Shibata Domain

A domain that ruled the area around Shibata in Echigo Province (Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture). It was an outside domain. In 1598 (Keicho 3), when Uesugi Kagekatsu was transferred to Aizu, Hori Hideharu was appointed as the lord of Kasugayama Castle in Echigo. Mizoguchi Hidekatsu was given 60,000 koku of land in Shibata, Echigo, as his subordinate daimyo, and became the founder of the Shibata Domain. They were outside daimyo, and after Hidekatsu, the Mizoguchi clan ruled alone for 274 years, over 12 generations, through Nobukatsu, Nobunao, Shigekatsu, Shigemoto, Naoharu, Naoatsu, Naoyasu, Naoyoshi, Naoaki, Naohiro, and Naomasa, until the abolition of the feudal domains and establishment of prefectures in 1871 (Meiji 4).

In 1610 (Keicho 15), the feudal lord Nobukatsu gave 10,000 koku to his younger brother Yoshikatsu, reducing his fief to 50,000 koku. In 1628 (Kan'ei 5), the feudal lord Nobunao gave new land lands to Nobuaki and his three younger brothers. At the end of the Edo period in 1860 (Man'en 1), the land was restructured to 100,000 koku. The feudal domain was at its most prosperous around the Genroku period (1688-1704), when the 4th lord Shigeo and the 5th lord Shigemoto reigned, during which the commercial and transportation systems were improved, new land development progressed, and the domain's finances improved. After the 6th lord Naoharu, financial expenditures increased due to assistance with the construction of new canals in Edo Azabu (1699) and restoration work after the Shibata Town fire (1729), and the domain system gradually became unstable. In 1730 (Kyoho 15), the drainage work of Fukushimagata was expanded by digging a canal in the Matsugasaki area, which led to the development of cultivated land. This was part of the "Kyoho Reforms" carried out by the 6th lord Naoharu. The An'ei Reforms carried out by the 8th lord Naoyoshi are also famous.

During the late Edo period, under the rule of Lord Naoaki, the area's financial difficulties were exacerbated by coastal defense, guarding Sado Island, and guarding the Imperial Palace. During the Boshin War, under pressure from the Yonezawa and Aizu clans, the area initially sided with the Oshu-Uetsu Alliance, but later the people of the area supported the new government, and peasant corps such as the Kyoshitai, Seikitai, and Hokushintai were organized to support the Imperial army, leading to the area siding with the new government. In 1871 (Meiji 4), the area was abolished and prefectures were established, and it was incorporated into Shibata Prefecture, and in November of the same year, it was incorporated into Niigata Prefecture.

[Yoshitaka Nakamura]

"Shibata City History Volumes 1 and 2 (1980-81, Shibata City)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

越後(えちご)国新発田（新潟県新発田市）周辺を領有した藩。外様(とざま)。1598年（慶長3）上杉景勝(かげかつ)の会津移封により、堀秀治(ほりひではる)が春日山(かすがやま)城主として越後に赴任したのに伴い、その与力大名として溝口秀勝(みぞぐちひでかつ)が越後新発田6万石に封ぜられ、新発田藩の藩祖となった。外様大名で、秀勝以後、宣勝(のぶかつ)、宣直(のぶなお)、重雄(しげかつ)、重元(しげもと)、直治(なおはる)、直温(なおあつ)、直養(なおやす)、直侯(なおよし)、直諒(なおあき)、直溥(なおひろ)、直正(なおまさ)と12代、274年間溝口氏のみの支配が続き、1871年（明治4）廃藩置県を迎えた。

　1610年（慶長15）藩主宣勝は弟の善勝に1万石を分与し、領知は5万石に減じた。また、1628年（寛永5）藩主宣直は宣秋以下3弟に新田打出し分を与えた。幕末の1860年（万延1）高直しで10万石になった。藩政がもっとも充実したのは、4代重雄、5代重元の在位した元禄(げんろく)期（1688～1704）前後で、商業・交通制度も整備され、新田開発も進み、藩財政も充実した。6代直治以後、江戸麻布(あざぶ)新堀普請(ふしん)の手伝い（1699）、新発田町大火（1729）などの復旧工事で財政支出は増大し、藩制はしだいに動揺した。1730年（享保15）松ヶ崎地方の堀割による福島潟の排水工事拡大により耕地造成が進展したが、これは6代直治による藩政改革「享保(きょうほう)の治」の一環であった。また、8代直養の安永(あんえい)改革も有名。

　幕末期、藩主直諒以後は、海岸防備、佐渡警固、禁裏(きんり)警衛などで財政窮乏に拍車をかけた。戊辰(ぼしん)戦争では、米沢(よねざわ)・会津両藩の圧力で、初め奥羽越列藩同盟にくみしたが、その後領民が新政府を支持し、居之隊(きょしたい)、正気隊、北辰(ほくしん)隊などの農民隊を組織して官軍を支援したこともあり、新政府側についた。1871年（明治4）廃藩置県を迎え、新発田県を経て同年11月新潟県に編入された。

［中村義隆］

『『新発田市史』上下（1980～81・新発田市）』

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