Fujiwara no Sumitomo – The First Pirate King of Japan

A lot of disruption was being caused by pirates in the Seto Inland Sea (Setouchi) during the years of Shohei and Tenkei (early 10th century). Fujiwara Sumitomo, was a Heian court noble in the rank subordinate to the lower seventh place. He was appointed as an aide of the Iyo Provincial Governor (now mostly Ehime prefecture), and was also in charge of the subjugation of pirates. However, the clever Sumitomo used his position of influence to become the head of a pirate group based on Heburi Island in Iyo Province in the 6th year of Shohei (936). At its peak, the group had an impressive fleet of about 1,000 pirate ships. But, unlike many other pirate clans who came from modest backgrounds, Sumitomo came from the nobility and the pirates that he was sent to subdue ended up becoming a part of his own pirate armada.

The Imperial Court was a place full of young nobles waiting for their opportunity to ascend the ladder of success. But for most, it was a path that led nowhere. Noble life was very competitive so low ranked nobles were always looking for ways to make a name for themselves. As a way of expanding the Imperial court influence and after several nobility restructuring, many were expelled from the court and given land around the Setouchi, which doesn’t seem like such a bad thing really. Although they would lose any influence they had within the court and the only contact they would keep with the court is their obligation to pay taxes. Many established manors and became wealthy farmers. Meanwhile, others including Sumitomo who were intermediate-ranked officials had been sent out to deal with the ever growing number of pirates sailing the Setouchi. Sumitomo was a master of the sword, one of a growing number of military educated nobles, later we known them to become part of the samurai class. He was sent in the position of Jito, or military administrator. His job was to curb pirate activity, and maintain public order. Sumitomo and a few others are believed to be those who missed the opportunity to rise the court hierarchy due to their parents’ early death, or who dropped out of the aristocratic circles of the capital. Others looked to military conflicts to distinguishing themselves in wars and battles. However, their heroic war efforts were sometimes claimed by a higher-ranked aristocrat in Kyoto, or simply overlooked for the more prominent nobles within the court. Some were even targeted for exploitation of those who started their new tenure as regional governors using them as disposable warriors for their own advancement.

Fujiwara Motona, who was Sumitomo’s father’s cousin, was the governor of Iyo Province from the second year of Shohei to the fifth which opened up an opportunity for Sumitomo to live and work outside of the Kyoto court life which he saw as a new opportunity for change. Although, the predicted change wasn’t as noble as one would initially believe.

The reasons why Sumitomo suddenly started working in favour of the pirates is unknown, (well for me right now writing this) but once settled, instead of hunting down the pirates he was sent to do, he began assembling several pirate networks from wealthy farmers of the region. He found an abundance of disgruntled and exiled farmers, warriors and nobles all willing to join his cause.

In December, the second year of Tenkei, 939 Sumitomo ordered his subordinate, Fujiwara Fumimoto to attack two regional governors, Fujiwara Sanetaka of Bizen and Shimada Koremoto of Harima, at Sukieki in Settsu Province. Both governors had been proactive in the disruption of pirate trade and financial routes in the Setouchi. Sanetake is noted as visiting the capital and making formal complaints and Sumitomo and his activities. On their way home, Fumimoto caught the two governors, sliced off their noses and ears. Later they took their wives, and even killed their children, quite the serious warning about interfering in the Sumitomo’s trade routes. At about the same time as this was going on, a messenger arrived in Kyoto that with a report that Taira Masakado had started a rebellion (Tengyo no Ran) in Eastern Japan and established himself as a new emperor. An interesting story that cannot be confirmed is that Masakado had actually admired the plight of Sumitomo in the west. Standing on Mt. Hiei looking down on the new capital he was said to have wanted to divide the country into two. Sumitomo in the west and himself in the east. The Imperial Court was suddenly sent into a panic that Masakado and Sumitomo had started their rebellions in the East and the West in collusion with each other. Despite both men having a similar outlook, it is unknown if they had actually spoken to each other about their rebellious plans. Either way, the Kyoto court was left in a pickle about how to deal with both rebellions.

The Imperial Court appointed Ono Yoshifuru to the position of Tsuibushi no suke. In English this would come out as the head of department to apprehend a criminals eg, pirates. He had three assistants. Two senior nobles, Minamoto Tsunemoto and Fujiwara Yoshiyuki and a junior noble Okura Haruzane. All were accomplished noblemen and swordsmen. A couple of tidbits before we move on. Okura excelled in all of his Imperial duties and eventually climbed the ladder of noble ranking to the fourth rank and became the head of ‘police’ in Dazaifu, Kyushu. Minamoto Tsunemoto went on and founded the Seiwa-Genji lineage of the Minamoto clan. In 960 he and his army protected the Imperial court from a rebellion which was the first known action of samurai who were not all members of the court. Minamoto’s descendants went on to settle and rule in Dazaifu, Kyushu.

By 940, Sumitomo had stepped up his attacks in the Setouchi targeting the Imperial administration offices in Awaji Province in February, Sanuki Province in August and in October he finally attacked and looted Dazaifu and Hakata in Kyushu. Dazaifu was known as the Western Capital of Japan which administered all trade and diplomacy between Japan, Korea and China. The sacking of this important administration centre could not be overlooked any longer by the court.

On February 5, Sumitomo and the pirates attacked the Awaji Province armoury and sacked the town. Soon after, Ono Yoshifuru reported that, “Sumitomo’s pirates are rowing their boats up toward Kyoto”. Suddenly, it was realised that Sumitomo was on the doorstep of Kyoto and once again the Imperial Court was full of fear. Samurai were sent out to guard all 14 gates of the capital. Fujiwara Yoshiyuki was sent to Yamazaki, which was the southern entrance to Kyoto, on the 22nd of February to strengthen its defense. However, the small garrison and gate was mysteriously burned down by an arson attack on February 26th. It is widely believed that Sumitomo’s spies had infiltrated the capital which meant that not only did he have full control over the Setouchi sea but now his reach was getting closer to the capital. The situation was suddenly critical for the government, and there was a serious threat that the new capital could come under attack.

However, on February 25^th a messenger arrived with good news. Masakado was defeated in the east and troops were on their way home. Mysteriously, around the same time, Sumitomo made a U-turn and headed back to Heburi Island. Historians don’t know exactly why he did this but most believe that Sumitomo was somewhat disappointed by the news of Masakado defeat. It seems that he was looking at Masakado for inspiration for his attacks on Kyoto. He might also have realised that the Imperial army fighting in the east was now free to concentrate their suppression of the pirates and he needed to prepare better before heading to Kyoto for a fight.

Sumitomo’s retreat brought about a short time of peace. This peace allowed the Imperial Court to prepare for their subjugation of the pirates. As Kyoto had recently concentrated most of their military power to the east, they were stretched to the limit of their forces. However, now that the Masakado threat had been dealt with, it was now possible for Kyoto to concentrate on the western pirate problem. The Imperial army returned to Kyoto in May. In June, Fujiwara Sanetaka was sent out and successfully attacked Fujiwara Fumimoto and was captured. The attack order was a direct provocation against Sumitomo by the Imperial Court. Fumimoto was used as a pawn to make Sumitomo submit to the court. If he refused to submit to the court Fumimoto would be executed. It seems that after the success in defeating Masakado, the Imperial Court and its army had become confident in their strength and power, able to contain Sumitomo and his bands of pirates.

On the other hand, Sumitomo stepped up with his attacks. In August, he attacked Iyo and Sanuki Provinces with 400 boats, pillaged and burned down towns, destroyed 100 military boats in Bizen and Bingo Provinces. He also attacked Nagato Province and robbed government properties. In October, Sumitomo defeated the samurai protecting the Western Capital of Dazaifu in Kyushu. In November, he attacked and burned the Imperial administration office in Suo Province. In December, he attacked Hata County, Tosa Province.

However, the following year Sumitomo’s luck began to run out and descent among some of his followers proved fatal. In February, the 4th year of Tenkei (941), Fujiwara Tsunetoshi, one of the leading members of Sumitomo’s armies was persuaded, with what one would think, a massive bribe, surrendered to the Imperial Army and then betrayed his former leader. Tsunetoshi had a powerful naval force under his command and inside knowledge of Sumitomo’s home port to which he used to make an all out attack on Heburi Island. Sumitomo’s army was caught completely unaware and suffered a major defeat. Sumitomo and some of his vassals escaped west, headed west once more and attacked and occupied Dazaifu. Sumitomo’s younger brother, Fujiwara Suminori, tried to invade Yanagawa, to the south of Dazaifu, but he was beaten and killed by Tachibana Kimiyori and his army.

The Imperial Army led by Ono Yoshifuru arrived in Hakata Bay, Kyushu in May with 200 ships. Yoshifuru attacked on land, and Okura Harumi attacked by sea in Hakata Bay, turncoast Tsunetoshi also arrived with Okura and their combined fleets easily defeated Sumitomo’s naval forces. Sensing defeat, Sumitomo set fire to Dazaifu and marched to meet the Imperial Army led by Yoshifuru at Hakata. After a short but bloody battle, Sumitomo’s army was routed and about 800 boats were taken by the Imperial Army. Sumitomo managed to escape and found small boat ad sailed off to Iyo Province. In June, Sumitomo was found by Ono Yoshifuru and Tachibana Kimiyori while hiding in Iyo Province. The fate of Sumitomo has two endings. Which one is true we don’t know. The first is simply that he was beheaded after his capture and the other was that he was thrown in a jail cell and eventually died.

Sumitomo is considered the first Japanese pirate king, one of the new breed of educated warriors who served the royal court but eventually turned his back on the nobility and rose up against Imperial power.

Resources used. Kage Yoshio, Haneda Masashi, Oka Mihoko and Peter Kapinsky. Rebellion of Taira no Masakado, by Toyohiko Fukuda, Iwanami Shinsho.

Japanese texts translated and edited by Stuart Iles.