Honjō Shigenaga
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Template:Japanese name Honjō Shigenaga (本庄 繁長, January 12, 1540 – January 29, 1614) was a Japanese Samurai who lived from Azuchi-Momoyama Period through Edo Period. Shigenaga was known served the Uesugi clan and was known for his several betrayal against them. He held the court title Echizen no kami.
Shigenaga fought at the Battle of Kawanakajima as rear left wing commander, acting as Uesugi Kenshin's retainer.[1] however, in 1568-1569 after Kawanakajima campaign he was briefly rebelled against Kenshin and went on alliance with Takeda Shingen, Kenshin's nemesis because Shigenaga feel dissatisfied by small reward compared with his achievement. this betrayal force Kenshin to laid siege on castle held by Shigenaga Honjo, Murakami castle. The conflict was proven costly for Kenshin as Irobe Katsunaga, one of Kenshin general was slain in the battle and he cannot take the castle easily.[2] however Shingen did not help Shigenaga despite the Shigenaga's success thwarting siege of Kenshin for nearly 1 year which forced him to surrendered to Kenshin again under coordination of Ashina clan and he was pardoned by Kenshin[3]
After death of Kenshin he supported Uesugi Kagekatsu as successor at Siege of Ōtate and In 1588, Shigenaga entered conflict against the Mogami clan and Date clan where he defeated Mogami army at the battle of Jugorihara(十五里ヶ原の戦い) and recovered Shōnai region in Dewa province as a territory of Uesugi clan. But in 1598, Kagekatsu Uesugi was transferred to Aizu Wakamatsu castle (Fukushima prefecture) by Toyotomi government, and Shigenega also moved to Aizu region.
Later on at the conflict between Toyotomi loyalists against Tokugawa Ieyasu he fought in series of battles once again against Date Masamune and Mogami Yoshiaki at the Siege of Hasedō and Battle of Matsukawa where in October 6, he resisted the attack from Masamune's warriors like Katakura Kagetsuna, Oniniwa Tsunamoto and Yashiro Kageyori. his forces successfully kill several Kagetsuna's famous soldiers, then Date Masamune stop attacking and return
Masamune Honjo
Honjō Shigenaga was particularly known as the wielder of famous blade Honjo Masamune, a katana represented the Shogunate during most of the Tokugawa Era.[4] Shigenaga was attacked by Umanosuke who already possessed a number of trophy heads. Shigenaga was attacked with the Honjo Masamune which split his helmet, but he survived and took the sword as a prize. The blade was kept by Shigenaga until he was sent to Fushimi Castle, Bunroku around 1592-1595. Shigenaga ran out of funds and was forced to sell the sword to Toyotomi Hidetsugu, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's nephew and retainer. It was bought for 13 Mai, 13 O-Ban, which was 13 large gold coins.
References
April 26, 1601, Date MasashiTakashi-gun has been invaded and led the army of 20 000 only. Uesugi army was beginning inferior, due clever scheme of Honjō Shigenaga, was pincer the Date army along with the Nagayoshi military Suda from Doggy Style of Mount Shinobu. For being defeated Konida Corps, Date army deprived until "sparrow of Jin curtain bamboo" is Ukiashidachi in a hurry Futamei greatly, he cut more Fukushima Castle deeply central honjin Honjō Shigenaga army sortie is Date troops from gates, Date army became a rout. Uesugi side in this fight was raised a large veterans to raise the Shukyu 1290 too. In this unexpected Date Masamune to large defeat of just only 10 Cavalry rotating together, to avoid the main road, was fled to Shiroishi Castle by leaving the Kando. As a result of this battle, referred to as "Uesugi family of credit became the Bidan of world". ("Dongguk Taiheiki" Volume 4 April 26, 1601 "Matsukawa Masamune in battle, it can attack the Fukushima Castle. Suda and concomitant not covered through, that you cut out the camp curtain of Masamune")