, also known as Kura-no-suke (内蔵助), was a Japanese samurai of the
Sengoku
The was a period in 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 feudal system of Japan under the Ashikaga shogunate. Various ...
through
Azuchi–Momoyama period
The was the final phase of the in Japanese history from 1568 to 1600.
After the outbreak of the Ōnin War in 1467, the power of the Ashikaga Shogunate effectively collapsed, marking the start of the chaotic Sengoku period. In 1568, Oda Nobuna ...
.
[佐々成政資料館](_blank)
He entered Nobunaga's service at the age of 14 and remained in his lord's service throughout Nobunaga's rise to power. He was a member of the so-called Echizen Sanninshu (Echizen Triumvir) along with
Maeda Toshiie
was one of the leading generals of Oda Nobunaga following the Sengoku period of the 16th century extending to the Azuchi–Momoyama period. His preferred weapon was a yari and he was known as "Yari no Mataza" (槍の又左), Matazaemon (又左 ...
and
Fuwa Mitsuharu
was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. Originally a retainer of Saitō Dōsan, Mitsuharu went on to serve Oda Nobunaga, he received a land in Echizen Province and became a member of the so-called Echizen Sanninshu ...
.
Early life
Sassa Narimasa was born to Sassa Morimasa.
He was born in what is now
Nishi-ku,
Nagoya
is the largest city in the Chūbu region, the fourth-most populous city and third most populous urban area in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020. Located on the Pacific coast in central Honshu, it is the capital and the most pop ...
(situated in contemporary
Aichi District,
Owari Province
was a province of Japan in the area that today forms the western half of Aichi Prefecture, including the modern city of Nagoya. The province was created in 646. Owari bordered on Mikawa, Mino, and Ise Provinces. Owari and Mino provinces were ...
). He became a retainer of
Oda Nobunaga
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period. He is regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan.
Nobunaga was head of the very powerful Oda clan, and launched a war against other ''daimyō'' to unify ...
in 1550.
Narimasa was a military commander under Nobunaga, and member of "Oda's kurohoroshu" (Oda clan black knights), he noted for his ability to lead matchlock forces, a position he regularly held.
In 1560, after his brothers kill in battle, Narimasa took over the family estate and became the lord of the
Hirajo Castle.
Military life
Narimasa served Nobunaga throughout the latter's career.
In 1567, he fought in the
Siege of Inabayama Castle
The of 1567 was the final battle in Oda Nobunaga's campaign to defeat the Saitō clan in their mountaintop castle and conquer Mino Province, Japan.
It was a short two-week siege, fought between 13 and 27 September 1567, or in the Japanese ca ...
against
Saito Tatsuoki from
Saitō clan
The was a Japanese samurai clan that ruled Mino province in the Sengoku period. The clan appropriated the name of a defunct samurai clan named "Saitō" that had previously hailed from Echizen province and claimed descent from Fujiwara Toshih ...
.
In 1570, Narimasa participated in the
Siege of Kanegasaki, leading a few armed forces of horse guards and worked to support
Hashiba Hideyoshi
, otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' ( feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: Military Innovations that Changed the Co ...
using firearms troop.
Later, he was fought at the
Battle of Anegawa
The Sengoku period (30 July 1570) occurred near Lake Biwa in Ōmi Province, Japan, between the allied forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu, against the combined forces of the Azai and Asakura clans._It_is_notable_as_the_first_battle ...
against
Azai clan
The , also rendered as Asai, was a Japanese clan during the Sengoku period.
History
The Azai was a line of ''daimyōs'' (feudal lords) seated at Odani Castle in northeastern Ōmi Province, located within present day Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture. ...
and
Asakura clan
The is a Japanese kin group. Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie du Japon''; Papinot, (2003).html" ;"title="DF 7 of 80">"Asakura", ''Nobiliare du Japon'', p. 3 DF_7_of_80">"Asa_...
,_where_he_was_in_the_rear_guard.
In_1575,_Narimasa_fought_at_the_Battle_of_Nagashino.html" ;"title="DF 7 of 80/nowiki>">DF 7 of 80">"Asa ...
, where he was in the rear guard.
In 1575, Narimasa fought at the Battle of Nagashino">DF 7 of 80/nowiki>">DF 7 of 80">"Asa ...