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Ryūzōji forces · Ryūzōji

Ryūzōji Takanobu

“The Bear of Hizen”

The strongman of Kyushu who revived a fallen house and unified Hizen in a single generation. Feared as "the Bear of Hizen," he was called the "lord of five provinces and two islands," ranked with the Shimazu and the Ōtomo. But at Okitanawate his great army collapsed in the muddy paddies under the feigned-retreat ambush of the Shimazu–Arima alliance, he himself was killed, and the power of the Ryūzōji declined at a stroke.

Epithet
“The Bear of Hizen”
Rank / office
Governor of Yamashiro
Domain / base
Hizen
Banner / crest
Sun with rays
Side
Ryūzōji forces
Lived
1529–1584 (aged 56)

Life

  1. Genki 1 Battle of Imayama Beat a great Ōtomo army with a night attack and secured his position in Hizen.
  2. Tenshō 9 Lord of Five Provinces and Two Islands Unified Hizen and built a great power in north-western Kyushu.
  3. Tenshō 12 Death at Okitanawate His headquarters was overrun in the Shimazu–Arima feigned-retreat ambush, and he was killed.

Battles in this archive1 battles

  1. Battle of Okitanawate 24th day of the 3rd month, Tenshō 12 Shimabara, Hizen Province "The Bear of Hizen," who mastered the province in a single generation. Hungry for victory he drove his army onto the causeway, had his column cut by the ambush and was killed. 8,000 troops · Commander-in-chief Watch ▸

Related sites

  • Okitanawate battlefield (Shimabara)