Aizu Uprising

In the early Edo period, there was a family feud within the Kato clan of Aizu. Kato Yoshiaki, who became the lord of Aizu with 400,000 koku of rice from Matsuyama, Iyo in 1627 (Kan'ei 4), died in 1631 and his son Akinari succeeded him. Akinari worked hard on the development of mines within the domain, including the major renovation of Wakamatsu Castle in 1639, but expenses such as alternate attendance and assistance in the construction of Edo Castle put the domain's finances in extreme difficulty. This resulted in the imposition of harsh annual taxes on farmers, known as meitaka, and as many as 2,000 people fled the domain during the Kan'ei famine. Akinari also had a total conflict with Hori Mondo, a senior vassal whom his father Yoshiaki had promoted from a page. A dispute between Mondo's retainer and another retainer's servant started the argument, and Akinari punished Mondo's retainer, finding him unjust, and took away Mondo's position and financial resources when he complained. In 1639, Mondo fled Aizu with over 300 members of his family, fleeing to Mount Koya, and after temporarily hiding in the Kii Domain, he went to Edo and complained to the o-metsuke (feudal inspector), but in 1641 the shogunate ordered Mondo's death as he had rebelled against his lord. In 1643, Akinari himself returned his 400,000 koku fief in Aizu, and the Aizu Kato clan was abolished.

[Hiroshi Honda]

"Aizu Wakamatsu History Publishing Committee (ed.) Aizu Wakamatsu History 2" (1981, Kokusho Kankokai)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸初期、会津藩加藤氏の御家騒動。1627年（寛永4）伊予松山から会津40万石の城主となった加藤嘉明(よしあき)は、1631年に没し、その子明成(あきなり)が封を継いだ。明成は、1639年若松城の大改築をはじめ領内鉱山の開発などに尽力したが、参勤交代、江戸城手伝普請(てつだいぶしん)などで出費がかさんで藩財政は極度に逼迫(ひっぱく)した。これが農民に過酷な迷い高と称する年貢賦課となり、寛永(かんえい)の飢饉(ききん)では領外に逃散(ちょうさん)する者2000人にも及んだ。また、明成は、父嘉明が小姓から取り立てた重臣堀主水(もんど)とことごとく対立、主水の家来と他の家臣の従者との間の争論が発端となって、明成は理を非として、主水の家来を罰し、これを訴えた主水に対して役職、金の采配(さいはい)を取り上げた。1639年主水は一族300人余を率いて会津を出奔、高野山(こうやさん)に逃れ、一時紀伊藩に隠れたのち江戸へ出て大目付に訴え出たが、1641年幕府は、主に逆らうものとして主水に死を命じた。1643年に至り、明成自ら会津40万石を返上し会津加藤氏は取潰(とりつぶ)しとなった。

［誉田　宏］

『会津若松史出版委員会編『会津若松史 2』（1981・国書刊行会）』

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