Sassa Narimasa

Sassa Narimasa (佐々 成政, February 6, 1536 – July 7, 1588), also known as Kura-no-suke (内蔵助), was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku through Azuchi–Momoyama period.[1] He entered Nobunaga's service at the age of 14 and remained in his lord's service throughout Nobunaga's rise to power.

Sassa Narimasa 佐々 成政
Sassa Narimasa
Nickname(s)	Kura-no-suke
Born	February 6, 1536 Nishi-ku, Nagoya, Owari Province, Japan
Died	July 7, 1588 (aged 52)
Allegiance	Oda clan Tokugawa clan Toyotomi clan
Unit	Oda clan
Battles/wars	Siege of Inabayama Battle of Anegawa Battle of Nagashino Battle of Tedorigawa Battle of Arakawa Siege of Uozu Siege of Suemori Siege of Toyama
Spouse(s)	Jikoin (wife) Sayuri (concubine)

Early life

Sassa Narimasa's Tonsure Monument

Sassa Narimasa was born to Sassa Morimasa. He was born in what is now Nishi-ku, Nagoya (situated in contemporary Aichi District, Owari Province). He became a retainer of Oda Nobunaga in 1550.[1] Narimasa was noted for his ability to lead matchlock forces, a position he regularly held.

Military life

Narimasa served Nobunaga throughout the latter’s career. In 1567, he fought in the Siege of Inabayama Castle against Saito Tatsuoki from Saitō clan.

He was present at the Battle of Anegawa in 1570 againts Azai clan and Asakura clan, where he was in the rear guard.

In 1575, Narimasa fought at Battle of Nagashino againts Takeda Katsuyori from Takeda clan. Later, he was given Komaru Castle in Echizen, where he had recently helped put down rioting Ikkō-ikki, and became a member of the so-called Sanninshu (Echizen Triumvir) along with Maeda Toshiie and Fuwa Mitsuharu.

In 1577, he participated in the Battle of Tedorigawa against Uesugi Kenshin from the Uesugi clan.

In 1581, he defended Toyama Castle against Kawada Nagayori in the Battle of Arakawa.

In 1582, he and Shibata Katsuie successfully laid siege to Uozu against Uesugi Kagekatsu from the Uesugi clan.[2] He was granted Etchū Province as a reward for helping Shibata Katsuie fight the Uesugi clan. Later in 1582, after Oda Nobunaga's death at Honnō-ji, Narimasa joined Tokugawa Ieyasu.

In 1584, during the battle of Komaki Nagakute, he and the Tokugawa alliance unsuccessfully challenged Toyotomi force under Maeda Toshiie at the Siege of Suemori.

In 1585, He was defeated againts Toyotomi Hideyoshi at Siege of Toyama, and later Narimasa submitted to Hideyoshi and his life was spared.

In 1587, after Kyushu Campaign, he was given a fief in Higo Province in Kyushu.

Sassa Narimasa (1536–1588) battle standard, left

Death

In 1588, However due to difficulties in suppressing a local revolt, he committed suicide (seppuku) by Hideyoshi's instruction.[1]

Narimasa's daughter Teruko married kuge Takatsukasa Nobufusa and they had a son, Nobuhisa and a daughter, Takako.[3][4]

Family

• Father: Sassa Morimasa
• Siblings:
  • Sassa Magosuke (distinguished as one of the Seven Spears of Azukizaka. Died in Battle of Inabugahara against Oda Nobuyuki; 1556)
  • Sassa "Hayato no Kami" Masatsugu (distinguished as one of the Seven Spears of Azukizaka. Died in battle of Okehazama; 1560)
• Wife: Haruhime later Jiko-in
• Children:
  • Matsuchiyomaru (died in third siege of Nagashima in 1574)
  • Teruko (d. 1630), who married Takatsukasa Nobufusa
• Concubine: Sayuri

Notes

1. 佐々成政資料館 Archived 2007-01-17 at the Wayback Machine
2. Turnbull, Stephen (2000). The Samurai Sourcebook. London: Cassell & C0. pp. 228, 230–231. ISBN 1854095234.
3. 鷹司家（摂家） Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
4. japan world

See also

• Battle of Nagashino[1]

1. Turnbull, Stephen (1977). The Samurai. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. pp. 156–160. ISBN 9780026205405.