Battle of Minatogawa

The Battle of Minatogawa (Japanese湊川の戦いMinatogawa no tatakai, dt Battle of Minato River ) was the decisive battle in the rebellion against the Emperor Ashikaga Takaujis Go- Daigo.

The imperial commander Kusunoki Masashige and Nitta Yoshisada wanted to retire to the mountain of the Congo and let Takauji to take the capital Kyoto. However, the Emperor and most courtiers opposed it. So had to fight the dutiful samurai.

The battle took place on July 5, 1336. Ashikaga 35,000 fighters were offset by about 17,000 Go- Daigo- warriors. The imperial army was divided in two. Part withdrew suddenly, so that Kusunoki was on her. Attacked from two sides, Kusunokis men tried desperately to fight back until the evening almost completely wiped out the army and Kusunoki was severely wounded. Nitta Yoshisada could retire, Kusunoki Masashige withdrew after the battle along with his brother Masaue on a farm back there and committed seppuku.

The story of Ashikaga Takauji, Emperor Go - Daigo, Nitta Yoshisada and Kusunoki Masashige of the GENKO rebellion until the establishment of the Northern and Southern Imperial Court ( Nanboku -chō ) are described in detail in the forty -volume epic Taiheiki.

• Battle of the Sengoku period
• 1336