| Suwa Domain 諏訪藩 | |
|---|---|
| under Tokugawa shogunate Japan | |
| 1590–1871 | |
| Capital | Takashima Castle |
| Area | |
| • Coordinates | 36°2′23.25″N138°6′43.27″E / 36.0397917°N 138.1120194°E /36.0397917; 138.1120194 |
| • Type | Daimyō |
| Historical era | Edo period |
• Established | 1590 |
• Disestablished | 1871 |
| Today part of | part of Nagano Prefecture |
Suwa Domain (諏訪藩,Suwa-han) was afeudal domain under theTokugawa shogunate ofEdo periodJapan. It was located inShinano Province,Honshū. The domain was centered atTakashima Castle, located in what is now part of the town ofSuwa inNagano Prefecture.[1] It was also known asTakashima Domain (高島藩,Takashima-han).
TheSuwa clan had ruled the area aroundLake Suwa in Shinano Province since ancient times. The clan was defeated byTakeda Shingen in 1542. The final Suwa ruler,Suwa Yorishige was forced to commitseppuku; however, his nephew, Suwa Yoritada was spared as hereditarykannushi ofSuwa Shrine. After theTakeda clan was destroyed by an alliance ofOda Nobunaga andTokugawa Ieyasu, Suwa Yoritada went into the service of the Tokugawa. Following theSiege of Odawara (1590), he was elevated to the status ofdaimyō with Sōja Domain, a 10,000koku holding inKōzuke Province. This was subsequently raised to 27,000koku. In the meanwhile,Toyotomi Hideyoshi assigned the former Suwa territories in Shinano Province toHineno Takayoshi. Hineno Takayoshi builtTakashima Castle; however, in 1601, his son Hineno Yoshiaki, was demoted toMibu Domain inShimotsuke Province as his grandfather,Hineno Hironari had defected to the Osaka forces. The same year, Suwa Yoritada's son,Suwa Yorimizu, was allowed to reclaim his clan's ancestral lands asdaimyō of Suwa Domain. His son,Suwa Tadatsune, was granted a 5000koku increase for services during theSiege of Osaka, but his son, Suwa Tadaharu, gave 2000koku away to his two younger brothers. The Suwa clan remained in control of the domain to theMeiji restoration.
During theBoshin War, the domain supported the imperial side, and participated in theBattle of Kōshū-Katsunuma,Battle of Hokuetsu andBattle of Aizu. In July 1871, with theabolition of the han system, Suwa Domain briefly became Takashima Prefecture, and was merged into the newly createdNagano Prefecture. Under the newMeiji government,Suwa Tadamasa, the next-to-lastdaimyō of Suwa Domain was given thekazoku peerage title ofshishaku (viscount).
As with most domains in thehan system, Suwa Domain consisted of several discontinuous territories calculated to provide the assignedkokudaka, based on periodiccadastral surveys and projected agricultural yields.[2][3]
| # | Name | Tenure | Courtesy title | Court Rank | kokudaka | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hineno clan (tozama) 1590-1601[4] | ||||||
| 0 | Hineno Takayoshi (日根野高吉) | 1590-1600 | Oribe-no-tsukasa (織部正) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 27,000koku | pre-Tokugawa |
| 1 | Hineno Yoshiaki (日根野吉明) | 1600-1601 | Oribe-no-tsukasa (織部正) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 27,000koku | transfer to Mibu Domain |
.svg) Suwa clan (fudai) 1601-1871[5] | ||||||
| 1 | Suwa Yorimizu (諏訪頼水) | 1601-1640 | Inaba-no-kami (因幡守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 27,000koku | transfer from Sōja Domain |
| 2 | Suwa Tadatsune (諏訪忠恒) | 1640-1657 | Izumo-no-kami (出雲守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下)) | 27,000 -> 32,000koku | |
| 3 | Suwa Tadaharu (諏訪忠晴) | 1657-1695 | Inaba-no-kami (因幡守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下)) | 32,000 -> 30,000koku | |
| 4 | Suwa Tadatora (諏訪忠虎) | 1695-1731 | Aki-no-kami (安芸守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 30,000koku | |
| 5 | Suwa Tadatoki (諏訪忠林) | 1731-1763 | Inaba-no-kami (因幡守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 30,000koku | |
| 6 | Suwa Tadaatsu (諏訪忠厚) | 1763-1781 | Aki-no-kami (安芸守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下)) | 30,000koku | |
| 7 | Suwa Tadakata (諏訪忠粛) | 1781-1816 | Ise-no-kami (伊勢守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 30,000koku | |
| 8 | Suwa Tadamichi (諏訪忠恕) | 1816-1840 | Ise-no-kami (伊勢守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下)) | 30,000koku | |
| 9 | Suwa Tadamasa (諏訪忠誠) | 1840-1868 | Inaba-no-kami (因幡守) | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade (従四位下) | 30,000koku | |
| 10 | Suwa Tadaaya (諏訪忠礼) | 1868-1871 | Ise-no-kami (伊勢守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 30,000koku | Domainal governor |
Suwa Yorimizu (諏訪頼水, January 18, 1571 – February 23, 1642) was an earlyEdo perioddaimyō and hereditary chieftain of theSuwa clan. In 1577, at the age of six, he succeeded his father as headkannushi of theSuwa Shrine. In 1590, his father fought in the retinue ofTokugawa Ieyasu during theSiege of Odawara and whenToyotomi Hideyoshi ordered Tokugawa Ieyasu to exchange his domains for new territories in theKantō region he was forced to abandon his ancestral lands inShinano Province and accompany his liege toMusashi. He was subsequently raised to the status ofdaimyō of Sōja Domain inKōzuke Province (10,000koku). Yorimizu succeeded his father asdaimyō in 1601. However, later that year Ieyasu permitted him to return to the ancestral Suwa lands in Shinano with an increase inkokudaka to 27,000koku. The marked the creation of Suwa Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. and he participated in the secondSiege of Ueda withTokugawa Hidetada. In 1614, during theSiege of Osaka, he was ordered to defendKōfu Castle and his sonSuwa Tadatsune was sent to the front lines to command the Suwa forces in his place. Despite his lack of accomplishments in battle, he was highly regarded byShogunTokugawa Iemitsu, and was entrusted by the shogunate as jailor to the disgracedMatsudaira Tadateru. He retired in 1640 and died the following year at the age of 72. Although noted as an enlightened ruler who restored waste land and opened considerable new rice lands and who improved the lot of his peasants, Yorimizu also had a rougher side. When a criminal took refuge in the Suwaclan temple of Himei-ji, the monks refused to surrender him to secular authorities, citing the special privileges of the clergy. An enraged Yorimizu ordered that the temple be burned down and cut off the heads of the criminal and the offending monks. He built Raigaku-ji as a new clan temple in 1631 in what is now the city ofChino, Nagano. Yorimizu was married to a daughter ofHonda Yasushige ofOkazaki Domain.[6]
Suwa Tadatsune (諏訪忠恒, May 13, 1595 – November 4, 1657) was the 2nddaimyō of Suwa and hereditary chieftain of the Suwa clan. Tadatsune was the eldest son ofSuwa Yorimizu. In 1607, theShōgunTokugawa Hidetada presided over hisgenpuku ceremony, giving him a sword and thekanji for "Tada" in his name. he was initially named "Tadayori" (忠頼), but changed his name to Tadanobu (忠澄) and later to Tadatsune. During theSiege of Osaka he led Suwa forces into battle under the overall command ofSakakibara Yasukatsu, and was at theBattle of Yao andBattle of Tennōji. as a reward for his services in combat, he received 5000koku inChikuma District, Shinano. He becamedaimyō on the retirement of his father in 1640, and continued his father's policies of developing new rice lands. He ruled to his death in 1657. He was married to a daughter ofInaba Norimichi ofUsuki Domain.[6]
Suwa Tadaharu (諏訪忠晴, September 18, 1639 – April 14, 1695) was the 3rddaimyō of Suwa and hereditary chieftain of the Suwa clan. Tadaharu was the eldest son ofSuwa Tadatsune and becamedaimyō on the death of his father in 1657. At that time, he gave 1000koku of his domains to each of his two younger brothers, reducing thekokudaka of Suwa Domain from 32,000 to 30,000koku. In terms of domain politics, he conducted a through survey of his territories. he was also an artist in theKano school and noted for his literary efforts. He held a number of minor positions within the Shogunal administration. He ruled to his death in 1695 at the age of 57. He was married to a daughter ofNaitō Tadaoki ofIwakitaira Domain.[6]
Suwa Tadatora (諏訪忠虎, April 22, 1666 – August 4, 1731) was the 4thdaimyō of Suwa and hereditary chieftain of the Suwa clan. Tadatora was the third son ofSuwa Tadaharu and was noted for his scholarship at an early age.ShōgunTokugawa Ietsuna personally acted as his tutor. He becamedaimyō on the death of his father in 1695. However, his tenure was marred by the destruction of the clan's Edo residence in the1703 Genroku earthquake, the rebuilding of which plunged they domain into debt. He died in 1731 at the age of 69. He was married to a daughter of Matsudaira Masakatsu of the short-lived Matsuoka Domain in Echigo.[6]
Suwa Tadatoki (諏訪忠林, September 22, 1703 – June 20, 1770) was the 5thdaimyō of Suwa and hereditary chieftain of the Suwa clan. Tadatoki was the son of Suwa Yoriatsu, ahatamoto descendant ofSuwa Yorimizu's younger son andEdoMachi-bugyō. He married a daughter ofSuwa Tadatora shortly before the latter's death and was adopted as heir, as the only son of Takatora had pre-deceased his father. He becamedaimyō on Tadatora's death in 1731. Although noted for his scholarship and poetry, he was in poor health and left much of the domain's administration to his retainers. He retired in 1763 and died in 1770 at the age of 68.[6]
Suwa Tadaatsu (諏訪忠厚, November 12, 1746 – July 25, 1812) was the 6thdaimyō of Suwa and hereditary chieftain of the Suwa clan. Tadaatsu was the fourth son ofSuwa Tadatoki, and becamedaimyō on Tadatoki's retirement in 1763. He attempted to reform the domain's finances, but only succeeded in splitting his senior retainers into pro-reform and anti-reform factions. This resulted in anO-Ie Sōdō which further paralyzed the domain administration. Tadakatsu was forced into retirement in 1781, and several members of the pro-reform faction were forced to commitseppuku the following year. Tadaatsu died in 1812 at the age of 67. He was married to a daughter ofAbe Masayoshi ofFukuyama Domain.[6]
Suwa Tadakata (諏訪忠粛, May 19, 1768 – August 14, 1822) was the 7thdaimyō of Suwa and hereditary chieftain of the Suwa clan. Tadakata was the eldest son ofSuwa Tadaatsu, and becamedaimyō on his father's forced retirement in 1781. He continued the domain's time-honored policies of opening new rice lands, accurate surveying, and promoted the production of carpentry tools as a clan monopoly. In 1803, he opened ahan school to teachrangaku western sciences, and invited a doctor trained in western medicine fromNagasaki. Tadakata retired in 1816 and died in 1822 at the age of 55. He was married to a daughter ofMatsudaira Norisada ofNishio Domain.[6]
Suwa Tadamichi (諏訪忠恕, November 26, 1800 – May 21, 1851) was the 8thdaimyō of Suwa and hereditary chieftain of the Suwa clan. Tadakata was the eldest son ofSuwa Tadakata, and becamedaimyō on his father's retirement in 1816. He continued his father's policies, but also encouragedsericulture and increasing irrigation canals fromLake Suwa. However, his tenure was beset by disasters, including crop failures and the loss of the clan's Edo residence due to fire. In 1824, the domain had the only peasant uprising in its history. He retired in 1840 and died in 1851 at the age of 52. He was married to a daughter ofMatsudaira Sadanobu ofShirakawa Domain.[6]
Suwa Tadamasa (諏訪忠誠, June 7, 1821 – February 19, 1898) was the 9thdaimyō of Suwa and hereditary chieftain of the Suwa clan.[6]
Suwa Tadaaya (諏訪忠礼, February 20, 1853 – October 10, 1878) was the 10th (and final)daimyō of Suwa and hereditary chieftain of the Suwa clan. Tadaaya was the younger son ofSuwa Tadamichi's third son, and was selected by his uncleSuwa Tadamasa as heir. He becamedaimyō on Tadamasa's retirement in 1868 and was appointed imperial governor by the newMeiji government in 1869. Following theabolition of the han system in 1871, he relocated toTokyo, where he died in 1878 at the age of 26. The clan chieftainship reverted to Suwa Tadamasa.[6]
