Database: Harima

Harima province was not only a fertile region with vast plains facing the Inland Sea (Seto-naikai), but also a key intersection of sea and land routes, connecting the central region to the west. This area was controlled by the Hojo family, who held the supreme power in Japan during the Kamakura period.

Under the Muromachi shogunate, the descendants of Akamatsu Enshin (a small Harima lord who played an active role in supporting the first shogun) became feudal lords. In the early 16th century, their lord was only a young man and was under the care of the widow of the former Akamatsu chief, making her one of the few de facto female feudal lords. In order to keep her authority, she later replaced the young lord with his own heir: an 8-year-old boy. However, due to conflicts with vassals and divisions within the family, the Akamatsu gradually lost their power, and the province of Harima became divided among powerful warriors.

In 1568, Oda Nobunaga entered Kyoto with Ashikaga Yoshiaki, then immediately subdued these warriors, taking control of Harima province. However, when Yoshiaki severed ties with Nobunaga and entered Mori territory in 1576 to seek protection, the Mori forces subsequently invaded Harima. The following year, Nobunaga sent Hashiba Hideyoshi to Harima, where he conquered the region in 1580, despite a period of rebellion by Bessho Nagaharu at Miki Castle.