1579: The Completion of Azuchi's Keep and the Fall of Arioka Castle
In May, the keep of Azuchi Castle was completed, and Nobunaga moved in, making it the symbol of his campaign to unify the realm. Meanwhile, the rebellious Araki Murashige abandoned his besieged Arioka Castle for Amagasaki, and the garrison left behind fell to Nobunaga's forces in November. In Echigo, the Otate no Ran continued, with Uesugi Kagekatsu gradually gaining the upper hand.
Events this year
Month 3
Otate fell to Kagekatsu's forces. During peace negotiations, Uesugi Norisada died. Kagetora retreated to Samegao Castle but killed himself after its commander Horie Munechika defected, ending the disturbance.
Sources 妙高市「鮫ヶ尾城跡」
Month 10
After capturing Yakami Castle, Akechi Mitsuhide subdued Onigajō and Kuroi Castle and completed the pacification of Tamba, then advanced the construction of Fukuchiyama Castle and its castle town.
The keep of Oda Nobunaga's Azuchi Castle was completed, creating a castle that symbolized a new center of political, military, and cultural power.
Oda Nobunaga's second son Nobukatsu invaded Iga without his father's authorization but was defeated by the forces of Iga.
Matsudaira Nobuyasu, Tokugawa Ieyasu's heir and lord based at Okazaki, took his own life at Futamata Castle. Contemporary sources do not establish a direct order from Nobunaga or collusion with the Takeda, making this a political crisis involving Tokugawa succession and the Oda alliance.
Sources 浜松市「家康公の略年表」／浜松市「二俣城跡及び鳥羽山城跡」
After Nobukatsu's suicide, Ishikawa Kazumasa became deputy of Okazaki Castle as one of Tokugawa's senior retainers. He served in this position from 1579 until his defection in November 1585.
Sources 岡崎市観光協会「岡崎城（天守閣）沿革」