Sakuma Morimasa

Japanese: 佐久間盛政 - さくま・もりまさ

Year of death: May 12, 1583 (July 1, 1583)
Year of birth: Tenbun 23 (1554)
A military commander in the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Born in Owari Province as the son of Sakuma Moritsugu. His mother was Shibata Katsuie's older sister, making him the nephew of Oda Nobunaga's chief vassal, Sakuma Nobumori. His childhood name was Risuke, later he was called Shuri-no-jo and then Genbamasa. Known for his bravery, he was nicknamed "Demon Genba." By order of Nobunaga, he mainly distinguished himself in the Hokuriku Conquest, and was given the position of guardian of half of Kaga Province. However, in August 1580, Nobunaga exiled his uncle Nobumori to Mount Koya, and Morimasa retired for a time out of consideration for his own sake. He was later pardoned and once again served Shibata Katsuie, becoming the lord of Kagaoyama Castle. In June of the same year, news of Nobunaga's violent death in the Honnoji Incident reached the monks of Noto Isurugiyama, where they rebelled with Onui Sanemasa and others, but Morimasa, together with Maeda Toshiie, put down this rebellion. When the conflict between Katsuie and Toyotomi Hideyoshi became clear, Morimasa sided with Katsuie, and in April of the same year, during the Battle of Shizugatake, he killed Nakagawa Kiyohide, who was on Hideyoshi's side, at Oiwayama. At this time, Katsuie ordered his troops to withdraw immediately, but Morimasa did not obey, and a battle ensued with Hideyoshi's main forces rushing to his aid. In the end, Hideyoshi's side was defeated by a landslide, and Morimasa was captured alive. Hideyoshi offered to spare his life if he sided with them from now on, but Morimasa refused, and after Katsuie committed suicide at Kitanosho Castle, he was driven around Kyoto in a carriage and then beheaded at Makishima in Yamashiro Province (Uji City).

(Tetsuo Owada)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：天正11.5.12(1583.7.1)
生年：天文23(1554)
安土桃山時代の武将。佐久間盛次の子として尾張国に生まれる。母は柴田勝家の姉で,織田信長の重臣佐久間信盛の甥に当たる。幼名は理助,のち修理亮,さらに玄蕃允と称した。豪勇をもって知られ,「鬼玄蕃」などと呼ばれた。信長の命によって主として北陸征討戦に軍功をあげ,加賀半国の守護職を与えられている。ところが天正8(1580)年8月,叔父の信盛が信長によって高野山に追放されたため,盛政も一時遠慮して閉居することがあった。のち許されて,あらためて柴田勝家に仕える形となり,加賀尾山城主となった。同10年6月,本能寺の変で信長が横死したことが能登石動山の衆徒らに伝わり温井実正らと反乱をおこすことがあったが,盛政は前田利家と共にこれを鎮圧している。勝家と豊臣秀吉の対立がはっきりしてくると,盛政は勝家方として動き,同11年4月の賤ケ岳の戦では,大岩山で秀吉方の中川清秀を討ち取っている。このとき勝家はすぐ兵を引くよう命じたが,盛政はそれに従わず,急ぎ救援にかけつけた秀吉本隊との戦いとなり,結局,秀吉方の圧勝で,盛政は生け捕られた。秀吉は「以後,味方をすれば命を助けよう」といったが盛政はこれを拒絶,勝家が北庄城で自刃したあと,車で京中を引きまわされたうえ山城国槙島(宇治市)で斬殺された。

(小和田哲男)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

<<: Zakum oil field - Zakum Yuden (English spelling)

>>: Nobumori Sakuma