Hōjō Sōun | |
|---|---|
北条 早雲 | |
 Portrait of Hōjō Sōun | |
| Head ofLater Hōjō clan | |
| In office 1493–1519 | |
| Succeeded by | Hōjō Ujitsuna |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1432 or 1456 |
| Died | September 8, 1519 Nirayama Castle,Izu Province, Japan |
| Children | Hōjō Ujitsuna Hōjō Genan |
| Parent |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Imagawa clan Later Hōjō clan |
| Rank | Lord (Daimyō) |
| Commands | Kōkokuji Castle Nirayama Castle |
| Battles/wars | Izu campaign (1491-1493) Siege of Arai (1516) |
Ise Sōzui (伊勢 宗瑞; 1432 or 1456 – September 8, 1519), also known asHōjō Sōun (北条 早雲), was a Japanesedaimyo and the first head of theLater Hōjō clan, one of the major powers in Japan'sSengoku period. Although he only belonged to a side branch of the more prestigious Ise family, he fought his way up, gaining territory and changing his name in imitation of the illustriousHōjō.[1]
Traditionally Soun held a reputation of arōnin who rose to power almost overnight inKantō; however, he belonged to a prestigious family in the direct employment of theAshikaga shogunate, and enjoyed important family connections. It has been said that Sōun was born at theTakakoshi castle inOkayama.[2] His sister was married toImagawa Yoshitada, a major daimyō from a prestigious cadet branch of the Ashikaga family.
About 1475, under thecognomen of Ise Shinkuro, he worked for Imagawa, the constable ofSuruga Province, and eventually became an "independent leader" with a number of warriors joining him.
Shinkuro became a retainer in the Imagawa clan, and when Yoshitada died in battle in 1476, Shinkurō mediated the succession dispute between supporters of Yoshitada's sonImagawa Ujichika and Yoshitada's cousin, Oshika Norimitsu. This proved a temporary peace. When Norimitsu again attempted to gain control of the Imagawa clan, Sōun came to Ujichika's defense, killing Norimitsu. Sōun was rewarded by Ujichika withKōkokuji Castle.
In 1491, he was able to take Horigoye after the death ofKantō kubōAshikaga Masatomo, gaining control ofIzu Province. He then adopted the given name of Sōun or Sozui.
He gained control ofIzu Province in 1493, avenging a wrong committed by a member of theAshikaga family which held theshogunate. With Sōun's successful invasion in Izu province, he is credited by most historians as being the first "Sengokudaimyō".
After building a stronghold at Nirayama, Hōjō Sōun securedOdawara Castle in 1494, the castle which would become the center of the Hōjō family's domains for nearly a century. In an act of treachery, he seized the castle after arranging for its lord to be murdered while out hunting.[3]
In 1516, he laid siege to the castle ofArai,[4] and "was virtual master of allSagami".[3]
In 1519, Sōun died inNirayama Castle and passed on the newly built Hōjō domains to his sonUjitsuna,[1] who subsequently changed the clan name from the original Ise to Hōjō and posthumously renamed his father to Hōjō Sōun. In 1521, Ujitsuna builtSōun-ji temple dedicated to his father.
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