Siege of Kamakura (1333)

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Siege of Kamakura
Part of the Genkō War
Statue of Nitta Yoshisada in front of Keio Line - Bubaigawara Station.
Date 1333 Location Kamakura, Sagami Province Result Nitta victory; city destroyed.
Combatants
forces loyal to Emperor Go-Daigo	Hōjō clan
Commanders
Nitta Yoshisada	Hōjō Mototoki, Hōjō Takatoki, Hōjō Sadaaki, Hōjō Moritoki

Genkō War
Kasagi - Akasaka - Chihaya - Kamakura

The 1333 siege of Kamakura was a battle of the Genkō War, and marked the end of the power of the Hōjō clan, which had dominated the regency of the Kamakura shogunate for over a century. Forces loyal to the Emperor and led by Nitta Yoshisada entered the city from multiple directions and destroyed it; in the end, the Hōjō leaders retreated to the Tōshō-ji, where they committed suicide.

The hills surrounding the shogunal capital of Kamakura contained seven passes, each with guarded checkpoints. Nitta Yoshisada attacked from the north, east, and west, dividing his force in three. However, after many hours of fighting, little progress had been made towards the city, particularly on the western passes near the Gokuraku-ji, which was guarded with rows upon rows of wooden shielding. Nitta realized the Gokuraku-ji could be bypassed by marching around the cape, where the Inamuragasaki promontory juts out into the water. According to the chronicles, he threw his sword into the sea as an offering to Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess, and the sea parted as if by a miracle.

Thus the rebels were able to enter the city, and began to force back the Hōjō forces. The Hōjō were eventually forced to retreat to a cave behind the Tōshō-ji, where they committed suicide.

[edit] References

• Turnbull, Stephen (1998). 'The Samurai Sourcebook'. London: Cassell & Co.