Persona Biography of Lord Hiromoto Katayama Takazumi

(13th Century Samurai)

The Mongol Invasions: A Brief History

By the year 1273, Kublai, the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, had sent several emissaries to Japan demanding submission to his authority and the payment of tribute. After all demands had been refused, the last having resulted in the Mongol emissary losing his head, Kublai grew tired of the game and declared his intentions to invade. In the months that followed, a great force of Mongolian, Chinese and Korean soldiers and sailors was assembled in preparation of that invasion. By the time the Khan was assembling his forces, the Japanese were well aware an invasion was imminent and had begun taking measures of their own.

In mid-November, 1274, the Khan’s expeditionary force appeared in the bay off Hakozaki in Chikuzen Provnice. The next day, they landed at Hakata Bay. News of the invasion was quickly dispatched to both the Bakufu (Military Government) in Kamakura and the Court in Kyoto by the Chinzei Bugyo (Western Defense Commissioner). Samurai were immediately dispatched to repel the barbarian invaders. Shoni Tsunetsugu was in charge of the whole area at the time, while Satsuma warrior Shimazu Hisatsune was given the task of defending Hakozaki. Meanwhile, in both Kamakura and Kyoto, prayers were being said to the Gods of Japan for divine intervention.

For the first two days, fighting was fierce. However, on the night of the second day a storm began brewing. On the advice of his Korean seamen (who had considerable experience sailing to and from Japan) the Mongol commander gave the order for a general re-embarkation. In the resulting storm, the majority of the Khan’s fleet was sunk one way or another. Those soldiers and sailors that survived gave up the invasion and returned home.

The Bakufu knew the Mongols would not settle for having been beaten by the Gods of Japan and began preparing for a second invasion. Defensive works were constructed at Hakata Bay, sight of the first invasion landing. The Bakufu further urged Kyushu samurai to make their way to the region in expectation of another invasion.

It took the Khan seven years to recover from the first invasion attempt and construct a second expeditionary force. This time, the Khan would send an even larger force than the first one. In the summer of 1281, Mongol warships loomed off the coast of Japan. Their second attempt at invasion was initially more successful than the first, as the Mongols were able to establish a toe-hold.
While Kyushu samurai were fighting valiantly in defense of their country, prayers were being said in both Kamakura and Kyoto (as well as across the country itself). Again, the assistance of the Gods was sought in dispatching the barbarian invaders.

For several weeks, the defense of Japan was in question. More than once the Mongol’s were able to create a hole in the Japanese lines of defense. However, each time, the samurai defenders would close the breach. It wasn’t until the weather turned nasty again, that the Mongols were in trouble. As could easily have been foreseen, a typhoon brewed off the coast of Kyushu and again wiped out the majourity of the Khan’s fleet. Once again, divine intervention had saved Japan from falling to the invaders. Were it not for the Wind of the Gods (Kamikaze), the country might well have been lost.

Lord Hiromoto’s Involvement in The Mongol Invasions

“Shimazu-ke ni Satsuma no Hiromoto Katayama Takazumi tote, hitori atari sen no tsuwamono zoya. Ware to omohamu hitobito wa yoriai ya, kenzan semu” ( "I am Lord Hiromoto Katayama Takazumi of Satsuma Province. To the House of Shimazu I am worth one hundred men. If any of you feel you are my equal, advance and meet me.") is the challenge I have issued to many samurai unfortunate enough to think themselves my equal. To their credit, each and every warrior that accepted my challenge has, thus far, died an honourable death.

My name is Lord Hiromoto Katayama Takazumi, lifelong retainer to the Shimazu Clan of Satsuma Province. I was born in November 1251, the only son of Hiromoto Kageyama. My mother died of illness shortly after my birth. My father, his father before him and their father before them were all retainers of the Shimazu. Serving as a retainer to the Shimazu was indeed a family tradition, one that was a source of great pride to my family. Naturally, as the youngest member of a warrior family, I was taught the Ways of the Bow and Sword as well as the Ways of the Spear and Halbred. However, my Father, being the insightful individual he was, was wise enough to see that I was taught by Buddhist monks to read and write. Though a literate family, we were known more for our prowess as warriors than for being men of letters.

Once I had reached the appropriate age, I was given permission to serve the Shimazu. At the age of sixteen, I was sent with other Shimazu samurai to quell a small scale rebellion in the northern part of Satsuma Province. It was there that I discovered my preference for the Sword. Though I was a proficient archer as was required by my Liege, it always seemed that slaying an adversary with a well placed arrow was not as honourable as fighting him face to face and removing his head. During a very small scale skirmish, I took my first head, proudly presenting it to the Chieftain of my clan.

In the year 1274, western barbarians attempted to invade my homeland. As the Court in Kamakura was well aware an invasion was imminent, my Lord Shimazu Hisatsune was sent to Hakozaki in Chikuzen Province to prepare a defense. I was one of many Shimazu samurai that accompanied Lord Shimazu. In February of that year, barbarian forces landed near Hakata Bay. Initially, it seemed that we samurai would be slaughtered as the barbarians mass warfare tactics were completely foreign to us. We were used to issuing challenges and fighting individual combat. Our warriors nearly panicked when our adversary advanced in one massive formation toward us. After a brief battle that resulted in the deaths of many more samurai than barbarians, Lord Shimazu withdrew our forces to a safe place, where we were forced to rethink our defense. It was very clear that the Ways of the Horse and Bow would not suffice to save Kyushu from being overrun. As distasteful as it was to us, we were forced to adopt tactics similar to our enemy to ensure the survival of our army. Much to my surprise, many of our warriors took well to this style of warfare. It was during the ensuing battles that I came to appreciate the sword at my side. Far better a death it is when a warrior is able to look his opponent in the eye before taking his head. In the days following the invasion, we fought many battles. In defense of my country, I was fortunate enough to take many heads, several belonging to barbarian commanders of some rank. Though we samurai were adapting to the tactics of our barbarian opponents, the success of our defense was constantly in question. Our opponent’s army was a considerably larger force than our own. When reports of our failing defense were sent to the Bakufu (the military government) they ordered prayers made to the Gods. Were it not for the savage storm sent by the Gods, the invaders might not have been defeated.

Once the immediate threat of invasion had been subsided, I returned to my family home in Kagoshima. Shortly after my return, I was summoned to Kamakura along with 119 other select samurai. There, as a reward service to my Lord and, more importantly to my country, I was promoted in rank and instructed to use the title Lord. Upon my return to Kyushu, I was called to Court before Lord Shimazu. During this audience, my efforts in repelling the barbarians was recognized. I was then instructed to return to the Hakata Bay region to assist with the construction of defensive fortifications where I would answer directly to the Western Defense Commission in Daizufu.

In celebration of my exemplary service to our Lord Shimazu, my father abdicated his position as head of our household and took orders, favoring the monastic life over that of a warrior. As his only heir, I became the head of our house.

When I reported to the Western Defense Commissioner in Daizufu, I was immediately pressed into service. In a letter signed by Lord Shimazu himself, I was given command of three ten man squads. We were given instructions to report to Hakata Bay and assist with the construction of defensive works there. During my tenure with the Western Defense Commission, I was called upon several times to quell minor upheavals in the countryside near Hakata Bay and Daizufu

During the middle of May the following year (1275) I heard rumor that a barbarian ambassador had landed in Nagato Province. It was said that the foreigner was taken swiftly to Kamakura where his demands for tribute to his King resulted in his untimely death. It was then that I realized Japan had not seen the last of the barbarians. Like many other samurai in the service of the Shimazu and Western Defense Commission, I kept a watchful eye on the seas. As time allowed, my men and I trained for the impending invasion.

Early the next year, the Court in Kyoto called for volunteers willing to be part of an expeditionary force into Koryo (Korea). Better it would be for us to invade their lands than to wait for them to invade our home again is what we were told. Hearing of our impending attack upon the barbarians, I eagerly volunteered. Unfortunately the Court reconsidered and the expedition was canceled. Those samurai that realized a second invasion was imminent resigned themselves to wait patiently for the barbarians to reappear.

After several years, our patience was rewarded. In June of 1281, the barbarian fleet breached the horizon. Immediately a call to arms was issued and samurai from all over Kyushu reported for their part in the defense of their country. Though the barbarian invasion was expected, the enormity of their fleet was not. This time, the barbarians had brought a force considerably larger than their first army. Much to the dismay of our opponents, the defensive works we had constructed in the bay held well and stalled their advance. This allowed our samurai to harass them from small craft almost constantly. Once the barbarians resigned themselves to the fact landing their army would mean the loss of many of their soldiers, they invaded. Much to our dismay, they were able to advance slowly inland. It goes without saying that many samurai died a valiant and honourable death in defense of their country.

During the weeks that followed, my men and I had the distinct pleasure of fighting alongside our Liege Lords Shimazu Hisatsune and Shimazu Sadahisa. With such a large expeditionary force making their way ashore, it was not hard for we samurai to find opponents more than willing to die by our blades and arrows. As with the first invasion, I was able to take many heads and present them to my Lords.

When a second expeditionary force appeared on the horizon two months later, we samurai knew there would be trouble. Although the barbarians second army was not as large as the first, we knew time was not on our side. Our forces were stretched extremely thin and re-enforcements were slow to arrive. The Western Defense Commissioner, Shoni Tsunetsugu pressed Kamakura constantly for more men and supplies. Unfortunately for those of us charged with repelling the invasion, the Court was slow to respond. It was not until our requests took on a desperate tone that they took to heart the notion that our country may be lost to the western barbarians. The Court’s response was not what we had hoped for. The Bakufu, although they ordered reenforcements sent to all fronts, more importantly called for prayers to be made to the Gods of Japan. It was assumed that since the Gods had intervened once previously to repel the invaders that they would do so again. To our great surprise, the Gods responded to the prayers offered them. Shortly thereafter, a tremendous storm began brewing offshore. This was the barbarians undoing as the Gods all but annihilated their forces with a storm of epic proportion. Those few soldiers that did survive were just able to return to their country. Were it not for the Kamikaze (God’s Wind), our country would have surely been overrun by the western barbarians. Naturally, great rejoicing followed the barbarian’s departure.

Late the following year (1282) I returned to my home in Kagoshima having been called to Court by Shimazu Hisatsune. During this audience I was commended by my Lord for having fought valiantly by his side and made an example of for others to follow. However, much to my surprise, I was given nothing in reward for my efforts. Following days of contemplation on the matter, I resigned myself to the fact that Lord Shimazu’s praise was reward enough for my efforts. I further decided that having been able to present the heads of several barbarian commanders was reward in and of itself.

At the beginning of 1283, Lord Shimazu Sadahisa, acting on behalf of his father, Hisatsune, ordered me to return to Hakozaki and assist with the repair and maintenance of the Hakata Bay defensive works. Mindful of my duty to the Shimazu, I returned immediately. Like many other samurai, I suspected the barbarians would not settle for being twice beaten by the Gods of Japan. While working and living in the Hakozaki region, I was ever watchful for the first signs of a third invasion. During the months that passed, I was called upon many times to quell the minor military actions of upstart clan chieftains.

During the years that followed the second barbarian invasion attempt, the Bakufu was slow to reward those involved in keeping the invaders at bay through various military actions. As was custom, the Courts usually gave reward to those who had been instrumental in successful military campaigns. Certainly the Churches of Japan should be amply rewarded, after all they were the ones that called upon the Gods to vanquish the invaders. However, the Bakufu were exceptionally slow in their acknowledgment of samurai instrumental in keeping the barbarians from furthering their military designs. Needless to say, I was quite disappointed when the Court at Kamakura proclaimed in 1286 that no further rewards would be forthcoming. Those samurai, like myself, who thought themselves to be deserving of a reward were instructed to petition our Liege Lords. It wasn’t until I heard other samurai from Satsuma Province had petitioned Shimazu Sadahisa for reward that I considered pressing the point further.

As a result of my petition to Lord Shimazu, I was again promoted in rank. I was further given clear title to a small estate on the outskirts of Kagoshima. I was also ordered to return to Hakozaki and await a third barbarian invasion attempt.

At the current time, I serve my Lord Shimazu Sadahisa by keeping a watchful eye on the seas surrounding Kyushu. If the western barbarians are foolish enough to attempt a third invasion, I will certainly be at the forefront of the defense against them. I will eagerly fulfill my duty to my Lord and my country by wielding my blade against all invaders who cross my path.

"Shimazu-ke ni Satsuma no Hiromoto Katayama Takazumi tote, hitori atari sen no tsuwamono zoya. Ware to omohamu hitobito wa yoriai ya, kenzan semu." ( "I am Lord Hiromoto Katayama Takazumi of Satsuma Province. To the House of Shimazu I am worth one hundred men. If any of you feel you are my equal, advance and meet me." ) is the challenge I will issue as the first invaders set foot on our shores. If they are fortunate, theirs will be an honorable death.

Bibliography

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Turnbull, Stephen R. (1989) Samurai Warlords - The Book of the Daimyo. Blandford Press.