Sieges of Kuromaru

Battle of Fujishima
Part of the Nanboku-chō Wars
Fujishima Shrine monument to where Nitta Yoshisada's helmet was found
Date August 1338 Location Near Kuromaru fortress, Echizen Province, Japan 36°5′17.84″N 136°12′33.43″E / 36.0882889°N 136.2092861°E / 36.0882889; 136.2092861 Result Northern Court victory
Belligerents
Northern Court	Southern Court
Commanders and leaders
Hosokawa Akiuji	Nitta Yoshisada †
Strength
Unknown	50 horse
class=notpageimage| Location within Fukui Prefecture Show map of Fukui Prefecture Sieges of Kuromaru (Japan) Show map of Japan

The Kuromaru (黒丸), or "Black Fortress", was a fortress of the Kanrei Shiba Takatsune located in Echizen Province (present-day Nittazuka, Fukui, Fukui Prefecture) in the Hokuriku region of Japan. It was attacked twice during the Nanboku-chō Wars of the 14th century, during which it was likely both built and destroyed.

The fortress was first attacked in August 1338 by a small force under Nitta Yoshisada, numbering roughly fifty horse, in what would come to be known as the Battle of Fujishima. Hosokawa Akiuji had been ordered by Ashikaga Takauji to aid Shiba Takatsune in the defense, and encountered Nitta's force a short distance from the fortress.^[1]

The warrior monks of the Heisen-ji monastery, originally part of Nitta's force, were bribed by Shiba to abandon the attack, and Nitta's rush to fill the ensuing gap in his formations led to him and his horsemen running into Hosokawa's. In the battle which followed, Nitta was mortally wounded by an arrow.^[1][2]

The following year, upon his enthronement, Emperor Go-Murakami ordered the late Nitta Yoshisada's brother, Wakiya Yoshisuke, to lead another attack on the fortress. This assault was successful, and ended in Shiba's surrender.^[1]: 68