Suwa Yorishige

A Sengoku period warlord based in Suwa, Shinano Province (Nagano Prefecture). He was called Gyobu Daibu and Aki no Kami. In 1520 (Eisho 17), he became the chief priest of the Kamisha Upper Suwa Shrine. As his father Yoritaka died young, he inherited the head position of the Suwa family following the death of his grandfather Yorimitsu in 1539 (Tenbun 8). In the same year, he married the daughter of Takeda Nobutora of Kai Province (Yamanashi Prefecture), further strengthening the alliance that had existed since his grandfather, and sought to expand his territory to the areas around Suwa. Prior to this, a daughter born between Yorishige and the daughter of Omi, a vassal of the Ogasawara clan, was married to Shingen and gave birth to Katsuyori. However, in 1641, Nobutora was banished by his son Shingen, which led to a dramatic change in the Takeda clan's relationship with the Takeda. In 1642, the Takeda surrendered to Shingen's attack, and Yorishige was abducted to Kai, where he was forced to commit suicide on July 20 of the same year.

[Tetsuaki Godo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

信濃(しなの)国（長野県）諏訪を根拠とした戦国武将。刑部大輔(ぎょうぶだいぶ)、安芸守(あきのかみ)を称す。1520年（永正17）諏訪大社上社(かみしゃ)の大祝(おおほうり)となる。父頼隆(よりたか)が早逝したため、39年（天文8）祖父頼満(よりみつ)の死去に伴い、諏訪惣領(そうりょう)家を継いだ。同年、甲斐(かい)国（山梨県）武田信虎(のぶとら)の娘を娶(めと)り、祖父以来の同盟関係をさらに強固なものとして、諏訪周辺への所領拡大を図った。また、これより以前、頼重と小笠原(おがさわら)氏の家臣小見(おみ)氏の娘との間に生まれた女子が信玄(しんげん)に嫁いでおり、勝頼(かつより)を生んでいる。しかし、41年信虎がその子信玄に追放されたのを契機として、武田氏との関係は一変し、翌42年に至り、信玄の攻撃を受けて降伏、頼重は甲斐へ拉致(らち)され、迫られて同年7月20日自殺した。

［郷道哲章］

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