Aizu Clan

A domain centered in the Mutsu region, Azuchi County. During the Muromachi period, it was the territory of the Ashina clan, but in 1589 (Tensho 17), it was taken by Date Masamune. However, the following year, Toyotomi Hideyoshi confiscated it from Masamune, and Gamo Ujisato entered the domain. Ujisato built Wakamatsu Castle, developed the castle town and the transportation network within the domain, and created the "Gamo Territory Catalog for the Third Year of Bunroku." In 1598 (Keicho 3), Uesugi Kagekatsu was given 1.2 million koku, followed by Gamo Hideyuki with 600,000 koku in 1601, and Kato Yoshiaki with 400,000 koku in 1627 (Kan'ei 4). His son Akinari succeeded him, but he fought with his senior vassal Hori Mondo, and in 1643, he returned his territory to the shogunate and it was abolished (Aizu Disturbance). In the same year, Hoshina Masayuki entered the area from Yamagata in Dewa Province and was given 230,000 koku, and was also given the Minamiyama Okurairi territory with over 51,200 koku, which he treated as if it were his own land. Masayuki was the half-brother of the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, and participated in the shogunate government until he retired in 1669 (Kanbun 9). After Masayuki was appointed to Aizu, he issued the "Jigeshiokijojo" (Underground Punishment Laws) within the domain, and by the Shoho era (1644-1648), he had established a prohibition on the outflow of goods from within the domain (the "Ryumono" system), re-established the market, monopolized the sale of wax and lacquer, and implemented a rice-buying system. He also consolidated the domain's system by carrying out a general land survey within the domain in 1648 (Keian 1), enacting the Shaso Law in 1654 (Shoo 3), and adopting the Jomen system in 1658 (Manji 1). In 1696 (Genroku 9), the third lord, Masakata, was given the Matsudaira surname and the Aoi crest, establishing an unshakable position as a family that followed the Gosanke (three branches of the Gosanke).

After the Genroku period (1688-1704), like other domains, the domain's finances deteriorated, and while it borrowed money from Mitsui in Kyoto and other sources, in 1717 (Kyoho 2) it adopted the "Tansedori" law, which strengthened collection of actual goods, and attempted thorough exploitation, which resulted in the impoverishment of rural areas. In 1729 it switched back to the fixed exemption system, and attempted to restore its finances by collecting interest through active lending of unhulled rice from the shrine storehouse (Kyoho financial reforms). However, expenses mounted due to the burning of its Edo residence, the great fire in Wakamatsu Castle town, and the dredging of the moat of Edo Castle, and by the Horeki period (1751-1764) it had debts of 400,000 ryo. In addition, in 1749 (Kan'en 2), the largest peasant uprising in the history of the Aizu domain government (Aizu Kan'en Uprising) occurred, and the domain responded to the demands of the peasants who flocked to Wakamatsu Castle Town, and attempted to calm the people's mind by reducing or exempting them from annual taxes and eliminating surplus funds. However, the domain was dealt a major blow by the Great Tenmei Famine, and was forced to take this opportunity to carry out major reforms in the domain government. In 1787 (Tenmei 7), the fifth lord, Katanobu, accepted the proposal of his elder retainer, Gensai Tanaka, and started reforms with the highest priority on revitalizing rural areas, implementing measures such as reorganizing the order of villages, allocating land to eliminate surplus land, and promoting industrial development. At the same time, in 1799 (Kansei 11), he founded the domain school, Nisshinkan, and established local schools in 15 locations within the domain to promote education. In 1789 (Kansei 1), he also established a military magistrate and carried out military reforms (Kansei domain government reforms). After that, the Aizu domain was able to survive the great Tenpo famine that hit the entire country.

The last feudal lord, Matsudaira Katamori, was the most powerful pro-shogunate faction and was appointed Kyoto Shugoshoku in 1862 (Bunkyu 2), where he promoted the union of the Imperial Court and the Shogunate. However, in December 1867 (Keio 3), the Kyoto Shugoshoku was abolished with the Great Proclamation of the Restoration of Imperial Rule, and in 1868 (Meiji 1), the Boshin War began with the Battle of Toba-Fushimi. As the Oshu and Uzen domains were defeated one after another, Matsudaira Katamori fought to the end, surrendering in September of the same year, leaving behind the tragedy of the Byakkotai. The following year, Katamori's son Kataharu, who retired, was transferred to Mutsu Tonami (Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture) with a fief of 30,000 koku, and Aizu was abolished as a domain. Aizu's domain land became Wakamatsu Prefecture, and was annexed to Fukushima Prefecture in 1876 (Meiji 9).

[Hiroshi Honda]

"Aizu Wakamatsu History Publishing Committee, ed., "Aizu Wakamatsu History," 12 volumes (1981, Kokusho Kankokai)" ▽ "Yamaguchi Kohei, "Research on the History of Aizu in the Early Modern Period," Volumes 1 and 2 (1978, Rekishi Shunjusha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

陸奥(むつ)国会津郡を中心に置かれた藩。室町時代には蘆名(あしな)氏の所領であったが、1589年（天正17）伊達政宗(だてまさむね)に奪われた。しかし、翌年豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉は政宗よりこれを没収、蒲生氏郷(がもううじさと)が入部することになる。氏郷は若松城の築城と城下町および領内交通網の整備を行い、「文禄(ぶんろく)三年蒲生領高目録」を作成した。1598年（慶長3）上杉景勝(かげかつ)120万石、1601年蒲生秀行(ひでゆき)60万石、1627年（寛永4）加藤嘉明(よしあき)40万石と続き、その子明成(あきなり)が継いだが、重臣堀主水(もんど)と抗争し、1643年領地を幕府に返上、取潰(とりつぶ)しとなった（会津騒動）。同年出羽(でわ)国山形から保科正之(ほしなまさゆき)が入部し23万石を領し、南山御蔵入(みなみやまおくらいり)領5万1200石余も私領同様の取扱いで預かった。正之は3代将軍徳川家光(いえみつ)の異母弟で、1669年（寛文9）隠居するまで幕政に参画した。正之は会津就封後、領内に「地下仕置条々(じげしおきじょうじょう)」を発し、正保(しょうほう)年間（1644～1648）までに、領内物資の領外流出禁止（留物制）、市場の再興、蝋(ろう)・漆(うるし)の専売、買米(かいまい)制の実施などを定め、1648年（慶安1）領内総検地、1654年（承応3）社倉(しゃそう)法の制定、1658年（万治1）定免(じょうめん)制の採用などにより藩体制を固めた。1696年（元禄9）3代正容(まさかた)のとき松平姓と葵(あおい)紋を賜り、御三家(ごさんけ)に続く御家門として揺るぎなき地位を確立した。

　元禄(げんろく)（1688～1704）以降、他藩と同様藩財政は悪化し、京都の三井などから借財する一方、1717年（享保2）には現物収納を強化した「反畝取(たんせどり)」の法を採用し、徹底した収奪を図ったので、農村を疲弊に追い込む結果となった。1729年ふたたび定免制に切り替え、社倉籾(もみ)の積極的貸付などによって利息をとり、財政立て直しを図ろうとした（享保(きょうほう)の財政改革）。しかし江戸屋敷の類焼、若松城下の大火、江戸城堀さらいなどによる出費がかさみ、宝暦(ほうれき)期（1751～1764）には40万両もの借財となった。加えて1749年（寛延2）会津藩政史上最大の農民一揆(いっき)（会津寛延一揆）が発生し、藩は若松城下に押しかけた農民の要求をいれ、年貢の減免、手余地(てあまりち)の解消など民心の安定を図った。しかし天明(てんめい)の大飢饉(ききん)によって大きな打撃を受け、これを機に藩政の大改革を迫られた。1787年（天明7）5代容頌(かたのぶ)は家老田中玄宰(げんさい)の建議をいれ農村の復興を最重点とする改革に着手、村方秩序の再編、手余地解消のため土地分給、殖産興業の推進などを実施し、同時に1799年（寛政11）藩校日新館を創設し、領内15か所に郷校を設置し教育の普及を図り、1789年（寛政1）には軍事奉行(ぶぎょう)を設置して軍制改革をも行った（寛政の藩政改革）。その後会津藩は全国を襲った天保(てんぽう)の大飢饉をも乗り切ることができた。

　最後の藩主となった9代松平容保(かたもり)は、佐幕派の最雄藩として1862年（文久2）京都守護職に就任し、公武合体を推進して活躍した。しかし1867年（慶応3）12月王政復古の大号令で京都守護職は廃止され、1868年（明治1）鳥羽伏見(とばふしみ)の戦いで始まる戊辰(ぼしん)戦争では、奥羽諸藩が次々と敗れるなかで最後まで抗戦し、同年9月白虎隊(びゃっこたい)の悲劇を残して降伏。翌年、隠退した容保の子容大(かたはる)が陸奥斗南(となみ)（青森県むつ市）3万石に移されて会津は廃藩となった。会津の藩地は若松県となり、1876年（明治9）福島県に併合された。

［誉田　宏］

『会津若松史出版委員会編『会津若松史』全12巻（1981・国書刊行会）』▽『山口孝平著『近世会津史の研究』上下（1978・歴史春秋社）』

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