Battle of Momotsugi

Part of Sengoku period

Date	October 9, 1539
Location	Satsuma Province
Result	Shimazu Takahisa victory

Belligerents

forces loyal to Shimazu Sanehisa

forces loyal to Shimazu Takahisa

Commanders and leaders

Iriki-In Shigetomo

Strength

20000

700

Campaigns of the Shimazu clan

Ichirai Momotsugi Kōriyama Kajiki Iwatsurugi Oguchi Kizaki Takabaru Mimigawa Minamata Okitanawate Iwaya Kyūshū Odawara Korea Sekigahara Ryūkyū

The Battle of Momotsugi was fought on October 9, 1539 when an army of the Iriki-in clan (loyal to Shimazu Takahisa) stormed the castle of Iwaya, aligned with the rival Shimazu Sanehisa.

Sanehisa had been the lord of Izumi castle in Satsuma province. He was a member of a branch family of the Shimazu. In 1526 he rebelled against Shimazu Katsuhisa and managed to expel him from Satsuma Province. Sanehisa attempted to establish himself as an independent power. With the clan's allegiance divided, Iriki-in Shigetomo remained loyal to Katsuhisa and his successor Takahisa.

Momotsugi Castle had been granted to the Iriki-in in 1536, motivating Shigetomo to capture it first since it was held by Sanehisa's forces.^[1] Shigetomo took the castle on a single night raid.^[2] The action earned Shigetomo's praise from his Lord Shimazu Takahisa.

Battle of Momotsugi

References