Sakamoto Castle (坂本城, Sakamoto-jō) was a lakeside castle in the Sengoku period, located in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.[1]

Akechi Mitsuhide was the commander of the castle.[2]

History

After the Siege of Mount Hiei, Sakamoto was given to Akechi Mitsuhide who built Sakamoto Castle under orders from the warlord Oda Nobunaga because Sakamoto was a strategically important place to rule. [3] Luís Fróis described the castle as the second best castle in Japan at the time.[4]

After the loss of Battle of Yamazaki, Mitsuhide tried to return to the castle but he was killed on the way.[4] Surrounded by Toyotomi's army, Mitsuhide's adopted son Akechi Hidemitsu set fire to the castle and killed himself.[5][6]

In 1583, Sakamoto castle was given to Niwa Nagahide and he rebuilt the castle.[6] In 1586, Asano Nagamasa abandoned the castle and moved to Ōtsu Castle by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's order.[5] (Stones and materials were transferred to Ōtsu Castle.[4])

Nowadays nothing remains of the original castle, and a statue of Akechi Mitsuhide stands in Sakamoto Castle's park.[5][3] (Low stone wall remains in the Lake Biwa and can be seen when the water level drops.[4][7]) A gate from Sakamoto Castle was relocated to Saikyō-ji Temple near the castle. (Akechi clan's tombs are also at Saikyō-ji Temple.)[4]

Gallery

  • Monument of Sakamoto Castle
    Monument of Sakamoto Castle
  • Monument of Sakamoto Castle Honmaru base
    Monument of Sakamoto Castle Honmaru base
  • Monument of Sakamoto Castle Ninomaru base
    Monument of Sakamoto Castle Ninomaru base
  • Former Sakamoto Castle's gate (Gate of Saikyo-ji Temple)
    Former Sakamoto Castle's gate (Gate of Saikyo-ji Temple)
  • View from Sakamoto Castle park
    View from Sakamoto Castle park

References

  1. ^ "坂本城" (in Japanese). 滋賀県観光情報. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  2. ^ "坂本城跡から将棋の駒や青磁が出土　琵琶湖水運の拠点として繁栄" (in Japanese). 産経west. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b "坂本城と亀山城の歴史を紐解く！" (in Japanese). 歴人マガジン. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e "坂本城" (in Japanese). コトバンク. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "明智光秀の幻の城、近江・坂本城跡には何があるのか" (in Japanese). Line トラベル. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  6. ^ a b "坂本城" (in Japanese). 大津歴史舞台. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  7. ^ "今一番アツい戦国武将！　明智光秀ゆかりの城" (in Japanese). 城びと. Retrieved 25 July 2019.

External links