Murakami Yoshikiyo (村上義清, 1501–1573) was a Japanese samurai from the and retainer of the

Uesugi clan The is a Japanese samurai clan which was at its peak one of the most powerful during the Muromachi and Sengoku periods (14th to 17th centuries). Appert, Georges. (1888) ''Ancien Japon,'' p. 79./ref> At its height, the clan had three main branc ...

during the

Sengoku period The was a period in History of Japan, Japanese history of near-constant civil war and social upheaval from 1467 to 1615. The Sengoku period was initiated by the Ōnin War in 1467 which collapsed the Feudalism, feudal system of Japan under the ...

of the 16th century. Yoshikiyo followed in fighting against both

Takeda Nobutora was a Japanese ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) who controlled the Province of Kai, and fought in a number of battles of the Sengoku period. He was the father of the famous Takeda Shingen. Biography Nobutora’s son was Harunobu, later known as Tak ...

and his son

Takeda Shingen , of Kai Province, was a pre-eminent ''daimyō'' in feudal Japan. Known as the "Tiger of Kai", he was one of the most powerful daimyō with exceptional military prestige in the late stage of the Sengoku period. Shingen was a warlord of great ...

. Yoshikiyo was also a very close ally under

Uesugi Kenshin , later known as was a Japanese ''daimyō''. He was born in Nagao clan, and after adoption into the Uesugi clan, ruled Echigo Province in the Sengoku period of Japan. He was one of the most powerful ''daimyō'' of the Sengoku period. Known a ...

and one of Shingen's bitterest opponents for his high kill-counts in their conflicts. Before Murakami came into conflict with Takeda, they had good diplomatic relations as Yoshikiyo had sent back Oi Sadataka, a common enemy of both Murakami and Takeda when he was captured in Murakami's domain back to Takeda's base city of Kōfu as a prisoner for execution. In 1542, Murakami joined a coalition with Ogasawara Nagatoki, Suwa Yorishige, and Kiso Yoshiyasu to oppose Takeda Shingen's growing forces. The two sides met at the

Battle of Sezawa The Battle of Sezawa was the first major battle fought by Takeda Shingen in his campaign to gain control of Shinano Province. He took on and defeated a coalition of Shinano ''daimyō'' including the leaders of the Suwa, Ogasawara and clans. ...

, with the coalition suffering a defeat in the battle. In 1546, when Shingen and the Takeda forces arrived to attack Toishi Castle. Yoshikiyo came to the rescue commanding 6000 soldiers, crushing Shingen's spearhead and claiming the life of some commanders such as Amari Bizen and Yokota Bitchū. He suffered defeat after some of Takeda's more brilliant strategists, Yamamoto Kansuke, Sanada Yukitaka and his son Sanada Masayuki join the fray and each score their brilliant strategems to ensure Harunobu's series of victories; however, in 1547 Yoshikiyo settled the score with Shingen, who had just enjoyed victory for seizing Shiga castle. Yoshikiyo caught him off guard and attacked him with entire force and routed him. One year later in 1548 he provided more severe defeats for Takeda by killing 3 of Shingen's generals

Itagaki Nobukata was a retainer of the Takeda family. He was known as one of the "Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen". His name is also seen with different ''kanji'' as 信形. Nobukata served under both Takeda Nobutora and Takeda Shingen and also was task ...

Amari Torayasu was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period, and served the Takeda clan under Takeda Nobutora and Shingen. Amari was a ''shukurō'', or clan elder, following Shingen's accession to family headship and was one of "Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda S ...

, and Hajikano Den'emon in

Battle of Uedahara The was the first defeat suffered by Takeda Shingen, and the first field battle in Japan in which firearms were used. It took place in Shinano Province or the modern-day Nagano Prefecture. Battle The Battle of Uedahara was part of Shingen's ...

in similar full-scale counterattack as before and causing Shingen to retreat into Kai after losing 700 men In 1550 he held Toishi Castle for 1 year against Sanada Yukitaka and suffered a loss but not before inflicting a loss with the death one of Takeda's general,

Yokota Takatoshi was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period. He was known as one of the "Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen". He was most known for his participation in Sieges of Toishi where he together with Sanada Yukitaka fight Murakami Yoshikiyo ...

. Then in 1553, Katsurao happened and Yoshikiyo lost Katsurao Castle. In 1553 he was forced to abandon Shinano after losing to Takeda in Siege of Kannomine and forced to seek aid to Kenshin and serve as his retainer. Murakami was granted Nechi castle in Echigo for his service at the Battles of Kawanakajima as center division commander of the Uesugi army. One source says at the fourth battle of Kawanakajima he had killed

Takeda Nobushige was a samurai of Japan's Sengoku period, and younger brother of Takeda Shingen. He was known as one of the " Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen". Takeda Nobushige held the favor of their father, and was meant to inherit the Takeda lands, w ...

, Shingen's brother and one of his most important generals and strategists although another source was saying it was Kenshin himself who personally slew NobushigeChronicler of Kawanakajima-gokado-kassenki; Hokuetsu-gundan He was never able to restore his old territory and died in Echigo in 1573, and his son Murakami Kunikiyo (Yamaura Kagekuni) became retainer of Uesugi.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murakami Yoshikiyo Daimyo 1501 births 1573 deaths

See also

References