Hōjō Ujikuni

A son of Hōjō Ujiyasu and brother of Ujimasa. He married Ōfuku-gozen, daughter of the powerful Fujita family of northern Musashi and entered Tenjinzan Castle, linking the Hōjō and Fujita families. He later extensively rebuilt and expanded Hachigata Castle, controlling the junction of traffic routes heading toward northern Musashi, Kōzuke, Shinano, and Kai, and making it the strategic key for controlling northern Kanto and defending the border. The Hōjō clan's expansion into northern Kanto under Ujimasa and Ujinao was enabled by his branch territories. In 1590, surrounded by large Toyotomi forces, he defended for about a month before opening Hachigata Castle on June 14 on the condition of the safety of his troops.

Sources　八王子市「八王子城跡」／八王子市「滝山城跡」／寄居町「鉢形城跡」／鉢形城歴史館「戦国の知将 北条氏邦」／小田原市「北条氏の外交戦略」／伊豆の国市「韮山城跡の調査・研究」／小田原市「北条氏ゆかりの地を訪ねる」