Akiie Kitabatake

He was a nobleman and military commander during the Northern and Southern Courts period. As the eldest son of Emperor Godaigo's trusted son Chikafusa, he set a new precedent by becoming the left middle officer at the age of 13, and in the same year, he accompanied Emperor Godaigo on his visit to Kitayama, where he performed a magnificent dance, as recorded in the Masukagami. With the Kenmu Restoration, he was appointed Mutsu no Kami at the age of 16, and accompanied Prince Yoshiyoshi to Mutsu with his father Fusa. He made Taga in Miyagi County (Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture) his provincial capital, and worked hard to pacify both Oshu and Ushu provinces, establishing a government structure modeled on the office structure of the Kamakura shogunate. In 1335 (Kenmu 2), when Ashikaga Takauji rebelled, he was appointed Chinjufu Shogun and pursued Takauji, heading west along the Tokaido, where he cooperated with the Nitta and Kusunoki clans and defeated Takauji to Kyushu. After a lull in the war, Akiie was given the title of Chinjufu Taishogun and returned to Mutsu, once again escorting Prince Yoshiyoshi. However, as Takauji regained power, the war situation in Oshu worsened, and he moved from the provincial capital to Ryozen in Date County (present-day Ryozen Town, Date City, Fukushima Prefecture). At the request of Emperor Go-Daigo again, he headed west again in 1337 (Engen 2, Kenmu 4), and entered Mino Province the following year, but was defeated at Aonohara. He detouring Ise and Iga, and sent his troops from Nara to Kyoto, but was defeated again. He sent his companion, Prince Yoshiyoshi, to Yoshino, and in May of the same year, he fought against the Shogunate forces at Tennoji in Settsu Province, and was killed in battle at Ishizu in Izumi Province on May 22nd.

One week before his death, he submitted a six-point opinion to Emperor Godaigo criticizing the new government, including stating that "taxes should be exempted from the various provinces and frugality should be the sole focus," and that "respect should be placed on the appointment of officials." He lived a short life of just 21 years, devoting his youth to Emperor Godaigo and the Kenmu Restoration.

[Atsuta Ko]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

南北朝時代の公卿(くぎょう)、武将。後醍醐(ごだいご)天皇の信任厚い親房(ちかふさ)の長子として、13歳で左中弁となる新例を開き、その年、後醍醐天皇の北山行幸に供奉(ぐぶ)して華麗な舞い姿を披露したことが『増鏡』にみえる。建武(けんむ)新政とともに16歳で陸奥守(むつのかみ)に任じられ、義良(のりよし)親王を奉じ父親房とともに陸奥に下った。宮城郡多賀(たが)（宮城県多賀城市）を国府とし、苦心して奥羽両国を平定、鎌倉幕府の職制を模した政務機構を整えた。1335年（建武2）足利尊氏(あしかがたかうじ)が反すると、鎮守府将軍に任じられ、尊氏を追撃して東海道を西上し、新田(にった)、楠木(くすのき)氏らと協力して尊氏を九州に敗走させた。戦局の小康後、顕家は鎮守府大将軍の称を受け、ふたたび義良親王を奉じ陸奥に帰任した。しかし尊氏が勢力を盛り返すと、奥羽の戦局も悪化し、国府から伊達(だて)郡霊山(りょうぜん)（現福島県伊達市霊山町）に移った。後醍醐天皇の再度の要請により37年（延元2・建武4）ふたたび西上、翌38年美濃(みの)国に入ったが青野原で敗れた。伊勢(いせ)、伊賀を迂回(うかい)して奈良から京都をうかがったが、ふたたび敗れた。同行した義良親王を吉野へ送り、同年5月摂津国天王寺で幕府軍と戦い、5月22日和泉(いずみ)国石津(いしづ)で戦死した。

　死の1週間前、「諸国の租税を免じ、倹約を専(もっぱ)らにせらるべきこと」「官爵(かんしゃく)の登用を重んぜらるべきこと」など、新政を批判した6か条の意見書を後醍醐天皇に出している。後醍醐天皇と建武新政に青春を賭(か)けた、21年の短い生涯であった。

［熱田　公］

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