Chigusa Tadaaki

Chigusa Tadaaki was a court noble and warrior active from the late Kamakura period into the early Nanboku-chō period. His year of birth is unknown. He is said to have died on 15 July 1336 (7th day of the 6th month, Engen 1 / Kenmu 3). His father was a Provisional Middle Counselor of the Rokujō family. He first called himself Rokujō Tadaaki and later changed his name to Chigusa. He became a close attendant of Emperor Go-Daigo and was at odds with his father.

Genkō Incident

He followed the uprising at Kasagiyama in the 8th month of Genkō 1 (1331). When Kasagiyama fell, he was captured and held under Sasaki Takauji (Dōyo). In 1332 (Genkō 2) he accompanied Emperor Go-Daigo into exile on Oki Island.

Senjōzan and Return to the Capital

In the intercalary 2nd month of 1333 (Genkō 3) he escaped from Oki and joined the uprising at Senjōzan. He led forces from the San'in region into the capital, but was defeated in battle with the Rokuhara Tandai and withdrew for a time to Tamba Province.

Kenmu Restoration

Under the Kenmu government he was appointed a member of the Zōso Kessaijo (Board of Petitions), and was granted provincial governorships in Tamba and elsewhere along with former Hōjō lands. He was counted together with Yūki Chikamitsu, Kusunoki Masashige and Nawa Nagatoshi as the "Three Trees and One Grass."

Death

In the first month of 1336 (Kenmu 3) he took vows as a monk. After the Battle of Minatogawa at the end of the fifth month of that year, he followed Emperor Go-Daigo to Mount Hiei. On the 7th day of the 6th month of Kenmu 3 (1336) he fought the forces of Ashikaga Takauji, who were closing in on Kyoto, at Nishi-Sakamoto and Kumoi-zaka in Ataka District, Yamashiro Province. He is said to have been killed in battle with the forces of Ashikaga Tadayoshi. In 1919 (Taishō 8) he was posthumously granted Junior Second Rank.