Kō no Morofuyu facts for kids
Kō no Morofuyu (who died on February 13, 1351) was a very important general for shōgun Ashikaga Takauji. He fought during the Nanboku-chō period, a time when Japan had two rival imperial courts. Morofuyu was a cousin to Moronao and Moroyasu, who were also key generals. Moronao even adopted Morofuyu as his son.
Morofuyu held several important jobs. He was the highest official in Mikawa Province and the governor (called shugo) of Musashi Province. He also served as the Kantō kanrei, a top official in the Kantō region. Sadly, he was defeated by Uesugi Noriaki during a civil war known as the Kannō disturbance. After this defeat, he ended his own life in a traditional Japanese way called seppuku in 1351.
Morofuyu's Military Career
Like many other important people of his time, Morofuyu started his career in 1336. This was at the end of the Kenmu Restoration, a period when the emperor tried to regain power. Morofuyu fought in many battles across Japan. One of his early fights was an attack on Mount Hiei in 1336.
In 1338, he joined his cousin Moroyasu to fight against the forces of the Southern Court in Aonohara. This was in Mino Province. Their goal was to stop Kitabatake Akiie, who was threatening the capital city of Kyoto.
The next year, Morofuyu was made the shitsuji (counselor) for Ashikaga Yoshiakira in the Kantō region. He held this important position until 1344. He was very successful in this role. He fought against the Uesugi clan, who supported Ashikaga Tadayoshi. He also fought against Kitabatake Chikafusa from Hitachi Province, who was a main leader for the Southern Court.
Morofuyu left Kamakura to attack loyalist troops in 1339 and 1340 in Hitachi. He then defeated Chikafusa again in December 1341. In September of the next year, he surrounded and attacked Seki Castle. This was a major fort for the Southern Court. Two years later, in 1343, Chikafusa was forced out of the Kantō and went to Yoshino. During this time, from 1341 to 1344, Morofuyu was also the shugo (governor) of Musashi Province.
Morofuyu was later ordered to return to Kyoto. In 1347, he was sent to Ise Province as its shugo. In this role, he fought several more battles.
The Kannō Disturbance
In 1349, Shogun Takauji sent his son Motouji to the Kantō region. Takauji wanted his other son, Yoshiakira, to return to Kyoto. Motouji's job was to bring stability to the Kantō area and protect Takauji's interests there. Since Motouji was just a child, the real power was held by two shitsuji: Uesugi Noriaki and Morofuyu. These two men were political rivals.
In 1350, a civil war called the Kannō disturbance began. This war saw the two Ashikaga brothers, Takauji and Tadayoshi, fighting against each other. The differences between Noriaki and Morofuyu became even bigger. Morofuyu stayed loyal to Takauji, while Noriaki switched sides and joined Tadayoshi.
In 1351, Morofuyu left Motouji in Kamakura to attack Noriaki. However, Morofuyu was defeated and chased by Noriaki's forces. He then committed seppuku (a ritual way of ending one's life) at Suzawa Castle in Kai Province.
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