Second-generation head of the Hōjō clan
Hōjō Ujitsuna
北条氏綱
birth year unknown – 1541
Second-generation head of the Hōjō clan. Succeeding to leadership from Hōjō Sōun in 1518, he changed his family name from Ise to Hōjō in 1523, invoking the prestige the Hōjō name held in Kanto during the Kamakura period to establish the legitimacy of his rule in Sagami. The tiger seal first documented in 1518 continued to be used by all successive heads until the clan's fall in 1590, establishing a system of family documents that persisted across changes in leadership. He captured Edo Castle in 1524 and Kawagoe Castle in 1537, and at the First Battle of Kōnodai in 1538, defeated Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the Oyumi kubō, extending his power into Musashi and Shimōsa provinces.
Sources 小田原市「二代氏綱の北条改姓」／小田原市「氏綱展」／国立歴史民俗博物館「北条家朱印状」／国立公文書館「北条家裁許印判状」／川崎市市民ミュージアム「虎の印判状」／川越市資料／小田原デジタルミュージアム「北条氏綱」／江戸川区郷土資料室「国府台の合戦」
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Related events
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1518
Ise Sōzui Transfers the Headship to Ujitsuna
Succeeded as clan headIse Sōzui transferred the headship to his heir Ujitsuna. That year Ujitsuna issued a document bearing the tiger seal as he advanced territorial administration.
1523
Hōjō Ujitsuna Changes His Family Name from Ise to Hōjō
Principal partyBetween June 12 and September 13, Ujitsuna changed his family name from Ise to Hōjō, apparently seeking to legitimize his rule of Sagami by invoking the name of the Kamakura Hōjō.
1524
Month 1
Battle of Takanawahara and Capture of Edo Castle
Beat the Ogigayatsu Uesugi and took Edo CastleOn the thirteenth day of the first month, Hōjō Ujitsuna defeated Ōgigayatsu Uesugi Tomooki at Takanawahara and, aided by Ōta Suketaka's defection, captured Edo Castle as a base for expansion into Musashi.
1538
Month 10
First Battle of Kōnodai
Later Hojo commander in chief; victoriousThe Bōsō forces of Ashikaga Yoshiaki, Satomi Yoshitaka, and their allies fought Hōjō Ujitsuna's army at Kōnodai. The Hōjō won and Yoshiaki was killed.
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