Edo castle

江戸城 edo-jô

castle ruin / japanische Burg

built 1457 | destroyed 1657 + 1873

Chiyoda / Tôkyô

The Edo-jô fortress was built in the mid-15th century by ÔTA Dôkan (1432-1486), a retainer of the UESUGI clan. The outcome of the “Battle of Sekigahara” in 1600 was decided in favour of TOKUGAWA Ieyasu, who, appointed shôgun in 1603, chose the small fishing village of Edo as his seat of government and capital and had the castle extended into a monstrous complex with a circumference of up to 16 km. The imperial palace has stood on this site since 1868 and serves as the residence of the imperial family.