Fukushima Domain

This domain ruled the area around Fukushima (Fukushima City) in Mutsu Province. This area was originally the domain of Aizu, then in 1601 (Keicho 6) it became the domain of Yonezawa in Dewa Province, then in 1664 (Kanbun 4) it became the domain of the Shogunate, and in 1679 (Enpo 7) Honda Tadakuni from Koriyama in Yamato Province (Nara Prefecture) was appointed with a fief of 150,000 koku, which led to the establishment of the Fukushima Domain. In 1686 (Jokyo 3), Hotta Masanaka entered the domain from Yamagata with a fief of 100,000 koku, and Masatora followed after him, but in 1700 (Genroku 13) it was transferred back to Yamagata and became the domain of the Shogunate for the third time. In December 1703, Shigehiro Itakura was appointed from Sakaki, Shinano Province (Nagano Prefecture) with a fief of 30,000 koku, and the Itakura Fukushima Domain was established. Although it was a small domain, it was a prestigious Fudai clan, and its territory initially consisted of 23 villages in Shinobu County with a fief of 10,900 koku, 8 villages in Date County with a fief of 7,000 koku, 2,900 koku in Yamabe County, Kazusa Province (Chiba Prefecture), and 1 village in Hazu County, Mikawa Province (Aichi Prefecture) with a fief of 400 koku. From the first Shigehiro to Katsutatsu, the domain was ruled for 160 years by 12 generations. From Shigehiro to the third generation, Katsutatsu, Fukushima Castle was renovated and the castle town was developed. There was boat traffic on the Abukuma River, and rice storehouses of the Yonezawa and Aizu clans lined the banks of Fukushima. Silkworm farming was carried out in the castle town, and trade in raw silk, safflower, and other goods was lively, with merchants from Kamigata and Omi prominent in the area. In 1788 (Tenmei 8), geographer Furukawa Koshoken, who accompanied the Oshu Matsumae Inspectorate, described Fukushima castle town in his "Azumayu Zakki" as "the townscape is generally good, the fields are open, and the scenery is beautiful." However, the finances of the domain continued to deteriorate. In the Boshin War of 1868 (Keio 4), following the assassination of the government staff officer Sera Shuzo, the Fukushima domain joined the Oshu-Uetsu Reppan Dōmei and fought against the Western Army. After the war, the feudal lord Katsutada's 16,000 koku stipend attached to Fukushima Castle was confiscated and he was instead given 17,000 koku in Aizu-Ōnuma County, but in 1869 (Meiji 2) he was transferred to his former territory of Mikawa Province with a fief of 28,000 koku (Shigehara Domain).

[Hiroshi Honda]

"Fukushima City Board of Education, ed., Fukushima City History 2, 3" (1972, 1973, Fukushima City)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

陸奥(むつ)国福島（福島市）周辺を領有した藩。この地は初め会津領、1601年（慶長6）出羽(でわ)国米沢(よねざわ)領、64年（寛文4）幕領、79年（延宝7）大和(やまと)国（奈良県）郡山(こおりやま)から本多忠国(ほんだただくに)が15万石で就封し、初めて福島藩が成立した。1686年（貞享3）堀田正仲(ほったまさなか)が山形から10万石で入部、正仲のあと正虎(まさとら)と続いたが、1700年（元禄13）ふたたび山形へ移封し三たび幕領となった。1703年12月信濃(しなの)国（長野県）坂木(さかき)から板倉重寛(いたくらしげひろ)が3万石で就封し、板倉福島藩が成立した。小藩ながら譜代(ふだい)の名門、その領域は当初信夫(しのぶ)郡のうち23か村、1万0900石余、同伊達(だて)郡のうち8か村7000石余、上総(かずさ)国（千葉県）山辺(やまべ)郡のうち2900石余、三河国（愛知県）幡豆(はず)郡のうち1か村400石余であった。初代重寛から勝達(かつさと)まで12代160年間支配した。重寛から3代勝里までに福島城の修築および城下町の整備がなされた。阿武隈(あぶくま)川の舟運があり、福島河岸には米沢・会津藩の米蔵が立ち並び、城下は養蚕が行われ、生糸、紅花(べにばな)などの商品取引が活発で、上方(かみがた)、近江(おうみ)商人の進出が目だった。1788年（天明8）奥羽松前巡見使に随行した地理学者古川古松軒(こしょうけん)は、『東遊雑記』のなかで、福島城下を「町並も大概(たいがい)宜(よろ)しく、田畑も開け風土よく見ゆるなり」と評している。しかし藩財政は窮乏の一途をたどった。1868年（慶応4）戊辰(ぼしん)戦争では、官軍参謀世良修蔵(せらしゅうぞう)の暗殺事件が発生するなどあって、福島藩は奥羽越列藩同盟に加わって西軍に抗した。戦後藩主勝達は福島城付1万6000石を没収され、かわって会津大沼郡のうち1万7000石を与えられたが、1869年（明治2）三河国の旧領2万8000石（重原(しげはら)藩）に移封された。

［誉田　宏］

『福島市教育委員会編『福島市史 2、3』（1972、73・福島市）』

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