# Nagashima

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{{About|the series of Ikkō-ikki fortresses}}
{{Infobox Military Structure
|name=Nagashima<br />長島
|partof=
|location=near [Nagoya](/source/Nagoya), [Japan](/source/Japan)
| coordinates   = {{coord|35|5|34.5|N|136|41|52.1|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}}
|image=
|caption=
|type=Series of fortifications, incl. a fortified [Buddhist monastery](/source/Buddhist_temples_in_Japan) and pre-[Azuchi-Momoyama period](/source/Azuchi-Momoyama_period) [Japanese castle](/source/Japanese_castle)
|built=1550s–1560s
|builder=[Ito Shigeharu](/source/Ito_Shigeharu) (castle), [Ikkō-ikki](/source/Ikk%C5%8D-ikki) (fortification network)
|materials=Wood, stone, earthworks
|height=
|used=1555–1574
|demolished=1574 by [Oda Nobunaga](/source/Oda_Nobunaga)
|condition=[Ganshō-ji](/source/Gansh%C5%8D-ji) temple is rebuilt; remnants of fortifications are not extant and exact location is unknown
|ownership=
|controlledby=[Ito Shigeharu](/source/Ito_Shigeharu) (c. 1555), [Ikkō-ikki](/source/Ikk%C5%8D-ikki) (late 1550s – 1574)
|garrison=20,000 (incl. civilians)
|commanders=
|occupants=
|battles=[Sieges of Nagashima](/source/Sieges_of_Nagashima) (1571–1574)
|events=
}}

'''{{nihongo|Nagashima|長島|}}''' was a series of fortresses and fortifications controlled by the [Ikkō-ikki](/source/Ikk%C5%8D-ikki), a sect of warrior [monk](/source/monk)s in [Japan](/source/Japan)'s [Sengoku period](/source/Sengoku_period) who opposed samurai rule. It was attacked and destroyed by [Oda Nobunaga](/source/Oda_Nobunaga) in the 1570s. This, combined with the surrender of the Ikki's other main fortress, [Ishiyama Hongan-ji](/source/Ishiyama_Hongan-ji), several years later, ended the threat the Ikko-ikki posed to Nobunaga and other ''[samurai](/source/samurai)'' conquerors.

The fortress was situated on a swampy [delta](/source/river_delta), on the border of [Owari](/source/Owari_Province) and [Ise Province](/source/Ise_Province)s, at the point where three rivers converge, to the southwest of the modern-day city of [Nagoya](/source/Nagoya). Nagashima was in fact a number of smaller fortifications surrounding two primary buildings and not a single fortress. Nagashima Castle was built in 1555 by [Ito Shigeharu](/source/Ito_Shigeharu), and seized by the Ikkō-ikki shortly afterwards, in much the same way they had seized a number of other daimyōs' holdings. The [Ganshō-ji](/source/Gansh%C5%8D-ji) fortified monastery formed the second center of Nagashima's defense.

At one time, the area may have been known as "Nanashima" or "seven islands". It is currently one island between the Kiso and Nagara Rivers, with [Ise Bay](/source/Ise_Bay) at its southern tip.

The Oda clan, which controlled nearby lands, was wary of the Ikki's growing power, and engaged them at Ogie Castle in 1569. The Ikki were victorious, and Nobunaga's brother [Nobuoki](/source/Oda_Nobuoki) was killed. Nobunaga returned to [lay siege to the Ikki's fortress three times](/source/Sieges_of_Nagashima), before finally subduing it in 1574 with the help of the [Kumano Suigun](/source/Kumano_Suigun) (Navy) under the control of the [Kuki family](/source/Kuki_family). He set the wooden structure ablaze, and none of the fortress cathedral's 20,000 inhabitants escaped.

According to the members of the Nagashima Historical Society, none of the main castle of Nagashima survived and its true location is unknown. What is believed to be the most probable location is now the site of a junior high school, which was identified in accordance to written descriptions of the area in the 16th century and what is believed to be an old moat. There is a map at the site, next to the school. The reconstructed castle gate was washed away during the [Isewan Typhoon](/source/Isewan_Typhoon) in 1959. Ganshōji was rebuilt some distance inland. A stone [stupa](/source/stupa) was erected as a memorial to those killed in the burning of the fortress.

==See also==
* [Sieges of Nagashima](/source/Sieges_of_Nagashima)

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* Turnbull, Stephen (2003). ''Japanese Warrior Monks, AD 949–1603''. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.

Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1555
Category:Forts in Japan
Category:Former Buddhist temples in Japan
Category:Former buildings and structures in Japan
Category:1555 establishments in Japan
Category:16th-century fortifications
Category:Military history of Nagoya
Category:Military history of Mie Prefecture
Category:Military history of religion
Category:Owari Province
Category:Ise Province

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nagashima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagashima) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagashima?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.