Ashina Moritaka

Ashina Moritaka (蘆名 盛隆) was a Japanese samurai and lord of Kurokawa Castle (Aizu Castle) in the early Sengoku period. He was the 14th generation lord of the Ashina (Sawara) family. He is also known as Heitarō (平太郎).

Moritaka was born the son of Nikaidō Moriyoshi (二階堂 盛義), lord of Sukagawa Castle. He was adopted by Ashina Morioki to continue the family line, and as per that arrangement, married Morioki's daughter. After Moritaka's succession however, he, for unknown reasons, became very unpopular amongst his retainers. This had led to his assassination at the hands of Ōba Sanzaemon (大庭 三左衛門), with Moritaka dying at the age of 24. Ashina Morishige would become Moritaka's successor because his own son, Kiōmaru, had died at the age of 2.