The Pacification of Isawa: Tamuramaro and Aterui Face to Face, 802

In 802 (Enryaku 21), at Isawa in Mutsu Province (the area of present-day Ōshū City, Iwate Prefecture).

Sakanoue no Tamuramaro built Isawa Castle in the land of Isawa and made it a base for the management of the northeast.

Aterui, the Emishi leader who had long repelled the court's armies, at last surrendered to Tamuramaro this year.

It was a surrender at the head of several hundred companions. The submission of Aterui, symbol of the northeast's resistance, decided the court's pacification of Isawa.

Aterui was an Emishi leader based at Isawa who had long continued the fight against the court's armies.

In 789 he inflicted a great defeat on a large court army at the land of Tomo and made his name known throughout the realm.

The Emishi tactics that made use of the advantages of the terrain tormented the court army, which was accustomed to fighting on level ground.

Tamuramaro's expedition had as its greatest aim the subjugation of this resistance of Aterui.

Before Tamuramaro's persistent campaign, Aterui at last abandoned the continuation of resistance.

In 802, Aterui, together with his sworn friend More, surrendered to Tamuramaro at the head of more than five hundred people.

It is transmitted as a bitter decision as a leader, seeing that further fighting would only increase the sacrifice of his own people.

Tamuramaro valued Aterui's valor and capacity highly and brought the two men up to the capital with him.

Tamuramaro petitioned the court to spare the lives of Aterui and More. It is transmitted that he argued that to kill valiant generals who had surrendered was a shame for a commander, and that their strength was needed for the rule of the northeast as well.

But the court nobles, fearing that keeping the Emishi leaders alive would sow the seed of renewed rebellion, executed the two men in Kawachi Province.

It was a tragedy for both — the one who subdues and the one who is subdued. In the northeast today, Aterui is remembered as a hero of the homeland, together with Tamuramaro.