Maebashi Domain

This Fudai clan had its castle in Maebashi, Kozuke Province (Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture). It is also called Umayabashi clan after the old name of Maebashi. In August 1590 (Tensho 18), Hiraiwa Chikayoshi was granted a fief of 33,000 koku and established the clan when Tokugawa Ieyasu entered the Kanto region. In 1601 (Keicho 6), he was replaced by Sakai Shigetada from Kawagoe, Musashi Province (Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture). The Sakai clan is a distinguished family said to have the same ancestors as the Tokugawa clan. Since then, the clan has ruled the clan for 150 years over nine generations. The second lord, Tadayo, became a senior councilor and had a fief of over 120,000 koku. The fourth lord, Tadakiyo, became a senior councilor and was known for his influence as the "Geba Shogun." The domain's territory also increased to 150,000 koku after it was divided into Sagami and Kazusa, and in 1663 (Kanbun 3), it established a domain system, such as conducting a general land survey of the domain. During the reign of the ninth lord, Tadayasu, the domain was transferred to Himeji in 1749 (Kan'en 2). Matsudaira Tomonori took his place from Himeji. The Matsudaira clan was a prestigious family, a branch of Hideyasu (Ieyasu's second son), who inherited the Yuki clan. After the domain was transferred, the castle was destroyed by the Tone River, so in 1767 (Meiwa 4), the castle was moved to Musashi-Kawagoe (Kawagoe domain). From then on, the Maebashi domain's territory of about 80,000 koku came under the control of the jin'ya as the Kawagoe domain. After the Ansei port opening, the raw silk industry in Maebashi Domain boomed, and the request of the feudal lord Naokatsu to return to Maebashi Castle was granted. In 1867 (Keio 3), the castle was rebuilt and he returned, once again becoming the Maebashi Domain. At the end of the Edo period, the domain had a territory of 170,000 koku. Its branch was the Isesaki Domain with 20,000 koku. In 1871 (Meiji 4), the domain was abolished, and it was incorporated into Maebashi Prefecture, and then into Gunma Prefecture.

[Sadayuki Inoue]

"Maebashi Domain" by Yamada Takemaro (included in "New Narrative Domain History Volume 3", 1976, Shinjinbutsu Oraisha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

上野(こうずけ)国前橋（群馬県前橋市）を居城とする譜代(ふだい)藩。前橋の旧称により厩橋(うまやばし)藩ともいう。1590年（天正18）8月、徳川家康の関東入国に際し、平岩親吉(ちかよし)が3万3000石に封ぜられて立藩。1601年（慶長6）かわって武蔵(むさし)川越(かわごえ)（埼玉県川越市）から酒井重忠(しげただ)が入封。酒井氏は徳川氏と同祖と伝える名門。以来同氏が9代150年間藩主。2代忠世(ただよ)は老中となり所領12万石余となる。4代忠清(ただきよ)は大老となり、その権勢は「下馬(げば)将軍」の名で知られる。所領も相模(さがみ)・上総(かずさ)に分領を得て15万石となり、藩政面でも1663年（寛文3）以後、領内総検地を実施するなど藩体制を確立した。9代忠恭(ただずみ)の代、1749年（寛延2）に姫路へ転封。かわって姫路から松平朝矩(とものり)が入封。松平氏は結城(ゆうき)家を継ぐ秀康(ひでやす)（家康の二男）の庶流という名門。入封後利根(とね)川による城の破壊が進んだため、1767年（明和4）武蔵川越に移城（川越藩）。以後、前橋領約8万石は川越分領として陣屋支配となる。安政(あんせい)開港後、前橋領の生糸が活況を呈し、藩主直克(なおかつ)の前橋帰城願が許され、1867年（慶応3）に城の再築がなって帰城、ふたたび前橋藩となった。幕末の所領17万石。支封に伊勢崎(いせさき)藩2万石がある。1871年（明治4）廃藩、前橋県を経て群馬県に編入された。

［井上定幸］

『山田武麿著「前橋藩」（『新編物語藩史　第3巻』所収・1976・新人物往来社）』

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