Imabari Domain

Located in the center of Iyo Province (Ehime Prefecture), this clan ruled over Ochi County and most of its islands, with Imabari at its center. In 1587 (Tensho 15), Fukushima Masanori was granted 110,000 koku as lord of Yuzuki Castle in Onsen County, and eventually moved to Kokubu (Kokufu) Castle in Ochi County. Eight years later, Ikeda Hideo and then Ogawa Sukedada inherited the domain, but they were stripped of their lands after participating in the Western Army in the Battle of Sekigahara. In 1600 (Keicho 5), Todo Takatora (Iyo Itajima 70,000 koku) was granted an additional 200,000 koku for his military achievements at Sekigahara, and he moved to Kokubu Castle. Takatora deemed the area unsuitable for a modern city, and saw that the nearby Imahari Bay was a key transportation hub. In 1602, he began construction of an innovative castle that used seawater, and the castle town of Imabari was soon established. In 1608, Takatora was transferred to Ise no Tsu, and his adopted son Takayoshi held Imabari Castle with 20,000 koku for 28 years. In 1635 (Kan'ei 12), Matsudaira (Hisamatsu) Sadafusa, lord of Nagashima Castle in Ise, was granted 30,000 koku of Imabari land. His territory consisted of 22,600 koku in the local area of ​​Ochi County, 3,800 koku in the islands, and a total of 68 villages. Under the third lord, Sadanobu, the landholding was increased to 35,000 koku, and he placed great value on Ejima Tamenobu, established the legal and military systems, and developed salt fields. In 1698 (Genroku 11), 18 villages in Uma County were given in exchange for 5,000 koku of land in the Kanto region. The fourth lord, Sadamoto, and the fifth lord, Sadasato, carried out major improvements to the Soja River, while the sixth lord, Sadayasu, and the seventh lord, Sadayoshi, carried out the construction of reservoirs, increasing production. They then founded the domain school, Katsumeikan. Cotton weaving also developed and became an important domestic product. The tenth lord, Sadanori, adopted a Western military system and built artillery batteries on the coast. He later approached the Imperial Court and made a distinguished contribution in the Boshin War. When the domains were abolished and prefectures were established, it became Imabari Prefecture, which was eventually merged into Matsuyama Prefecture and then Ehime Prefecture.

[Tsutomu Kageura]

"Imabari Night Stories" by Totsuka Masaoki (1981, Iyo Historical Society)" ▽ "Monogatari Hanshi 10" (1976, Shinjinbutsu Oraisha) ▽ "Imabari City Chronicles" (1943, Imabari City)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

伊予国（愛媛県）のほぼ中央部、今治を中心に越智(おち)郡とその島嶼(とうしょ)部の大部分を領有した藩。1587年（天正15）福島正則(まさのり)が温泉(おんせん)郡湯築(ゆづき)城主11万石に封ぜられ、やがて越智郡国分(こくぶ)（国府）城に移った。8年ののち池田秀雄、ついで小川祐忠(すけただ)が継承したが、関ヶ原の戦いに西軍に参加して改易された。1600年（慶長5）藤堂高虎(とうどうたかとら)（伊予板島(いたじま)7万石）が関ヶ原の戦功により20万石に加増されるや、国分城に入った。高虎はこの地を近世都市に不適とし、近接する今張(いまはり)浦が交通の要衝であることを見抜いた。1602年海水を利用した斬新(ざんしん)な築城工事に着手し、やがて今治の城下町が成立した。1608年、高虎は伊勢(いせ)の津に転封、養子高吉(たかよし)が今治城2万石を領有すること28年に及んだ。1635年（寛永12）伊勢長島城主松平（久松(ひさまつ)）定房(さだふさ)が今治3万石に封ぜられた。その領域は越智郡の地方(じかた)2万2600余石、島方3800余石、合計68か村。3代定陳(さだのぶ)のとき石高3万5000石となり、彼は江島為信(ためのぶ)を重用して、法制・軍制を整備し、塩田を開発。1698年（元禄11）関東の領地5000石の替地として宇摩(うま)郡18村が与えられた。4代定基(さだもと)、5代定郷(さださと)は総社(そうじゃ)川の大改修、6代定休(さだやす)、7代定剛(さだよし)は貯水池の築造を断行し生産を増大させた。ついで藩校克明館を創立。また木綿織が発達し、重要な国産となった。10代定法(さだのり)は洋式兵制を採用、海岸に砲台を構築。のち朝廷に接近、戊辰(ぼしん)戦争に功績をあげた。廃藩置県により今治県となり、やがて松山県、さらに愛媛県に統合された。

［景浦　勉］

『戸塚政興著『今治夜話』（1981・伊予史談会）』▽『『物語藩史　10』（1976・新人物往来社）』▽『『今治市誌』（1943・今治市）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例