View source for Kōzuke–Musashi campaign

{{Infobox Military Conflict
|conflict=Kōzuke–Musashi
|partof=the [[Genkō War]]
|image=Kozuke-Musashi-Campaign-Map.jpg
|image_size=300px
|caption=[[Nitta Yoshisada]] led an army over 100 kilometers in ten days with major engagements against the Shogunate forces in four locations.
|date=May, 1333
|place=[[Kōzuke Province]], [[Musashi Province]]
|casus=
|territory=
|result=Nitta victory
|combatant1=Forces loyal to [[Emperor Go-Daigo]]
|combatant2=[[Hōjō clan]]
|commander1=[[Nitta Yoshisada]]
|commander2=[[Kanazawa Sadamasa]], [[Sakurada Sadakuni]], [[Nagasaki Takashige]], [[Nagasaki Saemon]], [[Kaji Saemon]].
|strength1=
|strength2=
|casualties1=
|casualties2=
}}
{{Campaignbox Genkō War}}
The '''Kōzuke–Musashi''' campaign was a rapid and direct assault during the Japanese [[Genkō War]] by [[Nitta Yoshisada]] that led up to the [[Siege of Kamakura (1333)|Siege of Kamakura]] in 1333.  It consisted of a number of battles over a brief period.<ref>Sansom, George (1963) pp. 18-21.</ref>  The ultimate result was the ending of the [[Kamakura Shogunate]].
== Background ==
By the first part of the 14th century, the [[Kamakura Shogunate]], which had never fully recovered from successfully fending off the [[Mongol Invasions of Japan|Mongol Invasions]], was already engaging a resurgent imperial house under [[Go-Daigo]] during the [[Genkō War]].  [[Go-Daigo]]'s son [[Prince Morinaga]] energetically organized an uprising against the [[Hōjō clan|Hōjō]] recruiting a number of the key martial leaders that supported the Emperor including [[Kusunoki Masashige]]. Early in 1333 Morinaga and Kusunoki, the latter being entrenched at [[Siege of Chihaya|Chihaya]], were the targets of a large army sent from [[Kamakura, Kanagawa|Kamakura]] to destroy the uprising.  This left Kamakura relatively undefended.<ref>McCullough, Helen Craig (1959): Translator's introduction p. xliv.</ref>
[[Nitta Yoshisada]], who was originally supporting the [[Hojo Regents]] of Kamakura, was convinced to support the imperial cause.<ref>Painot, E (1910) pp. 455-456.</ref> From his home base in [[Kōzuke Province]], Nitta and a group of other nobles including his brother [[Nitta Yoshisuke|Yoshisuke]] took advantage of the lightly defended Kamakura and entered [[Musashi Province]] in force.  Following the important [[Kamakura Kaidō]] highway, Nitta's army received fresh recruits along the way from local powerful clans and repeatedly engaged the [[Hōjō clan|Hojo]] forces until reaching the outskirts of Kamakura, thus beginning the [[Siege of Kamakura (1333)|Siege of Kamakura]].<ref>McCullough, Helen Craig (1959): pp. 274-285.</ref>
== The campaign ==
Nitta's forces entered [[Musashi Province|Musashi]] from [[Kōzuke Province|Kōzuke]] and joined the [[Kamakura Kaidō]] at [[Sugaya]]. The principle battles were:
* [[Battle of Kotesashi (1333)|Battle of Kotesashi]] (May 11, 1333)
* [[Battle of Kumegawa]] (May 12, 1333)
* [[Battle of Bubaigawara]] (and Sekido) (May 15–16, 1333)
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
* Frederic, Louis (2002). "Japan Encyclopedia." Cambridge, Massachusetts: [[Harvard University Press]]. {{ISBN|0-674-01753-6}}.
* Sansom, George (1963). "A history of Japan 1334-1615." Eight Printing (1993). Charles E. Tuttle Company, Tokyo, {{ISBN|4-8053-0375-1}}
* Papinot, E. (1910). "Historical and Geographical Dictionary of Japan." 1972 Printing. Charles E. Tuttle Company, Tokyo, {{ISBN|0-8048-0996-8}}.
* McCullough, Helen Craig (1959). "The [[Taiheiki]]. A Chronicle of Medieval Japan." 1959. Charles E. Tuttle Company, Tokyo, {{ISBN|0-8048-3538-1}}.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kozuke-Musashi Campaign}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1333]]
[[Category:Genkō War]]
[[Category:Battles involving Japan]]
[[Category:1330s in Japan]]
[[Category:1333 in Asia]]