Editing Miki Castle

{{Era|Landmarks}}{{WP-REAL}}
[[File:ACSH Miki Castle 1.png|thumb|250px|Miki Castle]]
'''Miki Castle''' (三木城) is a [[Japan]]ese hilltop castle in [[Miki]] during the [[Sengoku period]].<ref name="Wiki">{{WP|Miki Castle}}</ref> The castle served as the seat of power for its builder, the ''[[daimyō]]'' [[Bessho Nagaharu]] of the [[Bessho clan]], until his downfall and subsequent death in 1580.<ref name="Database">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Database: The Siege of Miki Castle]]</ref> Today, its ruins are protected as a historical site since 2013.<ref name="Wiki"/>

==History==
In 1576, the {{Wiki|Mōri clan}} had openly opposed the [[Oda clan]],<ref name="Database"/> which sought to expand their authority towards Harima. Nagaharu was counted as an ally to [[Oda Nobunaga]] and visited him in [[Kyoto]] many times to assure their alliances. However, in 1578, Nobunaga's commander [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] attacked the Mōri clan in the Chūgoku provinces, which prompted Nagaharu to resist and help the Mōri by shutting himself in Miki Castle. As a result, Hideyoshi enacted a {{Wiki|Siege of Miki|siege}} on the castle that lasted for two years. Doing so, Hideyoshi gained traction by taking over surrounding fortresses and cutting off Nagaharu's provisions. Ultimately, Nagaharu surrendered and he, his wife, and his son committed [[Seppuku|suicide]] in exchange for the lives of the castle's [[soldier]]s.<ref name="Database2">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Database: Bessho Nagaharu]]</ref><ref name="Database"/>

In 1582, a retainer of the Bessho clan, [[Bessho Harumasa]], also known as the Ox, sought to build a resistance against the Oda clan and to claim back his clan's power through bloodshed.<ref name="A Voice in Anger">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[A Voice in Anger]]</ref> After the [[Honnō-ji incident|death]] of Nobunaga at [[Honnō-ji]],<ref name="Temple of the Horseman">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Temple of the Horseman]]</ref><ref name="Database"/> Harumasa and his forces easily took back Miki Castle from the remnants of the Oda clan and kept Hideyoshi's men out.<ref name="A Voice in Anger"/>

Harumasa's actions, however, drew the attention of the [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Kakushiba ''ikki'']] members [[Fujibayashi Naoe]] and [[Yasuke]],<ref name="A Voice in Anger"/> who, along with former Bessho clan [[samurai]] [[Koshiro]] and fellow conscripts, launched an [[Assault on Miki Castle|assault]] on the castle to assassinate Harumasa,<ref name="Broken Horn">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[Broken Horn]]</ref> who happened to be part of the secret organization, the [[Shinbakufu]], and was responsible in the death of Naoe's father, [[Fujibayashi Nagato]].<ref name="The Onyro Samurai">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' – [[The Onryo Samurai]]</ref>

Naoe managed to free Koshiro's remaining fellow conscripts and killed some gunmen, which allowed Yasuke to confront the Ox and his men. When Yasuke challenged to the Ox to a fight, the Ox's right hand, [[The Tsuno]], offered to fight in Harumasa's stead. Yasuke managed to best and kill the Tsuno in combat while Naoe and Koshiro reconvened with him afterwards. After they aided Koshiro and his conscripts to leave to meet with [[Nakamura Tadashige]] at [[Kyokaiji Temple]], they confronted Harumasa further into the castle. Defeating Harumasa, they [[Interrogation|interrogated]] the Ox about the {{Wiki|Magatama|box}} the Shinbakufu took that night in [[Iga]], but Harumasa stated that he knew nothing.<ref name="Broken Horn"/> 

When Naoe asked why he was there that night, Harumasa revealed that it was his first time outside Harima and how he owed the [[Ashikaga Yoshiaki|Tatsu]] his loyalty in exchange for his support in retaking the castle. When Harumasa asked what will happen with his men, the pair promised them freedom of choice, which caused Harumasa to dismiss the notion as ridiculous. Naoe signaled Yasuke to execute Harumasa, who thanked him for a warrior's death. Yasuke then beheaded Harumasa quickly and thus ended the Ox's cause.<ref name="Broken Horn"/> 

At a later point, Naoe and Yasuke returned to the castle, eliminated four ''{{Wiki|ja:侍大将|samurai daisho}}'' and looted the [[Defense Master Headwrap]] from the castle's treasure chest, and climbed atop the ''tenshu'' to [[Viewpoint|survey]] Himeji.<ref name="ACSH">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]''</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
ACSH Miki Castle Map 1.jpg|Concept art of a map of Miki Castle
ACSH Miki Castle 2.jpg|Concept art of Naoe at Miki Castle
ACSH Miki Castle 3.jpg|Concept art of Naoe at Miki Castle
ACSH Miki Castle 4.jpg|Concept art of the Siege of Miki Castle
</gallery>

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Landmarks in Miki]]
[[Category:Residences]]
[[Category:Castles]]