Akechi Castle is located at an altitude of 530m , and was built in 1274
by Kageshige Toyama , the founder of Akechi Toyama family ,the second son
of Kagetomo Toyama (the first Iwamura Castle owner , the eldest son of
Kagekado Kato) , and was the residence of Toyama family's successive generations.
It is a mountain castle that skillfully utilized the terrain of natural
hazards. After the fall of the castle , it is said that it is one of the
few in Japan that remains in its original form , and it is a designated
caltural property of Gifu Prefecture. In the important fort , stone walls
were piled up , and there were five pavilions in it as a camp , in preparation
for practice.
The fall of Akechi Castle was on March 12 , 1574. Katsuyori Takeda attacked
Akechi Castle with a large army of 15000 in an attempt to fulfilll his
farther Shingen's intention. The Castle owner , Ikko Toyama , his uncle
, Toshikage had 600 soldiers to defend them and suddently reported to NobuNaga
Oda. Nobunaga summoned his son Nobutada and Mitsuhide Akechi from Nara
Tamon Castle , saying that the loss of Akechi Cstle could destroy Mino
, Owari , Mikawa , Totomi , and Suruga's negemony , at once , and with
30000 reinforcements , he naturally set up on Mt.Tsuruoka in Nishi Hattcho.
Katsuyori ordered Masakage Yamagata , the general of the caralry corps
that the Koshu army is proud of , and cut off the course of Nobunaga with
6000 soldiers. Knowing the disadvantages of the mountain warfare , Nobunaga
soothed Mitsuhide and retreated to avoid the decisive battle. In the previous
Murakami battle , they lost most of their elite , and now in the castle
, which has been abondoned by reainforcements , the arrows have already
run out , swords have broken , and they have dropped lumber and rocks to
make a lone force. However , the castle became a sea of fire , enemy soldiers
and horses were crowded , the flag of "Wind , Wood , Fire , Mountain"
and the voice of battle cry were filled outside the castle. Eventually
the enclosure of the water mouth behind the castle was broken , the castle
was set on fire , and 500 people were killed. Therefore , the castle owners
Ikko and Toshikage tried to recover , took advantage of the shadow of the
night , escaped to Asuke Castle , and entered the patoronage of Ieyasu
Tokugawa . It was a terrible fall of Akechi Castle. |
