門司城／アクセス・場所・地図毛利元就と大友宗麟の間で争った激戦地門司城【お城特集日本の歴史】

Moji Castle[Castle special collection Japanese history]

[Castle name]
Moji Castle
The place where Mouri Motonari and Otomo Sorin fought

[Description]
Moji Castle is a mountain castle located in Kojyo Mountain, Moji Districe, Kyushu City, Fukuoka Province.According to the biography, the castle was built by [Kii 通資], who was the vassal of [Taira Tomomori] in Genreki 2 year (1185).

Kencho 7 year (1255), when Fujiwara Chikanobu entered the castle as an officer in Buzen, he changed his name to Moji. When entering North and South Dynasties, Moji Castle was divided into two. [Moji Chikataka] governed the North, and [Moji Chikayori] of Saruhami Castle governed the South.

Eikyo 2 year (1430), [Akizuki Taneharu] and [Harada Nobuasa] was ordered by Mr.Ouchi and attacked Moji Castle. However, they returned to Mr. Ouchi’s castle soon. Tenmon 19 year (1551), when Ouchi Yoshitaka’s vassal Sue Harukata betrayed, Suo and Nagato Country were disturbed, Mouri Motonari won [Itsukusima Battle] and successfully controlled Mr. Ouchi.

For the stabilization of the country, Motonari signed a Treaty of non-aggression with Otomo Sorin, put efforts into the management of the territory. Eiroku 1 year (1558), [Kobayakawa Takakage] was the senior general and attacked the castle. He successfully captured the castle and appointed [Niho Takayasu] as the castle officer.

Eiroku 4 year (1561), Bekki Akitsura, Tahara Chikakata, Usuki Akisumi and others attacked Moji Castle by the order of Otomo Sorin, and Mr. Mouri was defeated. During Sengoku Era, the castle was ruled by Mr. Mouri but in Keicho 5 year (1600), Mouri Terumoto was defeated by Tokugawa Ieyasu in Sekigahara Battle, he lost his influence by only being the Daimyo of Suo and Nagato.

After Sekigahara Battle, [Hosokawa Tadaoki] entered Buzen Country, renovated the castle and [Nagaoka Kageyu] was the castle officer. But in Kanwa 3 year (1617), Moji Castle was abandoned. Meiji 25 year (1892), because Japan Navy built border, the castle remainings almost have nothing left, only a part of stones can be seen.