Battle of Okitanawate
Shimabara, Kyushu, Japan
What happened
The Arima clan under Arima Harunobu and the Shimazu under Shimazu Iehisa fought the much larger army of Ryūzōji Takanobu. Ryūzōji Takanobu had been attacking the smaller clans around him, including the Arima. Arima Harunobu asked the Shimazu for help, and their armies besieged Shimabara. When Takanobu marched to relieve it, the allies pretended to retreat, then struck his main force, and Takanobu fell.
Why it matters
Why it matters: Ryūzōji Takanobu, a powerful lord who had been attacking the smaller clans around him, fell. A small alliance had beaten a much larger army.
What came next
Harunobu, a Christian, believed the victory came from divine help. In thanks he gave the town of Urakami to the Jesuits, and it became a Christian town.
Did you know?
The Arima used large-calibre guns mounted on boats to harass the enemy along the coast.
Timeline
- 1579Arima Harunobu is baptised.
- 3 May 1584The allies win at Okitanawate.