Kyushu Campaign
Encyclopedia
The Kyūshū Campaign of 1586-1587 was part of the campaigns of Toyotomi Hideyoshi
who sought to dominate Japan at the end of the Sengoku period
. Having subjugated much of Honshū
and Shikoku
, Hideyoshi turned his attention to the southernmost of the main Japanese islands, Kyūshū
, in 1587.
of Satsuma
were the primary power on the island. In 1586, hearing of Hideyoshi's plans for invasion, they lifted their siege of Tachibana castle
, withdrawing a great portion of their forces back to Higo province
, while the rest stayed in Bungo province
. There, they seized Funai Castle
from the Ōtomo clan
and prepared for the invasion.
The Ōtomo were supported by armies under Sengoku Hidehisa
and Chōsokabe Motochika
, a major Shikoku lord who had been defeated by Hideyoshi the previous year, and had thus joined him. Though Bungo province ultimately fell to the Shimazu. Sengoku and Chōsokabe delayed them, however, and weakened them in preparation for the arrival of Hideyoshi's armies and those of the Mōri clan
, another ally of Hideyoshi.
Hashiba Hidenaga, half-brother to Hideyoshi, landed to the south of Bungo, attacking the Shimazu at Takajō, on Kyūshū's eastern coast, in 1587. Meanwhile, Hideyoshi took his own forces down a more westerly route, attacking Ganjaku castle in Chikuzen province
, which was held by the Akizuki clan
. Later that year, the two brothers would meet up in the Shimazu's home province of Satsuma, to assault their home castle at Kagoshima. Ultimately, Kagoshima itself was not attacked; the Shimazu surrendered, leaving Hideyoshi to return his attention to the Hōjō clan
of the Kantō, the last major clan to oppose him.
Hideyoshi would make use of Kyūshū through much of the 1590s in his attacks on Korea.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
who sought to dominate Japan at the end of the Sengoku period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
. Having subjugated much of Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
and Shikoku
Invasion of Shikoku (1585)
In the 1585 invasion of Shikoku, Toyotomi Hideyoshi seized Shikoku, the smallest of Japan's four main islands, from Chōsokabe Motochika.Hideyoshi's army was divided into three forces. The first, under Hashiba Hidenaga and Hashiba Hidetsugu, consisted of 60,000 men, and assaulted the provinces of...
, Hideyoshi turned his attention to the southernmost of the main Japanese islands, Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, in 1587.
Course of events
Battles had raged for the previous few years between the daimyo of Kyūshū, and by 1587 the Shimazu familyShimazu family
The were the daimyō of the Satsuma han, which spread over Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga provinces in Japan.The Shimazu were identified as one of the tozama or outsider daimyō clans in contrast with the fudai or insider clans which were hereditary vassals or allies of the Tokugawa clan,The Shimazu were...
of Satsuma
Satsuma Province
was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū. Its abbreviation is Sasshū .During the Sengoku Period, Satsuma was a fief of the Shimazu daimyo, who ruled much of southern Kyūshū from their castle at Kagoshima city.In 1871, with the...
were the primary power on the island. In 1586, hearing of Hideyoshi's plans for invasion, they lifted their siege of Tachibana castle
Tachibana castle
was a Japanese castle in Chikuzen Province, in the north of Kyūshū; it is located at the peak of Tachibana Mountain, extending in part into the Higashi-ku in Fukuoka...
, withdrawing a great portion of their forces back to Higo province
Higo Province
Higo Province was an old province of Japan in the area that is today Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū. It was sometimes called , with Hizen Province. Higo bordered on Chikugo, Bungo, Hyūga, Ōsumi, and Satsuma Provinces....
, while the rest stayed in Bungo province
Bungo Province
was a province of Japan in eastern Kyūshū in the area of Ōita Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Buzen Province. Bungo bordered Buzen, Hyūga, Higo, Chikugo, and Chikuzen Provinces.-History:...
. There, they seized Funai Castle
Funai Castle
is a 16th century castle, located in Ōita, Ōita Prefecture, Japan. It was built by Otomo Sorin in 1562, who owned much of the surrounding Kyūshū island. The castle was originally built with several turrets , all of which were burnt down with the three story donjon in 1743...
from the Ōtomo clan
Otomo clan
The Ōtomo clan was a Japanese clan whose power stretched from the Kamakura period through the Sengoku period, spanning over 400 years. The clan's hereditary lands lay in Kyūshū....
and prepared for the invasion.
The Ōtomo were supported by armies under Sengoku Hidehisa
Sengoku Hidehisa
, childhood name Gonbei was a samurai of the Sengoku through early Edo era. In the Edo era, Hidehisa became first daimyo of Komoro han .Hidehisa is also credited with being the man who captured the infamous Ishikawa Goemon....
and Chōsokabe Motochika
Chosokabe Motochika
was a Sengoku period daimyo in Japan. He was the 21st chief of the Chōsokabe clan of Tosa Province . He was the son and heir of Chōsokabe Kunichika and his mother was a daughter of the Saitō clan of Mino Province....
, a major Shikoku lord who had been defeated by Hideyoshi the previous year, and had thus joined him. Though Bungo province ultimately fell to the Shimazu. Sengoku and Chōsokabe delayed them, however, and weakened them in preparation for the arrival of Hideyoshi's armies and those of the Mōri clan
Mori clan
The Mōri clan was a family of daimyō, descended from Ōe no Hiromoto and established themselves in Aki Province. Their name was derived from a shōen in Mōri, Aikō District, Sagami Province. The generation of Hiromoto began to name themselves Mōri.After the Jōkyū War, Mōri was appointed to the jitō...
, another ally of Hideyoshi.
Hashiba Hidenaga, half-brother to Hideyoshi, landed to the south of Bungo, attacking the Shimazu at Takajō, on Kyūshū's eastern coast, in 1587. Meanwhile, Hideyoshi took his own forces down a more westerly route, attacking Ganjaku castle in Chikuzen province
Chikuzen Province
was an old province of Japan in the area that is today part of Fukuoka Prefecture in Kyūshū. It was sometimes called , with Chikugo Province. Chikuzen bordered Buzen, Bungo, Chikugo, and Hizen Provinces....
, which was held by the Akizuki clan
Akizuki clan
The Akizuki clan is a Japanese noble family from prehistoric age. In the Sengoku period, the Akizuki clan was a king of samurai on Japanese "Akizuki-country" in the Kyūshū island. From after the Sengoku period to end of the World War II, the Akizuki family was a Japanese contemporary noble again...
. Later that year, the two brothers would meet up in the Shimazu's home province of Satsuma, to assault their home castle at Kagoshima. Ultimately, Kagoshima itself was not attacked; the Shimazu surrendered, leaving Hideyoshi to return his attention to the Hōjō clan
Late Hojo clan
The ' was one of the most powerful warrior clans in Japan in the Sengoku period and held domains primarily in the Kantō region.The clan is traditionally reckoned to be started by Ise Shinkurō, who came from a branch of the prestigious Ise clan, a family in the direct employment of the Ashikaga...
of the Kantō, the last major clan to oppose him.
Hideyoshi would make use of Kyūshū through much of the 1590s in his attacks on Korea.
1586
- Siege of Toshimitsu - the Shimazu seize Toshimitsu and Funai castles from the Ōtomo, despite delaying tactics from Hideyoshi's allies.
- Battle of Hetsugigawa - Sengoku, Ōtomo, and Chōsokabe continue to battle and delay the Shimazu, but ultimately retreat, leaving Bungo province to the Shimazu.
1587
- Battle of TakajōBattle of TakajoThe 1587 Battle of Takajō, also known as the Battle of Takashiro, was the first battle in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaigns to seize control of Kyūshū during Japan's Sengoku period....
(also called Takashiro) - Hashiba Hidenaga attacks the Shimazu in Hyūga provinceHyuga Provincewas an old province of Japan on the east coast of Kyūshū, corresponding to the modern Miyazaki Prefecture. It was sometimes called or . Hyūga bordered on Bungo, Higo, Ōsumi, and Satsuma Province.The ancient capital was near Saito.-Historical record:...
, forcing them to retreat to Satsuma. - Siege of GanjakuSiege of GanjakuThe 1587 siege of Ganjaku was part of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaign to seize Kyūshū during Japan's Sengoku period. While his half-brother attacked Taka castle on the island's east coast, Hideyoshi made his own initial landfall on the island's north coast, in Chikuzen province, and made his way...
- Toyotomi Hideyoshi attacks the Akizuki clan in the north of Kyūshū. - Siege of AkizukiSiege of AkizukiThe 1587 siege of Akizuki, also known as the siege of Oguma, was undertaken by Japanese warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi against the Akizuki clan's Oguma castle, as part of his campaign to conquer Kyūshū....
- Hideyoshi continues his assault on the Akizuki by sieging Oguma castle; the Akizuki surrender. - Battle of SendaigawaBattle of SendaigawaThe 1587 battle of Sendaigawa was part of the Kyūshū Campaign undertaken by warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi towards the end of Japan's Sengoku period...
(also called Chidorigawa) - Hideyoshi and Hidenaga join forces and begin their attack on Satsuma. - Siege of KagoshimaSiege of KagoshimaThe 1587 siege of Kagoshima took place during Japan's Sengoku period, and was the last stand of the Shimazu family against the forces of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This was the final battle in Hideyoshi's campaign to take Kyūshū....
- Hideyoshi and Hidenaga surround the Shimazu capital, and earn a surrender without laying siege to the castle.