Nitta Yoshisada (新田義貞)(1301-1338) was the head of the Nitta clan in the early 14th century, and supported the Southern Court of Emperor Go-Daigo in the Nanboku-cho period, capturing Kamakura from the Hōjō clan in 1333. Events February 7 - Edward of Caernarvon (later King Edward II of England) becomes the first Prince of Wales End of the reign of Emperor Go-Fushimi of Japan Emperor Go-Nijo ascends to the throne of Japan Births June 19 - Prince Morikuni, 9th Kamakura shogun of Japan July 23 - Otto... -1... The Nitta (新田) family was one of several major families descended from the Seiwa Genji, and numbered among the chief enemies of the Ashikaga shogunate, and later the Hojo clan regents. ... Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇) (November 26, 1288 - September 19, 1339) was the 96th Emperor of Japan. ... The Nanboku-cho (南北朝, lit. ... Kamakura can refer to: The city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan The Kamakura Shogunate period in the History of Japan The Kamakura family name in Japan This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Hojo clan (北条氏) in History of Japan is a family of regents of the Kamakura Shogunate. ... Events End of the Kamakura period and beginning of the Kemmu restoration in Japan. ...

Long an enemy of Ashikaga Takauji, Nitta Yoshisada is often blamed for the split between the Northern and Southern Courts, as he fought against the Ashikaga and for the Emperor Go-Daigo. This rivalry came largely from the fact that the Ashikaga were ranked above the Nitta, despite their being descended from a younger ancestor; since the ancestors of the Nitta did not fight alongside their Minamoto cousins in the Genpei War, they were never accorded power or prestige at Kamakura. Ashikaga Takauji (Jp. ... The Nanboku-cho (南北朝, lit. ... Ashikaga (足利市; -shi) is a city located in Tochigi, Japan. ... Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇) (November 26, 1288 - September 19, 1339) was the 96th Emperor of Japan. ... Minamoto (源) was an honorary surname bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period to their sons and grandsons after accepting them as royal subjects. ... The Genpei or Gempei War (源平戦争)(1180-1185) was a war of ancient Japan, fought between the Taira and Minamoto clans. ...

In 1331, after being ordered by the bakufu (shogunate) to join an army at the Chihaya fortress, Nitta received summonses from Prince Morinaga and Emperor Go-Daigo to strike at the Hōjō, so he left his post. Returning to his home province of Kozuke, Nitta rallied the aid of other descendants & vassals of the Minamoto clan, and began to march towards Kamakura. On the approaches to the city, Nitta enjoyed some early victories, routing the Hōjō defenders and pursuing them towards the city. Events Stefan Dusan declares himself king of Serbia Start of the reign of Emperor Kogon of Japan, first of the Northern Ashikaga Pretenders Births Deaths Abulfeda, geographer Categories: 1331 ... The Ashikaga shogunate (Jp. ... Prince Morinaga or Moriyoshi (護良親王) (1308–1335; r. ... Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇) (November 26, 1288 - September 19, 1339) was the 96th Emperor of Japan. ... Minamoto (源) was an honorary surname bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period to their sons and grandsons after accepting them as royal subjects. ...

Kamakura is surrounded by man-made cliffs on three sides, intentionally making it very difficult to attack. Nitta took advantage of a low tide and moved his men in through the beaches to the south. According to the Taiheiki, Nitta threw his sword into the surf and prayed to Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess, who parted the waters for him. The city was taken, and the Hōjō clan's influence destroyed. The Taiheiki (太平記) is a Japanese historical epic (see gunki monogatari), written in the late 14th century. ... Torii at the Ama-no-Iwato Shrine in Takachiho, Miyazaki Prefecture Amaterasu is a Shinto Sun goddess; she is the mythical ancestress of the royal family of Japan. ...

Following the fall of Kamakura (and the Hōjō regency), Nitta was appointed Governor of Echigo and Vice-Governor of Harima and Kozuke Provinces, as Emperor Go-Daigo redistributed the Hōjō lands. The article incorporates text from OpenHistory. ... The article incorporates text from OpenHistory. ... Categories: Japan geography stubs | Old provinces of Japan ... Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇) (November 26, 1288 - September 19, 1339) was the 96th Emperor of Japan. ...

During the following few years, Nitta's rivalry with Ashikaga Takauji (and his brother Ashikaga Tadayoshi) came to a head, with the two planning rebellion, and issuing a call that "Nitta Yoshisada must be destroyed." They fought a number of battles, many of them in and around Kyoto, in the same locations as famous battles of the Genpei War; in the end, Nitta was defeated, but continued to be a thorn in Takauji's side until his death in 1338. Ashikaga Takauji (Jp. ... ASHIKAGA Tadayoshi (1306-1352) was a general of the Northern and Southern Courts period (1337-92) of Japanese history and associate of his elder brother Ashikaga Takauji, the first Muromachi shogun. ... The Genpei or Gempei War (源平戦争)(1180-1185) was a war of ancient Japan, fought between the Taira and Minamoto clans. ...

Nitta's death was as remarkable as his life. Turnbull (2003) writes that Nitta was fighting in the Siege of Kuromaru against Hosokawa Akiuji, an ally of Takauji, when his horse was felled by arrow fire. Nitta, pinned under the dead horse and unable to move was an easy target for archers. As a final act, Nitta drew his short sword and cut off his own head. Record has it that a number of his fellow samurai committed junshi seppuku nearby, in a show of allegiance.

References

• Sansom, George (1958). 'A History of Japan to 1334'. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
• Turnbull, Stephen (1998). 'The Samurai Sourcebook'. London: Cassell & Co.
• Turnbull, Stephen (2003). 'Samurai: The World of the Warrior'. Osprey Publishing.