Uesugi Kagekatsu

A feudal lord in the Azuchi-Momoyama period and early Edo period. Adopted son of Uesugi Kenshin. His first names were Unomatsu, Kiheiji, and Akikage. His biological father was Nagao Masakage, the lord of Sakado Castle in Echigo (Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture), and his mother was Kenshin's older sister. After his father's death, he was raised by Kenshin, and in 1575 (Tensho 3), he became Uesugi Danjo Shohitsu Kagekatsu at Nakajo Castle in Kasugayama Castle. After Kenshin's death in 1878, he defeated another adopted son, Uesugi Saburo Kagetora (the seventh son of Hojo Ujiyasu), in the Otate War and married Takeda Katsuyori's younger sister, Kikuhime. In 1882, he took control of the four northern counties of Shinano, and in 1886, he went to Kyoto and served Toyotomi Hideyoshi as Sakonoe Gon no Shosho (later promoted to Councillor, Gon Chunagon, and Chunagon). In 1887, he unified Echigo, and in 1889, he took control of Sado, and in 1890, he took control of Dewa (Yamagata Prefecture) and the three Shonai counties. Together with northern Shinano, he established a dictatorial rule over a large territory of over 900,000 koku under the direct vassal Naoe Kanetsugu. In 1600 (Keicho 5), he was transferred to Aizu with 1.2 million koku (Echigo and Hokushin were confiscated) and became one of Toyotomi's Five Elders, but in 1600 (Keicho 5), he became an enemy of Tokugawa Ieyasu and led a revolt in his former territory of Echigo, but was defeated, and the following year his fief was reduced to 300,000 koku in Yonezawa, Dewa. He died in Yonezawa Castle on March 20, 1620, at the age of 69. His posthumous name was Kakujoin-den Kuzan Soshin Daikoshi, and he was buried at Shojoshin-in Temple in Koyasan and Hoon-ji Temple in Yonezawa.

[Fujiki Hisashi]

"Comprehensive Study of the History of the Establishment of the Domain System: Yonezawa Domain" edited by the Domain Government History Research Group (1963, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

安土(あづち)桃山時代・江戸初期の大名。上杉謙信(けんしん)の養子。初名は卯松(うのまつ)、喜平次(きへいじ)、顕景(あきかげ)。実父は越後(えちご)坂戸(さかど)城（新潟県南魚沼市）の城主長尾政景(ながおまさかげ)で、母は謙信の姉。父の死後謙信に養われ、1575年（天正3）春日山(かすがやま)城の中城(ちゅうじょう)で上杉弾正少弼(だんじょうしょうひつ)景勝となる。78年謙信の死後、もう1人の養子上杉三郎景虎(かげとら)（北条氏康(うじやす)の七男）との御館(おたて)の乱に勝ち、武田勝頼(かつより)の妹菊姫と結婚。82年信濃(しなの)北4郡を領し、86年上洛(じょうらく)して豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉に従い左近衛権少将(さこのえのごんのしょうしょう)となる（のち参議、権中納言(ごんちゅうなごん)、中納言と昇進）。87年越後を統一、89年佐渡、90年出羽(でわ)（山形県）庄内(しょうない)3郡を領し、北信をあわせ90万石余の大領国に直臣直江兼続(なおえかねつぐ)中心の独裁的な支配を確立する。98年（慶長3）会津120万石（越後、北信は没収）に国替(くにがえ)され、豊臣五大老の一員となるが、1600年（慶長5）徳川家康と敵対し、旧領越後に遺民一揆(いっき)を起こしたが敗れ、翌年出羽米沢(よねざわ)領30万石に減封となる。元和(げんな)9年3月20日、69歳で米沢城に没する。法名覚上院殿空山宗心大居士、高野山(こうやさん)清浄心院と米沢法音寺に葬られる。

［藤木久志］

『藩政史研究会編『藩制成立史の綜合研究　米沢藩』（1963・吉川弘文館）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例