Bessho forces · Bessho
Bessho Nagaharu
Head of the Bessho, a great family with power in eastern Harima, based at Miki Castle. At first he sided with the Oda, but in Tenshō 6 he broke away for the Mōri and rallied the anti-Oda forces of the region. Hashiba Hideyoshi ringed Miki Castle many ranks deep and imposed a thorough blockade, cutting every supply route, in what became known as the "starvation siege of Miki." Nagaharu endured the siege for nearly two years, but at last his strength gave out, and on condition that every soldier in the castle be spared he took his own life with his family, aged 23.
- Domain / base
- Eastern Harima (Miki Castle)
- Side
- Bessho forces
- Lived
- 1558–1580 (aged 23)
Now I hold no grudge at all, when I think that this body of mine is given for the lives of all these people.
Death poem of Bessho Nagaharu
Life
- Tenshō 6 Breaking with the Oda Sided with the Mōri, shut himself in Miki Castle and raised troops against the Oda.
- Tenshō 8 Surrender of Miki Castle After two years of starvation siege he took his own life with his family in exchange for the lives of his garrison.
Battles in this archive1 battles
Related sites
- Miki Castle ruins (Miki, Hyōgo)
- Unryū-ji (Miki, Hyōgo)