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Hojo Ujinao (1562 – December 19, 1591) was a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku period and the last leader of the Later Hojo clan. An important figure in Azuchi-Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the Siege of Odawara (1590). Despite this, he survived, and his family continued as minor daimyo during the Edo period.

Born in Odawara Castle in 1562, Ujinao was the grandson of Hojo Ujiyasu and the son of Hojo Ujimasa, initially named Kuniomaru. His mother was the daughter of Takeda Shingen. In early 1577, he came of age and adopted the formal name Ujinao. To secure peace between their clans, he married Tokuhime, the second daughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Ujinao held junior 5th court rank, lower grade (ju-go-i-ge), and the title Sakyo-dayu. His first military engagement was during his father's invasion of Kazusa Province.

In 1582, after the death of Oda Nobunaga, the Hojo family capitalized on the chaos to launch an invasion of the Kai and Shinano provinces. Simultaneously, Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Uesugi clan aimed to control the same territories. This led to the Tensho-Jingo War, a triangular conflict between the Hojo, Tokugawa, and Uesugi factions.

By June 13, the Hojo clan captured Iwadono Castle in Tsuru District. Sanada Masayuki received Numata Castle from the Uesugi clan. Amidst the turmoil, Kawajiri Hidetaka was killed by local insurrectionists in Kai Province. On July 7, 1582, Toyotomi Hideyoshi authorized Ieyasu to secure Kai and Shinano provinces.

The Tokugawa army clashed with the Hojo forces at Wakamiko Castle, where 8,000 Tokugawa soldiers fought against 50,000 Hojo troops led by Ujinao. On July 12, Ujinao's forces advanced across Usui Pass, prompting Nobushige to retreat to a more defensible position. The Tokugawa forces eventually triumphed in the Battle of Kurokoma, repelling Hojo Ujinao's detachment with a daring raid led by Mizuno Katsushige and Torii Mototada. This victory prevented the Hojo from encircling the Tokugawa army.

In December, Sakai Tadatsugu subdued Suwa Yoritada at Suwa in Shinano, securing his surrender to the Tokugawa. The Hojo clan, recognizing their precarious position, negotiated a truce with Ieyasu. Representatives from the Oda clan, including Oda Nobukatsu and Oda Nobutaka, mediated the negotiations, leading to a formal conclusion of the truce. The invasion by Satake Yoshishige against Hojo territory also pushed the Hojo to accept the truce.

 


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