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Ōuchi Yoshihiro was an influential shugo of the provinces of Suō and Nagato and played an important role as a supporter of the Ashikaga clan during the war with the Southern Court. His greatest achievement was forcing the Southern Court emperor to surrender in 1392, which brought an end to the Nanboku-chō period. This victory strengthened the Ashikaga clan's position and marked the end of the long-standing rivalry between the two imperial lines.

Despite his achievements, it was Yoshihiro who raised a rebellion against the shogunate. It was believed that the reason for this was the unfair treatment of his resources by the Ashikaga bakufu. An example of this was the shogun's demand to build a luxurious villa for himself on Mount Kiyotama, an order that placed a heavy burden on Yoshihiro's forces and resources.

As a result, Yoshihiro enlisted the support of other shugo, withdrew his troops from Kyoto, and fortified himself in the city of Sakai. He prepared for a decisive confrontation, intending to defend his position and challenge the authority of the shogunate.

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, seeking to avoid bloodshed, first attempted to resolve the crisis peacefully. However, Yoshihiro's determination to fight was unshakeable, and the negotiations were unsuccessful.

Yoshimitsu then decided to make the first move. He assembled an army, which included forces from the Hatakeyama, Hosokawa, and Shiba clans, and advanced on Sakai. At the same time, negotiations began with the pirates of the Inland Sea, whose support the rebellious Yoshihiro was counting on. The aim of the negotiations was to organize a naval blockade of the city and deprive the enemy of supplies.

Yoshihiro's rebellion gradually began to fade. This was partly due to the swift and decisive response of the shogunate, and partly because the promised assistance from Kanrei Ashikaga Mitsukane and others never arrived. Moreover, the troops recruited in the provinces of Iwami and Izumi showed insufficient devotion and did not demonstrate complete loyalty to the rebel.

Despite the unfavorable circumstances, Yoshihiro's resistance was fierce. He stubbornly held out against the shogunate forces, and it was not until the end of 1399 that Ashikaga's troops managed to set fire to the city of Sakai.

Attacked from all sides by the combined forces of his enemies, Ouchi Yoshihiro chose the path of a samurai — he committed harakiri, remaining true to his principles until the end.


See also

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