Aizu

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Aizu (会津) is a region in northeastern Japan in current day Fukushima Prefecture. During the Edo period, Aizu was a prominent feudal domain in the Tokugawa shogunate.

History

Prehistory to Pre-Kamakura

The region where Aizu stands has historically been long settled, dating as far back as since prehistoric times. Aizu itself formally gains its name upon it being the meeting place of Ohiko and Takenukawa-wake, two generals sent by the legendary Emperor Sujin to subdue native Emishi rebellions in the area. Before the 12th Century, the synonymous capitol Aizu and its surrounding muncipalities were market towns and centers of produce, and a base for regional warlords.

Kamakura Shogunate

Into the Kamakura Era and the Sengoku Jidai Period, Aizu would become a domain valued for its tactical position as a middle point to northern Tohoku and Ura Nippon and a way into the Kanto and Kansei regions within the heart of Japan. After becoming a part of the centralized Kamakura Shogunate, the resultant Minamoto Shogunate in 1192 lead by Minamoto no Yoritomo would grant provincial control to Suwara Yoshitsura of the Miura Clan, whose later descendant, Ashina Morinori, would come to build Tsuruga Castle; initially named Kurokawa Castle, in Aizu in 1384.

Sengoku Jidai

The Sengoku Period saw Aizu and the region undergo a rapid series of political exchanges, mutinies, and battles for its control by prominent daimyo. The last Ashina lord, Ashina Moritaka, died in 1583 by assassination at the hands of Oba Sanzaemon, leading to the control of the domain by the Ashikaga Shogunate allied and Minamoto family stemming Satake Clan. When the Satake Clan installed a twelve year old of their clan and bestowed upon him the name Ashina Morishige to act as lord of Aizu, the remnants of the Ashina Clan regathered by 1589 under the banner of Date Masamune of Sendai in rebellion against the Satake, leading to the Battle of Aizu of 1589. During this, Date Masamune quickly mutinied and proclaimed his control over the region, driving out the Satake Clan and annihilating the Ashina Clan. Date Masamune would then renovate Kurokawa Castle and rechristen it Tsuruga Castle. Despite such victory, Date Masamune's ownership of Aizu would be shortlived, surrendering the region to the newly risen Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1590. Toyotomi Hideyoshi would then bestow rulership of the region to Gamo Ujisato. Ujisato would then rechristen the main town of Aizu to Aizuwakamatsu.

Battle of Sekigahara

Upon Gamo Ujisato's untimely death by illness in 1594, Aizu was under administrative control under the Toyotomi until 1600, when new rulership would be granted to Uesegi Kagekatsu, the adopted son of Uesegi Kenshin, by his loyalties to the Toyotomi against the rise of the Tokugawa, being the start of the Battle of Sekigahara and the final battle of the Sengoku Period. Upon the defeat of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his forces, Uesegi Kagekatsu would be relinquished of his lordship and sent to Yonezawa for his past allegiances by his defeat by Date Masamune and and Mogami Yoshiaki, who by then were made Tokugawa Ieyasu's generals. Aizu would be given back to the Gamo Clan to Gamo Ujisato's son Gamo Hideyuki, but would also be befallen by illness and passed away in 1612.

Tokugawa Shogunate

Aizu would see its prosperity and prominence upon being granted to Hoshina Masayuki, the illegitimate son of the second Tokugawa Shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, and adopted son of the Hoshina Clan, who would be formally recognized as a branch of the Tokugawa family by their deed, becoming known as the Matsudaira Clan. Aizu would become a center of agriculture and produce at the southern base of Mutsu Province and the Tohoku region by government agricultural campaigns to reinvigorate the soil for increased yields, the produce reserve storehouse of the Imperial Household and the Shogunate, and a center of education, martial arts, and refinement throughout Japan.

Bakumatsu

In the Bakumatsu era, the daimyo of Aizu was Matsudaira Katamori. Aizu was also the birthplace of Japanese Assassins Nakano Takeko and Shiba Atsuko, who fought in the Boshin War to stop the Templars from restoring the authority of the Imperial Court.

Aizu maintained its standing with the Tokugawa Shogunate, although Matsudaira sought for cohesion and united confederation of the Imperial Court and the Shogunate against the growing threat of western powers. Aizu would nevertheless be willing to act as backup forces within Kyoto as military security by the threat of Imperialist rebellions, with Matsudaira made the Tokugawa Shugoshoku of Kyoto and sponsoring support of the newly reformed Imperial police force, the Shinsengumi.

Soon after the Battle of Toba-Fushimi and the dethroning of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Aizu the setting for one of the most important battles of the Boshin War, the Battle of Aizu.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Fragments – The Blade of Aizu