Military of the Ryukyu Kingdom

Ryukyuan Military
Royal crest of the King of Ryukyu
Active	Early 15th century - 1879
Disbanded	1879
Country	Ryukyu Kingdom
Type	Army Navy
Role	Military, police, administration
Weapons	Swords, bows, spears, guns, cannon
Engagements	Unification of Okinawa (1429) Amawari's Rebellion (1458) Akahachi's Rebellion (1500) Invasion of Ryukyu (1609)
Commanders
Notable commanders	Shō Hashi Gosamaru Shō Shin Jana Ueekata

The military of the Ryukyu Kingdom defended the kingdom from 1429 until 1879. It had roots in the late army of Chūzan, which became the Ryukyu Kingdom under the leadership of King Shō Hashi. The Ryukyuan military operated throughout the Ryukyu Islands, the East China Sea, and elsewhere that Ryukyuan ships went. Ryukyu primarily fought with other Ryukyuan kingdoms and chiefdoms, but also Japanese samurai from Satsuma Domain and pirates. Soldiers were stationed aboard ships and Ryukyuan fortifications. The Ryukyuan military declined after the 17th century.

Chūzan Seikan, the first official history of Ryukyu, details the military victories of Shō Hashi. He first captured Ōzato Castle in 1403, then overthrew King Bunei of Chūzan in 1407, installing his father as king. He moved the capital from Urasoe to Shuri. During the early 1410s, aji, Ryukyuan feudal lords, under the rule of Hokuzan got into a dispute with their king, Hananchi. On 11 March 1422, Shō Hashi gathered the forces of the ajis of Urasoe, Goeku, and Yomitanzan at Shuri. He convinced the ajis of Nago, Kunigami, and Haneji to join him, then he marched his forces to Nago. At Nago, Shō Hashi's force of 500 attacked a castle, defeating its 200 defenders. Upon reaching Nakijin Castle, Shō Hashi sent 20 infiltrators to set fires and open the castle gates. Hananchi committed suicide, and Shō Hashi had conquered Hokuzan. Shō Hashi allowed Gosamaru, Yomitanzan Aji, to build Zakimi Castle for supporting him in the war. According to Chūzan Seifu, a succession dispute broke out when the king of Nanzan, Taromai, died in 1429, prompting Shō Hashi to march south and conquer the kingdom, finally unifying Okinawa Island as the Ryukyu Kingdom.