Yoshisuke Wakiya

A military commander during the Nanboku-cho period. Son of Nitta Tomoji and younger brother of Yoshisada. Called Jiro. He lived in Wakiya, Nitta County, Kozuke Province (Ota City, Gunma Prefecture). In May 1333 (Ganko 3/Shokei 2), he was appointed Mushadokoro Yoryudo and Echizen Shugo by the Kenmu government for his achievements in the siege of Kamakura. In December 1335 (Kenmu 2), when Ashikaga Takauji rebelled against the Kenmu government, he fought against the Ashikaga army at Ashigarayama together with Yoshisada. He was defeated in the Battle of Hakone Bamboo and fled to Kyoto. In May of the following year (1603), he attempted to defend against the Ashikaga forces moving eastward from Chinzei in Hyogo (Hyogo Ward, Kobe City), but failed. In October of the same year, accompanied by Prince Tsuneyoshi and Prince Takayoshi, he headed for the Hokuriku region together with Yoshisada, and entered Kanegasaki Castle in Echizen (Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture). Even after Yoshisada was killed in battle in July of 1603 (3603), he led the southern forces in various parts of Echizen and fought bravely. After fighting in Mino and Owari, he returned to Yoshino for a time and was appointed as the Minister of Justice. In 1604 (1605), he went to Iyo, where he assisted the provincial governor Shijo Arisuke and fought against the northern forces, exerting his influence. In May 1842 (the 3rd year of the Kokoku era and the 1st year of the Koei era), he died of illness at the Iyo provincial capital.

[Kazuhiko Sato]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

南北朝時代の武将。新田朝氏(にったともうじ)の子。義貞(よしさだ)の弟。二郎と称す。上野(こうずけ)国新田郡脇屋（群馬県太田市）に住した。1333年（元弘3・正慶2）5月の鎌倉攻めの功により、建武(けんむ)政府から、武者所(むしゃどころ)寄人(よりゅうど)、越前(えちぜん)守護に任ぜられた。35年（建武2）12月、足利尊氏(あしかがたかうじ)が建武政府に反するや、義貞とともに足柄山(あしがらやま)で足利軍と戦う。箱根竹の下の合戦で敗れ、京都へ敗走した。翌36年（延元1・建武3）5月、鎮西(ちんぜい)より東上する足利軍を兵庫（神戸市兵庫区）に防がんとしたが失敗した。同年10月、恒良親王、尊良親王を奉じて、義貞とともに北陸に向かい、越前金(かね)ヶ崎(さき)城（福井県敦賀(つるが)市）に入った。38年（延元3・暦応1）7月に義貞が戦死したのちも、越前各地の南軍を率いて奮戦した。美濃(みの)、尾張(おわり)に転戦ののち、一時吉野(よしの)に帰り、刑部卿(ぎょうぶきょう)に任ぜられた。40年（興国1・暦応3）伊予(いよ)に赴き、国司四條有資(しじょうありすけ)を助けて北軍と戦い勢力を振るった。42年（興国3・康永1）5月、伊予国府にて病没。

［佐藤和彦］

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