Bessho Yasuharu (別所康晴, 1521 – 28/29 October 1584) was a pre-eminent daimyō during Sengoku Period Japan. Based in Harima Province, Yasuharu inherited the position as clan head at the age of just sixteen, yet quickly earned an exceptional military reputation, defeating the rival Miyoshi and Yamana clans on numerous occasions. With aid from his vassal, Kuroda Mototaka, he also engaged in conflict with his aggressive western neighbour, Sho Takatoku. Due to his use of night attacks and ambushes, Yasuharu earned the nickname of the “Panther of Harima” (黒豹の播磨), a reputation that he sometimes further reinforced by wearing all black armour.
Despite being defeated by Urakami Munekage at the battle of Tatsuno, Yasuharu voluntarily joined the rising Urakami daimyō and was thus granted the title of “Great Lord” (偉い主) ruling over Harima in Munekage’s name. Yasuharu was primarily instructed to continue his campaign against the Miyoshi and Yamana, the latter war culminating in the battle of Shinonsen, one of Yasuharu’s most praised victories. After Munekage’s usurpation of the Shogunate in 1564, Yasuharu would lead Urakami forces west into the Tōkaidō Region, most famously defeating the Saitō, Yuki and Kiso Clans at the battles of Kakamigahara, Fujikawa and Shiojiri respectively. Following the latter, the battles of Komoro displayed Yasuharu’s pragmatic ruthlessness as he slaughtered thousands of fleeing soldiers under cover of nightfall and earning him a further moniker: “Onihyō” (鬼豹) or “Demon Panther”.
After the death of Munekage, Yasuharu at first supported his eldest son Takakage as shōgun, however, he quickly became disillusioned with the inept Takakage, instead favouring his younger brother, Suigun. Yasuharu joined with Sho Takatoku in his rebellion, commanding Suigun’s forces during the brief Urakami Civil War until their defeat at the battle of Lake Nojiri. Thanks to his vassal, Mototaka’s, loyalty Yasuharu was spared and retained his position as a “Great Lord”, also serving as a general during the Invasion of Korea.
After returning from Korea, Yasuharu devoted his last few years to tea ceremonies and almost exclusively resigned himself to living within his estate in Himeji. His eldest son, Nagaharu, ruled Harima in his stead, aided by his retainer, Ikeda Norifuji and his longtime ally, Kuroda Mototaka. Yasuharu died in late Autumn, 1584 and was buried atop Hachijoganzan, overlooking Himeji Castle.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Bessho Yasuharu was born in Harima Province, the son of Bessho Nariharu. Nariharu had wrested free from the Bessho’s former overlords, the Akamatsu who they potentially also descended from. Yasuharu’s older brother, Yoshichika, was expected to become the clan head but died of consumption when he was just seven. Thus, Yasuharu was named heir. It was also during this time that Nariharu conquered the neighbouring Kuroda Clan, establishing vassalage over them.
He took in Kuroda Takamasa’s young son, Shigetaka, as a ward, but following Takamasa’s unexpected death in 1523, he installed Shigetaka as clan head, albeit advised by Bessho retainers. To further ensure the Kuroda’s loyalty, he took in Shigetaka’s newborn son, Mototaka as a hostage and raised him in Himeji alongside Yasuharu.
From a young age, the two boys were nearly inseparable; their relationship is rumoured to have progressed to the status of Shudō, albeit briefly due to the closeness in age. Nariharu had also engaged in warfare against the Miyoshi to the south and during one of his skirmishes was struck in the shoulder by an arrow. The wound soon became infected and Nariharu died in early 1537, at the age thirty-five, making Yasuharu clan head at just sixteen.
War with the Miyoshi[]
Immediately, Yasuharu was in danger from the south as Miyoshi Motonaga sought to extend his holdings. He advanced north from Settsu in early 1538, hoping to take advantage of Yasuharu's inexperience.
At first, he managed to achieve victories at sea, swiftly overwhelming the Bessho's considerably smaller fleet and seizing Miki Castle. However, Yasuharu quickly gathered his forces and ambushed a Miyoshi advance force at Fukudencho. Aware of his numerical disadvantage, he goaded Motonaga to attack by ordering peasants to burn captured Miyoshi nobori (banners) whilst chanting "Īmoriyamajō ni modori, anata no kagayakashī shōri"[1] or "Return to Iimoriyama Castle, the site of your glorious victory". This was in reference to how Motonaga was forced to retreat from the Siege of Iimoriyama Castle by the arrival of a large Ikko-Ikki army, thus stealing a major strategic victory from him. Enraged by this, and fully aware of his greater numbers, Motonaga ignored the advice of his generals and left Miki Castle, pursuing the burning banners along the Kako River. With no Bessho troops in sight, he ordered his army to spread out and find what he presumed to be Ikko-Ikki insurgents and recover the nobori. However, as the day wore on and the sun set, Yasuharu and his forces emerged from hiding and began systematically ambushing and isolating Miyoshi raiding parties, operating alongside local peasantry who helped conceal their movements.
Eventually, Motonaga decided to encamp at Kakogawa itself and it was only then that he realised his mistake. His army was considerably damaged by Bessho harassment and ambushes. Under cover of nightfall, Yasuharu and his men stormed into the Miyoshi camp and set fire to many tents. During the ensuing chaos, Motonaga was killed sending Miyoshi forces into full panic and retreat.
- ↑ 飯盛山城に戻り、あなたの輝かしい勝利