Kuroi Castle

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Kuroi Castle
黒井城
Tamba, Hyōgo, Japan
Stone wall of Honmaru Base
Kuroi Castle is located in Hyōgo Prefecture
Kuroi Castle
Kuroi Castle
Kuroi Castle is located in Japan
Kuroi Castle
Kuroi Castle
Coordinates35°10′45.0″N 135°6′14.6″E / 35.179167°N 135.104056°E / 35.179167; 135.104056
TypeYamajiro-style Japanese castle
Site information
OwnerAkai clan, Akechi clan
Conditionruins
Site history
Built14c
Built byAkamatsu Norisada
MaterialsStone walls
Demolished1584
EventsBattle of Kuroi Castle
Garrison information
Past
commanders		Akai Naomasa, Saitō Toshimitsu, Horio Yoshiharu
Map

Kuroi Castle (黒井城, Kuroi-jō) was a

National Historic Site since 1989.[3]

History

Kuroi Castle is located on a 350-meter mountain at the middle of Hikami basin, protected on three sides by rivers. the valley is a cul-de-sac to the northwest of the Sasayama basin, which contained

Onin War, the Akai clan expanded rapidly under its aggressive new chieftain, Akai Naomasa. Known as the "Red Demon" of Tanba, Akai Naomasa seized Kuroi Castle in 1554 by killing his grand-uncle, and over the next ten years expanded his holdings through marriage alliances, open warfare and stratagem to control the western half of the province. Using Kuroi Castle as his stronghold, he substantially expanded on its defenses. In 1570, Akai Naomasa dove back an invasion from the Yamana clan, shugo of Tajima Province, and in his counterattack invaded Tajima and seized Takeda Castle and Konosumiyama Castle. The Yamane clan had pledge fealty to Oda Nobunaga, and these events made Nobunaga wary of the aggressiveness of the Akai clan. However, Nobunaga was tied down in conflict with the Takeda clan of Kai Province and it was not until his victory at the Battle of Nagashino in 1575 that he was able to turn his attention toTanba Province. Nobunaga ordered his general, Akechi Mitsuhide to take control of the province. Mitsuhide attempted diplomacy and won over a number of the smaller local lords to his side; however, the Akai were adamant in their opposition, and Mitsuhide was forced to lay siege to Kuroi Castle for two months in the winter of 1575. In the early spring of 1576, Mitsuhide's forces were attacked from behind by Hatano Hideharu and he was forced to retreat back to Sakamoto Castle. Mitsuhide rebuilt his army and attacked Tanba again from March 1578, this time securing his rear by building Kinzan Castle between Kuni Castle and the Hatano stronghold of Yagami Castle to prevent a repeat of the previous campaign. Akai Naomasa died of illness soon after the start of the campaign, and with his death, the anti-Nobunaga alliance of minor lords in Tanba started to collapse.Yagami Castle fell in June 1579, and the isolated Kuroi Castle fell in August.[2][4][5]

Mitsuhide placed his general

Inaba Masashige. She later became wet nurse to Tokugawa Iemitsu and was named Lady Kasuga after the location of Kuroi Castle.[2][5]

After Saitō Toshimitsu's death,Hideyoshi entrusted the castle to Horio Yoshiharu, but in 1583 he was transferred to Wakasa Province and Kuroi Castle was abandoned and allowed to fall into ruin.[1]

All that remains of Kuroi Castle today and some fragmentary stone walls and earthworks. The entrance to the site is a 15-minute walk from

JR West Fukuchiyama Line
and another 45 minute walk from entrance to the hilltop.

Kuroi Castle was listed as one of the

Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles in 2017.[6]

Gallery

  • Stone wall of a Yagura Tower
    Stone wall of a Yagura Tower
  • Ninomaru Base
    Ninomaru Base
  • Gate of Honmaru Base
    Gate of Honmaru Base
  • View from Honmaru Base
    View from Honmaru Base
  • Kozenji Temple (Former residence of Saitō Toshimitsu)
    Kozenji Temple (Former residence of Saitō Toshimitsu)

See also

Literature

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kuroi Castle.
  • De Lange, William (2021). An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles. Groningen: Toyo Press. pp. 600 pages.
    ISBN 978-9492722300
    .

References

  1. ^ a b c "黒井城" (in Japanese). Tanba city official. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "黒井城" (in Japanese). 攻城団. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  3. ^ "黒井城跡". Cultural Heritage Online (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  4. ^ "黒井城" (in Japanese). 城旅. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  5. ^ a b "【続日本100名城・黒井城編】明智光秀を苦しめた「丹波の赤鬼」が守る山地の要塞" (in Japanese). 城びと. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  6. ^ "続日本100名城" (in Japanese). 日本城郭協会. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
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