Jōkyū War

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Jōkyū War
partof=


caption=
date=1221
place=Kyoto and surrounding areas
casus=Retired Emperor Go-Toba seeks to topple Kamakura shogunate.
territory=
result=Shogunate victorious; Retired emperors exiled.
combatant1=Kamakura shogunate and allies
combatant2=warrior families loyal to Go-Toba
commander1=Hōjō Yoshitoki
commander2=Go-Toba
strength1=
strength2=
casualties1=
casualties2=

nihongo|Jōkyū War|承久の乱|jōkyū no ran, also known as the Jōkyū Disturbance, was fought in Japan between the forces of Retired Emperor Go-Toba and those of the Hōjō clan, regents of the Kamakura shogunate, whom the retired emperor was trying to overthrow.

The main battle was at Uji, just outside Kyōto; this was the third battle to be fought there in less than half a century. It took place in 1221, that is, the third year of the Jōkyū era.

In the beginning of the 13th century, Emperor Go-Toba found his attempts at political maneuvers blocked by the Kamakura shogunate. Seeking independence, and the power rightfully his as the ruler of Japan, Go-Toba gathered allies in 1221, and planned to effect an overthrow of the shogunate. These allies consisted primarily of members of the Taira clan, and other enemies of the Minamoto, the victors in the Genpei War, and clan of the Shoguns.

Accounts of the first Imperial banner appears in this period; and the very first is said to have been one that Go-Toba gave to a generals during this war. Sun and moon images were embroidered or painted with gold or silver on a red brocade. [National Archives of Japan: [http://jpimg.digital.archives.go.jp/kouseisai/category/emaki/boshin_e.html "Boshinshoyo Kinki oyobi Gunki Shinzu," Imperial Standard during Boshin War (1868)] -- commentary mentions 1st Imperial banner appears in Jōkyū War.]

In the fifth lunar month of 1221, the Retired Emperor Go-Toba decided on lines of succession, without consulting the shogunate. He then invited a great number of potential allies from amongst the eastern warriors of Kyoto to a great festival, thus revealing the loyalties of those who rejected the invitation. One important officer revealed his loyalty to the shogunate by doing so, and was killed. Several days later, the Imperial Court declared Hōjō Yoshitoki, the regent and representative of the shogunate, to be an outlaw, and three days later the entirety of eastern Japan had officially risen in rebellion.

Hōjō Yoshitoki decided to launch an offensive against Go-Toba's forces in Kyoto, using much the same three-pronged strategy as was employed a few decades earlier. One came from the mountains, one from the north, and the third, commanded by Yoshitoki's son Yasutoki, approached via the Tōkaidō road.

These forces faced meager opposition on their way to the capital; the Imperial commanders were simply outfought. When Go-Toba heard of this string of defeats, he left the city for Mount Hiei, where he asked for aid from the "sōhei", the warrior monks of Mount Hiei. They declined, citing weakness, and the Go-Toba returned to Kyoto. The remnants of the Imperial army fought their final stand at the bridge over the river Uji, where the opening battle of the Genpei War was fought, 41 years earlier. Yasutoki's cavalry pushed through, scattering the Imperial forces, and pressed on to Kyoto.

The capital was taken by the Shogun's forces, and Go-Toba's rebellion was put to an end. Go-Toba was banished to the Oki Islands, from where he never returned. His sons were also banished, including Retired Emperor Tsuchimikado (to Tosa) and Retired Emperor Juntoku (to Sado), and the recently enthroned Emperor Chukyo, the first son of Juntoku, was replaced with Emperor Go-Horikawa, a nephew of Go-Toba.

Notes

References

*Sansom, George (1958). 'A History of Japan to 1334'. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.

ee also

*List of wars
*Military history of Japan