高田城址と高田氏一族
高田城ができたのは、室町時代の永享4(1432)年ごろと考えられています。城主は当時この地域をまとめていた有力武士の高田兵庫頭為貞(ひょうごのかみためさだ)(本姓は当麻氏)です。
現在のJR桜井線と和歌山線とにはさまれた片塩小学校、常光寺池公園一帯が旧高田城址です。今は城跡のほとんどが池となっていますが、江戸時代の古い地図によると、池は東南3分の1ほどの広さで、時代をおって広げられたようです。
今も字名に「シロノウチ(城之内)」「ババ(馬場)」と残っていて、この場所が城の地であったことをしのばせます。
高田氏は戦国時代にかけて強い力を持ち、もっとも栄えます。為貞の子、当麻為長は、一族家臣のために、文明3(1471)年、常光寺を建立。続いて文明14(1482)年に天神社を修復し、さらに、証菩提寺不動院(現在の大日堂)を文明15(1483)年に建立しました。
 
ひとくちメモ
●「字」とは
町や村を分けたとき、その一つ一つの地名につける呼び名。
大字と小字がある。
 
Site of Takada Castle and the Takada clan
It is believed that Takada Castle was built around 1432. The castle owner was a powerful samurai who oversaw the region, Tamesada Takadahyogonokami (real name is Toma)．
The entire area covering Katashio Elementary School and Joko-ji Pond Park between the present-day JR Sakurai Line and Wakayama Line is the former site of Takada Castle. Most of the castle ruins are now a pond, however, according to an old map of the Edo period, the pond was only one third of the current size, located in the southeast, suggesting that the pond expanded over time．
Names such as “Shiro-no-uchi” and “Baba” are still used in the sub-district names of the area, indicating that the area was once the site of a castle．
Over the Sengoku period, Mr. Takada gained more power and prosperity. In 1471, Tamesada’s son, Tamenaga Toma, built the Joko-ji Temple for the vassals of the clan. He also repaired the Tenjin Shrine in 1482 and built the Shobodai-ji Temple Fudoin (present-day Dainichido Hall) in 1483．
 
Note
What does “aza” mean?
“Aza” is a name given to each sub-district of a town or village.
A sub-district can be Oaza (literally, “large Aza”) or Koaza (literally, “small Aza”).
 
 
高田城主一族の滅亡
天正8(1580)年、織田信長の大和検地にしたがわず、城地がとりあげられて、当時の城主高田藤七郎が処刑されました。つづいて信長の家臣だった筒井順慶に攻められて、天正11(1583)年8月に藤七郎の子、高田当麻丞(為政)が討たれます。さらに天正13(1585)年、郡山城主となった豊臣秀長(秀吉の弟)によって、為政の子、高田当麻丞為成(ためなり)が自刃(切腹)させられて、高田城主一族は滅びました。
 
ひとくちメモ
●「検地」とは
室町時代から江戸時代にかけて、領主がみずから支配する領地に対しておこなった土地調査。田畑や屋敷などの面積をはかり、土地の等級や収穫量、持ち主などを調べ、これらをもとに年貢を決めた。
 
Destruction of the Takada clan
In 1580, Toshichiro Takada, the owner of Takada Castle at that time, was executed and his castle land was taken for not obeying the Yamato Kenchi (land surveying) imposed by Nobunaga Oda. Then, the son of Toshichiro, Takadatomanojo (Tamemasa), was murdered by Junkei Tsutsui, a vassal of Nobunaga, in August 1583. In 1585, the son of Tamemasa, Tamenari Takadatomanojo was forced to commit Seppukku (suicide by disembowelment) by Hidenaga Toyotomi (brother of Hideyoshi), who became the owner of Koriyama Castle. These incidents led to the destruction of the Takada clan．
 
Note
What is “Kenchi”?
Kenchi was land surveying conducted from the Muromachi period to the Edo period where the lords conducted the survey on the territories they controlled. The size of the areas, such as fields and houses, was measured and other details such as land grade, harvest volume, and ownership were investigated. Then, the annual land tax was determined based on this information.

 
 
今 Present
 

高田城址公園内に立つ高田城址の碑。堀江九郎氏の孫で、堀江三郎を襲名した澄一氏が、大正5(1916)年に建立しました。
The monument of the site of Takada Castle standing in Takadajoshi Park. It was built in 1916 by Choichi, who was a grandchild of Kuro Horie and succeeded Sabro Horie．

 
 
昔 Past
 

水本さんのおはなし
「高田城址は、高田氏(当麻氏)のお城で、常光寺池がその跡であるといわれています。昭和12(1937)年ごろ、常光寺池では流し灯篭が行われていました。」
　Interview with Mr. Mizumoto
“Takada Castle was owned by Takada (Toma) and Joko-ji Pond is reportedly located at the remains of the site of Takada Castle. Around 1937, a floating lantern ceremony was held at Joko-ji Pond. ”