Ukita Naoie

Ukita Naoie (宇喜多 直家, 1529 – February 1, 1582) was a Japanese daimyō of the Sengoku period. He was born in Bizen Province, to Ukita Okiie, a local samurai leader and head of the Ukita clan.^[1]

Ukita Naoie
宇喜多 直家
Head of Ukita clan
In office 1536–1582
Preceded by	Ukita Okiie
Succeeded by	Ukita Hideie
Personal details
Born	1529 Bizen Province, Japan
Died	February 1, 1582 Okayama Castle, Bizen Province, Japan
Children	Ukita Hideie
Parent	Ukita Okiie (father)
Relatives	Ukita Tadaie (brother)
Military service
Allegiance	Ukita clan Uragami clan Oda clan
Commands	Kameyama Castle
Battles/wars	Battle of Myōzenji (1567) Siege of Tatsuno (1569) Siege of Tenjinyama (1574) Mimasaka Campaign (1581) Bizen Campaign (1581)

In this Japanese name, the surname is Ukita.

He has historical reputation as one of Japan's Three Great Villains (日本三大梟雄), a nickname which he shared with Matsunaga Hisahide and Saitō Dōsan, due to their ambitious and treasonous personality, along with the habit of resorting to underhanded tactics and assassinations to eliminate their opposition.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]}

Biography

Naoie's grandfather Yoshiie was killed by Shimamura clan in 1534,^[8] Naoie narrowly escaped from Toishi castle along with his father Ukita Okiie.^[1] Two years later after his father died, he become head of Ukita clan at the age of seven years old.

In 1543, he became a vassal of Uragami Munekage and made remarkable progress in his war service.^[1]

In 1544, Naoie was appointed as the lord of a small castle called Otogo Castle.^[8] A year later, he was given command of 30 ashigaru to defend the fort and was rewarded for fighting treacherous Munekage's enemies.^[9]

In 1551, under the orders of Urakami Munekage, Naoie married the daughter of Katsumasa, the governor of Nakayama-Bichu. The Nakayama clan was a local feudal lord based in Numa Castle (Higashi Ward, Okayama City).However, the Uragami clan tried to subjugate the Nakayama clan. It is said that the reason for this was that the Nakayama clan had neglected Uragami Munekage. The Uragami clan decided to subjugate the Nakayama clan because they suspected that Nakayama Bitchu no Kami and Morizane Shimamura (Nanami) were plotting a rebellion. At this time, Ukita Naoie took out a letter that served as evidence of Shimamura Bungo-no-kami's plot, and said that Bungo-no-kami was the enemy of his grandfather (Ukita Yoshiie), and that he would kill him immediately if ordered to do so. It is also said that Nakayama Bitchu-no-kami was his (Naoie's) father-in-law, but that he would kill him for the sake of his lord (Uragami Munekage). Naoie built a teahouse next to Numa Castle, invited Nakayama Bitchu-no-kami there, and killed him. Meanwhile, Shimamura rushed to attack Numa Castle, but was killed by the Ukita clan forces in battle on the castle gate. After that, Naoie was given Numa Castle and most of the territories of the Nakayama and Shimamura clans. Following this, many of Munekage's vassals deserted and joined the Ukita clan.^[10]

In 1559, he killed his father-in-law Nakayama Nobumasa by order of Uragami Munekage and restored their old territory.^[8]

In 1567, at the Battle of Myōzenji, Naoie succeeded in expelling almost all forces from Bitchū who had entered the western portion of Bizen.

In 1569, Naoie joined with Oda Nobunaga and Akamatsu Masahide of western Harima Province to rebel against his lord, Uragami Munekage. However, Munekage attacking Masahide at Tatsuno Castle and force Masahide to surrender. Munekage, whereupon give Naoie a special exception to return to serve him.

In 1570, Naoie killed Okayama castle lord Kanemitsu Munetaka and started remodeling the castle^[11] and moved Ukita clan's main bastion from Numa castle in 1573.^[8][12][13]

In March 1574, Naoie broke off relations with Uragami Munekage. The battle went against Munekage, and in October of the following year, Munekage's castle, Tenjinyama Castle, fell.^[10]

In 1574, since the influence of Naoie was increasing, Uragami Munekage attempted to oust Naoie.^[1] Naoie was dissatisfied with the Munekage decision, he allied with Mōri clan and launched a rebellion against Munekage.^[14] Naoie attacked Tenjinyama castle successfully, effectively ending Uragami Munekage's rule.^[1]

In 1579, the Ukita clan resisted an advance by Hashiba Hideyoshi, who led a westward march upon orders of Oda Nobunaga. Sensing Oda Nobunaga's victory over the Mori clan, Naoie sent a force to help the Mori, but not present citing personal illness as an excuse.^[15][16]

Later in 1581, Naoie cut ties with the Mōri clan and submitted to Nobunaga. Thereafter, he engaged in battles across Mimasaka and Bizen against the Mōri.

Death

In February 1582, he died in Okayama Castle.^[1] But his strategic maneuver proved effective. Nobunaga confirmed his heir, Ukita Hideie, to inherit his domain.^[9] Later, Toyotomi Hideyoshi adopted Hideie.^[9]