相馬中村藩／相馬家６万石：相馬誠胤奥羽越列藩同盟に参加し仙台藩・米沢藩と共に新政府軍と交戦したが早々に恭順した相馬中村藩【幕末維新写真館】

Soma Nakamura Castle[The feature on the castles; Japanese history]

相馬中村藩／場所・アクセス・地図相馬家６万石：相馬誠胤奥羽越列藩同盟に参加し仙台藩・米沢藩と共に新政府軍と交戦したが早々に恭順した相馬中村藩【幕末維新写真館】

[Castle name]
Soma Nakamura Castle
Soma Yoshitane moved to this castle to prepare for an attack of Date Masamune.

[Description]
Soma Nakamura Castle used to stand in Nakamura, Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture.
It is confusing with Nakamura Castle of the Ichijo family in Tosa, so we call it Soma Nakamura Castle to make it clear.

In the 6th year of the Eiroku period (A.D.1563), in the middle of the Warring States period, Soma Moritane expanded his territory in Namekata District, Mutsu Province. However, Iwaki Tsunetaka from the south, and Date Terumune and Date Masamune from the north put gradually increasing pressure on his territory.

Then he built Nakamura Castle in the north of his home Odaka Castle to prepare for the Date family. Even after that Masamune attacked hard, but there were no winner. At that time, Toyotomi Hideyoshi started Hojo Conquest in Kanto.

Masamune stopped attacking the Soma family to judge what to do seriously. After all, Masamune joined Hideyoshi as his retainer. The Soma family did so, too. Later on, Moritane’s grandson Toshitane moved to Nakamura Castle. He set it main base and established Soma Nakamura Domain.

After Tokugawa Ieyasu got all Japan, Soma Nakamura Domain officially admitted with 60000 kokus estate. Toshitane repaired the castle and developped the castle town. Then Nakamura Castle became an early modern style castle.

However, in the 10th year of the Kanbun period (A.D.1670), it was hit by a thunder and the castle tower burned out. It was never rebuilt. At the end of the Edo period, Soma Domain joined the Oetsu-reppan alliance. Soma Nakamura Castle was attacked by Meiji Government and surrendered.