Asai clan - Asaiuji

A sengoku daimyo in the northern half of Omi Province (Shiga Prefecture). The correct reading is "Azai." Originally a vassal of the Kyogoku clan, the guardian of half of Omi Province, he rose to power rapidly as the Kyogoku clan's power declined, and in 1523 (Oei 3) during the reign of Sukemasa, he formed a kokujin ikki (local uprising) with the Azami clan, Mitamura clan, and Imai clan, who were also vassals of the Kyogoku clan, and expelled the guardian Kyogoku Takakiyo. He is famous as a typical example of a kokujin ikki that became a sengoku daimyo. Sukemasa's son Hisamasa demonstrated his skill in civil administration within the domain, and then in 1560 (Eiroku 3), Nagamasa, who succeeded him, allied with Oda Nobunaga, creating the heyday of the Azai clan. However, in 1570 (Genki 1), they allied with Asakura Yoshikage of Echizen (Fukui Prefecture) and rebelled against Nobunaga. After their defeat at the Battle of Anegawa, they holed up in their castle, Odani Castle. Finally, in 1573 (Tensho 1), they were attacked by Nobunaga and were destroyed in three generations.

[Tetsuo Owada]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

近江国(おうみのくに)（滋賀県）北半部の戦国大名。「あざい」と読むのが正しい。もとは近江半国の守護京極(きょうごく)氏の被官で、京極氏権力の衰退とともに急速に台頭し、亮政(すけまさ)のときの1523年（大永3）同じ京極氏被官である浅見氏、三田村氏、今井氏らと国人一揆(こくじんいっき)を結んで守護京極高清(たかきよ)を追放した。国人一揆から戦国大名化した典型例として有名である。亮政の子久政(ひさまさ)は領内の民政に手腕を発揮し、ついで1560年（永禄3）に後を継いだ長政が織田信長と同盟し、浅井氏の全盛時代をつくりあげた。ところが1570年（元亀1）越前(えちぜん)（福井県）の朝倉義景(あさくらよしかげ)と結んで信長に背き、姉川の戦いに敗れてからは居城小谷(おだに)城にこもり、ついに1573年（天正1）信長に攻められ、3代で滅亡した。

［小和田哲男］

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