Izu Suigun
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (June 2021) |
The Izu Suigun (Japanese: 伊豆水軍, Izu suigun) is a suigun (navy) based in the Izu Peninsula of Japan. Due its later incorporation into the later Hōjō clan, it was also known as the Hojo suigun. The Izu suigun was known to have fought many battles with the Takeda suigun in Suruga Bay before being defeated by the Toyotomi navy during the Siege of Odowara in 1590 and subsequently disbanded.[1]
Description
The main composition of the Izu suigun were local lords during the time of Hōjō Sōun's invasion of the Izu peninsula, including the Suzuki Clan, the Matsushita Clan, the Tominaga Clan, and more, as well as additional naval power offered by the Miura and Kajiwara clans of Kumano. Based on Nagahama Castle, the Izu suigun very often confronts the Takeda and Imagawa suiguns. One particular confrontation, the Battle of Suruga Bay in March 15, 1580, the Izu navy deployed large atakebune with cannons. The Takeda responded by deploying smaller warships and used the sandbanks as earthworks, bombarding the Izu ships from both land and water, before both being forced to retreat by nightfall.[1]
Izu ship generals Kajiwara Kagemune and Yasuhide Shimizu have both successfully defended Nagahama and Shimoda castle by 1590. However, when the Toyotomi suigun threatened to invade the Shimizu occupied Shimoda castle, Kajiwara Kagemune attempted and failed to launch a naval attack, and Shimoda Castle was handed over after a siege of 50 days. Most of the Izu suigun disbanded shortly after, with most naval soldiers returning back onto land, with Kajiwara Kagemune fleeing to Mount Kōya.[1]
Affilated Clans
- Kajiwara Clan (Owner of Nagahama Castle)
- Shimizu Clan (Owner of Shimoda Castle)
- Suzuki Clan of Izu (Owner of Eri Castle)
- Tominaga Clan
- Matsushita Clan