Akasaka Castle

The castle was the base of the Kusunoki clan from the end of the Kamakura period to the Nanboku-cho period. It consists of Kamiakasaka Castle and Shimoakasaka Castle, both of which are located in Chihayaakasaka Village, Minamikawachi County, Osaka Prefecture. Chihaya Castle was the rear castle, Kamiakasaka Castle was the main castle, and Shimoakasaka Castle was the vanguard castle. It began when Kusunoki Masashige, in the service of Prince Morinaga, built Shimoakasaka Castle, which consisted of the main citadel, second citadel, third citadel, and outer citadel, in 1331 (Genko 1), immediately after the fall of Kasagiyama Castle. Masashige used his clever tactics to plague the large army of the Kamakura Shogunate, but it was captured in October of the same year. Kamiakasaka Castle was built in 1332, the following year, when Masashige re-established his position at Chihaya Castle. It was the main castle of the Kusunoki clan, and was defended by his subordinate, Hirano Shogen. It consists of two enclosures, the Honmaru and Ninomaru, and there are belt enclosures around it. In 1360 (Shohei 15, Enbun 5), it was attacked and fell to Hosokawa Kiyouji, a Northern Court ally.

[Tetsuo Owada]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉末期から南北朝期に楠木(くすのき)氏が拠(よ)った城。上赤坂城と下赤坂城の二つからなり、ともに大阪府南河内(かわち)郡千早(ちはや)赤阪村にある。千早城を詰めの城、上赤坂城を本城、下赤坂城を前衛の城とするもので、1331年（元弘1）笠置(かさぎ)山城が落ちた直後、楠木正成(くすのきまさしげ)が護良親王を奉じて、本丸、二の丸、三の丸、出丸からなる下赤坂城を築いたのが始まりである。正成は奇計をもって鎌倉幕府の大軍を悩ませたが、同年10月に攻め落とされた。上赤坂城は、翌1332年、正成が千早城に再挙したときに築かれた山城(やまじろ)で、楠木氏の本城とされ、部将の平野将監(ひらのしょうげん)が守っていた。本丸、二の丸の二つの曲輪(くるわ)からなり、周囲には帯曲輪がみられる。1360年（正平15・延文5）北朝方の細川清氏(ほそかわきようじ)に攻められて陥落した。

［小和田哲男］

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