HōjōLater Hōjō
Hōjō Ujiyasu
北条氏康
“The Lion of Sagami”
1515–1571 (aged 57)
- Rank / office
- Governor of Sagami
- Domain / base
- Sagami (Odawara Castle)
- Banner / crest
- Three scales
- Battles in 3D
- 1 battle
Portrait · Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Born the son of Hōjō Ujitsuna, he rode into battle beside his father from boyhood. Every wound he took in his life is said to have been on the front of his body, and his valour earned him the name "the Lion of Sagami." Soon after his succession, when the Ōgigayatsu and Yamanouchi Uesugi and the Koga kubō joined forces and descended on Kawagoe Castle, Ujiyasu lulled them with humble peace overtures and feigned retreats, then in Tenbun 15 launched a night attack with 8,000 men against 80,000 and destroyed them (the night battle of Kawagoe). He went on to extend Hōjō power across the Kantō, weathered repeated invasions by Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen, and secured his rear with the three-way alliance with the Takeda and Imagawa. Attentive to government as well, with land surveys, tax reform and a post-horse system, he built the Later Hōjō to their height.
Life and battlesGold dots mark battles you can watch in 3D
- 1541Tenbun 10
Succession
Became head of the Later Hōjō on the death of his father Ujitsuna.
- 1546Tenbun 15
Night Battle of Kawagoe
Beat an allied army of 80,000 with 8,000 in a night attack, destroyed the Ōgigayatsu Uesugi and seized the initiative in the Kantō.
Night Battle of Kawagoe Commander-in-chief 8,000 troops Watch in 3D › Third head of the Later Hōjō. Facing ten times his numbers, he feigned peace and retreat to lull the enemy, then shattered the 80,000-strong allied army with a surprise attack in the dead of night. The great lord who made the Hōjō masters of the Kantō. - 1554Tenbun 23
The Three-Way Alliance
Allied with the Takeda and Imagawa to remove any threat from behind.
- 1561Eiroku 4
Holding Odawara
Repelled the siege of Odawara by Uesugi Kenshin's great army from behind his strong walls.
- 1571Genki 2
Death at Odawara
Built the Later Hōjō to their zenith and died at Odawara Castle.
