The Final Years of Hojo Masako, Fighting With an Old Perv (Nun Shogun 5) | History of Japan 71
# Hōjō Masako: The Nun Shogun’s Final Years and Role in the Jōkyū War
## The End of the Minamoto Line
In the final years of Hōjō Masako’s life, the Minamoto family line faced a crisis with the death of the third shogun, Minamoto no Sanetomo. As the son of Masako and the first shogun, Minamoto no Yoritomo, Sanetomo’s assassination marked the end of the leading Minamoto family line. This posed a threat to the Hōjō clan’s influence and power in the shogunate.
## A Strategic Plan
To secure their control over the shogunate, Masako and her brother, Hōjō leader Yoshitoki, devised a plan to influence the succession of the next shogun. They aimed to install a figurehead shogun whom they could control, ultimately settling on the baby son of Retired Emperor Gotoba. Despite the initial plan falling through due to Sanetomo’s death, Masako remained determined to secure a candidate they could manipulate.
## The Rise of Kujō Yoritsune
Masako’s influence led to the nomination of Kujō Yoritsune, a young member of the noble Fujiwara clan, as the next shogun. At just 2 years old, Yoritsune became a puppet shogun under the guidance of the Hōjō clan. Despite delays in his official appointment by Gotoba, Masako and Yoshitoki were content with a figurehead shogun who would uphold their authority.
## The Jōkyū War
In 1221, Retired Emperor Gotoba declared war against the Kamakura shogunate, sparking the Jōkyū War. Masako, known as the Nun Shogun for her influential role, rallied the warriors of the shogunate to march against the imperial capital. Her impassioned speech and strategic advice led to a swift mobilization of forces, culminating in a decisive victory for the Kamakura army.
## The Legacy of Hōjō Masako
Through her political acumen and leadership during the Jōkyū War, Hōjō Masako solidified her reputation as a formidable figure in the shogunate. Despite facing challenges and betrayals, Masako’s legacy as the Nun Shogun endures as a testament to her unwavering dedication to preserving the power of the Hōjō clan in the face of adversity.
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