryuzoji Takanobu's head was taken.

Shimabara, Japan

The Battle of Okitanawate, 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. 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 his heir Tadakata, allowing a flying column of samurai to take Ryūzōji Takanobu's head.

Wikipedia: Battle of Okitanawate

Ryuzoji

Shimazu