* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Narita Ujinaga
成田氏長
Description
Overview
Narita Ujinaga (1542-1596) was a military commander and daimyō active from the Sengoku period into the Azuchi-Momoyama period. As head of the Narita clan, a branch of the Fujiwara line, he served several powers, including Uesugi Kenshin and the Hōjō clan. His seat, Oshi Castle, is known for the siege during the Odawara Campaign (Siege of Oshi Castle), and Ujinaga was active as a powerful lord of the Kantō region.
Life and Succession
Born in Tenbun 11 (1542). In Eiroku 6 (1563) he succeeded to the headship of the family when his father retired. There was a succession dispute with his younger brother Nagatada, but he secured the support of senior retainers and established real authority. Through the alliance between Uesugi Kenshin and the Hōjō clan in Eiroku 12 (1569), he was formally recognized as a retainer of the Hōjō clan.
Siege of Oshi Castle and Control of Kantō
During the Odawara Campaign of Tenshō 18 (1590), Ujinaga himself shut himself inside Odawara Castle, while his seat, Oshi Castle, was defended by the castellan Narita Yasusue, his son Nagachika and others. They withstood the water siege launched by Ishida Mitsunari. After the fall of the Hōjō, he came under the protection of Gamō Ujisato, and was then enfeoffed with 20,000 koku at Karasuyama in Shimotsuke Province.
Family and Successor
His daughter Kaihime became a concubine of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and, through Hideyoshi's favor, raised the standing of the clan. He died in Bunroku 4 (1596), and his younger brother Narita Yasuchika (Nagatada) succeeded to the headship of the family.