Karatsu Domain (唐津 土間員), located in Hizen Province, was a prominent feudal domain that held authority over the region. The ruling family's residence, known as Karatsu Castle, was situated in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture. As the seat of power, Karatsu Castle served as a symbol of the domain's influence and played a crucial role in governing the surrounding territories. The domain's rule over Karatsu and its strategic location in Hizen Province contributed to its significance in the feudal era.[1][2][3]
| Karatsu Domain 唐津藩 | |
|---|---|
| Domain of Japan | |
| 1593–1871 | |
 Mon of the Ogasawara clan | |
 Donjon of Karatsu Castle | |
| Capital | Karatsu Castle |
| Government | |
| • Type | Daimyō |
| Daimyō | |
• 1593-1633 | Terazawa Hirotaka (first) |
• 1840-1871 | Ogasawara Nagakuni (last) |
| Historical era | Edo period |
• Established | 1593 |
• Disestablished | 1871 |
| Today part of | Saga Prefecture |
History edit
Terazawa Hirotaka was a loyal servant of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and played a significant role during the Bunroku War in 1592. Specifically, he worked as a construction worker for Hizen Nagoya Castle and was responsible for managing logistics. In recognition of his contributions, Hideyoshi granted him a commission that included Nagoya in 1593. Additionally, Hirotaka was appointed as the Nagasaki Magistrate and given control over approximately 83,000 koku in the entire Matsuura District. He further showcased his capabilities during the Keicho era by actively participating in Korea. Hirotaka's allegiance to the eastern army in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 led to remarkable achievements, resulting in him being rewarded with an additional 40,000 koku in the Amakusa District, Higo Province. This elevated his status to that of a feudal lord with a fief of 123,000 koku, marking the pinnacle of his success. However, following Hirotaka's death, his successor Terazawa Katataka faced challenges during the Shimabara Rebellion. The rebellion spread to Amakusa, and although Katataka was not as strict as Matsukura Katsuie, he implemented harsh policies within his fiefdom. Consequently, the shogunate held him responsible for the rebellion and confiscated his 40,000 koku in Amakusa. Overwhelmed by the stress, Katataka committed suicide. As he had no heir, the Terazawa clan faced a decline in their fortunes.
Several families were rotated through Karatsu for the next century: two generations of the Ōkubo clan; three generations of the Ogyū-Matsudaira clan, four generations of the Doi clan, and four of the Mizuno clan, including the famous reformer Mizuno Tadakuni. The domain then passed into the hands of Ogasawara Nagamasa,[4] whose family remained until Karatsu domain was abolished in 1871. During the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration of 1868-69, Ogasawara Nagamichi, the de facto ruler of Karatsu, led a group of his retainers on the side of the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei; after the fall of this alliance he went to Ezo and fought under the forces of the Ezo Republic. At the same time, Karatsu's domain-based administration was forced to pledge military support to the Satchō Alliance of Emperor Meiji.
Ogasawara Naganari, the Meiji period Imperial Japanese Navy admiral, was a descendant of the Ogasawara branch which ruled Karatsu.
List of daimyō edit
Name Tenure Courtesy title Court Rank Kokudaka 
Terazawa clan, 1593 - 1647 (Tozama daimyo)1 Terazawa Hirotaka (寺沢広高) 1593 - 1633 Shima-no-kami Junior 4th Rank Lower Grade (従四位下) 83,000 → 123,000 koku 2 Terazawa Katataka (寺沢堅高) 1633 - 1647 Hyogoto (兵庫頭) Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade (従五位下) 123,000 koku 
Ōkubo clan, 1649 - 1678 (Tozama daimyo)1 Ōkubo Tadamoto (大久保忠職) 1649 – 1670 Kaga-no-kami Junior 4th Rank Lower Grade (従四位下) 83,000 koku 2 Ōkubo Tadatomo (大久保忠朝) 1670 – 1678 Kaga-no-kami Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade (従五位下) 83,000 koku 
Matsudaira clan, 1678 - 1691 (Tozama daimyo)1 Matsudaira Norihisa (松平乗久) 1678 – 1686 Izumi-no-kami Junior 4th Rank Lower Grade (従四位下) 70,000 koku 2 Matsudaira Noriharu (松平乗春) 1686 – 1690 Izumi-no-kami Junior 4th Rank Lower Grade (従四位下) 70,000 koku 3 Matsudaira Norisato (松平乗邑) 1690–1691 Izumi-no-kami Junior 4th Rank Lower Grade (従四位下) 60,000 koku 
Doi clan, 1678 - 1691 (Fudai daimyo)1 Doi Toshimasu (土井利益) 1691 – 1713 Suo-no-kami Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade (従五位下) 70,000 koku 2 Doi Toshizane (土井利実) 1713 – 1736 Oito (大炊頭) Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade (従五位下) 70,000 koku 3 Doi Toshinobu (土井利延) 1736 – 1744 Oito (大炊頭) Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade (従五位下) 70,000 koku 4 Doi Toshisato (土井利里) 1744 – 1762 Oito (大炊頭) Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade (従五位下) 70,000 koku 
Mizuno clan, 1762 - 1817 (Fudai daimyo)1 Mizuno Tadatō (水野忠任) 1762 – 1775 Izumi-no-kami Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade (従五位下) 60,000 koku 2 Mizuno Tadakane (水野忠鼎) 1775 – 1805 Ukonoefu (左近将監) Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade (従五位下) 60,000 koku 3 Mizuno Tadaaki (水野忠光) 1805 – 1812 Izumi-no-kami Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade (従五位下) 60,000 koku 4 Mizuno Tadakuni (水野忠邦) 1812 – 1817 Echizen-no-kami, Rōjū Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade (従五位下) 60,000 koku 
Ogasawara clan, 1817 - 1871 (Fudai daimyo)1 Ogasawara Nagamasa (小笠原長昌) 1817 – 1823 Tomoro-no-tsukasa(主殿頭) Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade (従五位下) 60,000 koku 2 Ogasawara Nagayasu (小笠原長泰) 1823 – 1833 Iki-no-kami Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade (従五位下) 60,000 koku 3 Ogasawara Nagao (小笠原長会) 1833 – 1836 Noto-no-kami Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade (従五位下) 60,000 koku 4 Ogasawara Nagakazu (小笠原長和) 1836 – 1840 Sado-no-kami Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade (従五位下) 60,000 koku 5 Ogasawara Nagakuni (小笠原長国) 1840 – 1871 Nakatsukasa daiyū (中務大輔) Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade (従五位下) 60,000 koku
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Ph.D, Constantine Nomikos Vaporis (2019-03-14). Samurai: An Encyclopedia of Japan's Cultured Warriors. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 979-8-216-14151-8.
- ^ Yamakawa, Kikue; Nakai, Kate Wildman (2001). Women of the Mito Domain: Recollections of Samurai Family Life. Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-3149-2.
- ^ Ikeo, Aiko (2014-04-03). A History of Economic Science in Japan: The Internationalization of Economics in the Twentieth Century. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-74753-6.
- ^ Rein, Japan, p. 521.
Further reading edit
- Bolitho, Harold. (1974). Treasures Among Men: The Fudai Daimyo in Tokugawa Japan. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-01655-0; OCLC 185685588
- Rein, Johannes (1884). Japan: Travels and Researches Undertaken at the Cost of the Prussian Government. New York: A.C. Armstrong & Son.
External links edit
- "Karatsu" at Edo 300 (in Japanese)