Kuroi Castle


Kuroi Castle was a castle structure in Tanba, HyōgoHyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Famous as the birthplace of Lady Kasuga, the wet nurse of Tokugawa Iemitsu.
The castle was built by Akamatsu Norisada and later red demon of tanba Akai Naomasa and Akechi Mitsuhide`s general Saitō Toshimitsu improved the defences of the castle.
In 1575, Oda Nobunaga`s vassal Akechi Mitsuhide attempted to seize the castle but failed due to Hatano Hideharu`s relief force arrived from Yakami Castle and attacked the backside of Akechi's army.
In 1577, Kuroi Castle was attacked by Akechi Mitsuhide's army again. This time the castle was isolated therefore Akai clan surrendered in 1579. After the fall of the castle Mitsuhide placed Saitō Toshimitsu as a castle commander.
It has been said that Lady Kasuga was born in the castle in 1579.
After the Battle of Yamazaki in 1582, Toyotomi Hideyoshi placed Horio Yoshiharu as a new castle commander. Kuroi castle is now only ruins, on the present day site, just some Stone walls and earthworks.
The castle was listed as one of the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles in 2017.

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