Utsunomiya Sadatsuna (宇都宮貞綱)

Sadatsuna UTSUNOMIYA (1266 - August 13, 1316) was a Japanese military commander who lived in the middle through late Kamakura Period. Sadatsuna was the eighth family head of the Utsunomiya clan. He was a son of Kagetsuna UTSUNOMIYA. His mother was a daughter of Yoshikage ADACHI. Sadatsuna's official court rank was Jugoinojo (Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade) and he held the office of Mikawa no kuni Kokushi (the governor of the Mikawa Province). He also served as Shimotsuke no kuni Kokushi (the governor of the Shimotsuke Province). Sadatsuna was the father of Kintsuna UTSUNOMIYA and Fuyutsuna UTSUNOMIYA. His younger brother, Yasumune UTSUNOMIYA, was the founder of the Chikugo-Utsunomiya clan and the Iyo-Utsunomiya clan.

In 1281 during the Koan War of Genko (Mongol invasion attempts against Japan), Sadatsuna was ordered by Tokimune HOJO, the regent to the shogunate, to go down to the battle field of Kyushu. He was praised for his military service in the war and appointed as a member of Hikitsukeshu (Coadjustor of the High Court) after the war. After the death of Tokimune, Sadatsuna served Sadatoki HOJO who ordered him to cooperate in the killing of Munekata HOJO, who raised a rebellion against Sadatoki in 1305.

Sadatsuna died on August 13, 1316 at the age of 51. His hogo (posthumous Buddhist name) is Rensho.

[Original Japanese]