Gifu Castle
| Gifu Castle | |
|---|---|
| 岐阜城 | |
| Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan | |
Gifu Castle
|
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| Coordinates | 35°26′02″N 136°46′56″E / 35.43389°N 136.78222°ECoordinates: 35°26′02″N 136°46′56″E / 35.43389°N 136.78222°E |
| Type | Mountaintop castle |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Reconstruction |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1201 |
| Built by | Nikaidō clan |
| In use | 12th–16th centuries |
| Materials |
unknown (original) reinforced concrete (current) |
| Demolished | 1600 |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders |
Oda Nobunaga |
| Occupants | Saitō clan, Oda clan |
Gifu Castle (岐阜城 Gifu-jō?) is a castle located in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Along with Mount Kinka and the Nagara River, it is one of the main symbols of the city.
Gifu Castle was first built by the Nikaidō clan between 1201 and 1204 during the Kamakura Period. Originally called Inabayama Castle (稲葉山城 Inabayama-jō), Gifu Castle has gone through a great number of repairs over the course of several generations. Even though it was famous as a physically powerful castle, it was once taken over by a mere sixteen men.
During the Sengoku period a samurai by the name of Takenaka Hanbei went to the castle, ostensibly to visit his sick brother. In reality, he went to the castle not to visit his brother but to kill Saitō Tatsuoki, the lord of castle. When Hanbei struck at him, Tatsuoki was very confused—believing an enemy army had come to attack him—and fled. Thus, Hanbei obtained Inabayama Castle with relative ease. Later, Hanbei returned the castle to his lord, but Tatsuoki had lost an immeasurable amount of reputation and honor due to his perceived cowardly flight from the castle.
In 1567, Oda Nobunaga launched an attack on Mino Province from Sunomata Castle, led his forces across the Kiso River, and marched straight to the castle town of Inoguchi (now Gifu city) attracting the support of many Sato retainers along the way. Nobunaga laid siege to Inabayama Castle on 13 September. Even though the defenders were demoralized to see the banners of Saito retainers among the attacking army, the mountaintop castle was still in a nearly impregnable position. The siege took about two weeks. Near the end of the siege, Nobunaga's retainer Kinoshita Tōkichirō led a small party up the steep cliffs of Mount Kinka, entered the castle from the unguarded rear, and opened the front gates, allowing the attacking forces to enter. After Tatsuoki was defeated, Nobunaga claimed the castle and made it his primary base-of-operations.
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