Hashiba forces · Toyotomi (Hashiba)
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
“Taikō”
Born the son of a foot soldier in Owari, he rose in Nobunaga's service. At the news of Honnō-ji he raced back in the Great Return from Chūgoku and killed Mitsuhide at Yamazaki. Seizing the initiative in the Oda house at the Kiyosu conference, he beat Katsuie at Shizugatake to establish his power, then pacified Shikoku, Kyushu and Odawara to unify Japan. He reached his zenith as Imperial Regent and Taikō, but died of illness in the midst of his two invasions of Korea.
- Epithet
- “Taikō”
- Rank / office
- Imperial Regent / Chancellor of the Realm
- Domain / base
- Owari → all Japan
- Banner / crest
- Paulownia / Thousand-gourd standard
- Side
- Hashiba forces
- Lived
- 1537–1598 (aged 62)
Like dew I fell, like dew I vanish; even Naniwa was a dream within a dream.
Death poem
Life
- Tenshō 10 The Great Return and Yamazaki At the news of Honnō-ji he raced back from Bitchū and killed Mitsuhide at Yamazaki.
- Tenshō 11 Shizugatake Beat Shibata Katsuie and established his leadership of the Oda house.
- Tenshō 13 Imperial Regent Appointed Imperial Regent, he commanded the realm with an authority beyond any warrior house.
- Tenshō 18 Unification of Japan Took Odawara, destroyed the Hōjō, brought Ōshū to heel and completed the unification.
- Keichō 3 Death at Fushimi Died in the midst of the Korean campaign, anxious for the future of his young son Hideyori.
Battles in this archive7 battles
- Battle of Nagashino 21st day of the 5th month, Tenshō 3 Nagashino–Shitaragahara, Mikawa Province The future ruler of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In this battle he held the centre of the defensive line behind the palisade. Watch ▸
- Siege of Miki Tenshō 6 to 8 Miki Castle, Harima Province Avoided a direct assault and starved the castle out from a ring of siege forts. The two years at Miki taught Hideyoshi the secrets of siegecraft. Watch ▸
- Siege of Tottori Tenshō 9 Tottori Castle, Inaba Province Avoided an assault, ringed the castle with forts, bought up the rice and starved it out. After Miki, this was the second perfected form of the siege by hunger, with Takamatsu to follow. Watch ▸
- Siege of Takamatsu Tenshō 10 Takamatsu Castle, Bitchū Province Abandoned the assault and isolated the castle with water. He concealed the news of Honnō-ji, concluded a truce and rode east the same day to achieve the Great Return from Chūgoku. Watch ▸
- Battle of Yamazaki 13th day of the 6th month, Tenshō 10 Yamazaki, Yamashiro Province Returned faster than anyone in the Great Return from Chūgoku and claimed for himself the banner of avenging Nobunaga. This victory was his springboard to supreme power. Watch ▸
- Battle of Shizugatake 21st day of the 4th month, Tenshō 11 Shizugatake, Ōmi Province Raced 52 kilometres back from Ōgaki in five hours in the Great Return from Mino and struck the careless detached force at daybreak. Watch ▸
- Battle of Komaki and Nagakute 9th day of the 4th month, Tenshō 12 Nagakute, Owari Province The master of the realm who launched the detached force from his headquarters at Gakuden. He hurried to the scene with his main army at the news, but was checked by Honda Tadakatsu and arrived too late for the battle. Watch ▸
Related sites
- Nagahama Castle
- Osaka Castle
- Toyokuni Shrine (Kyoto)
FAQ
- Who was Toyotomi Hideyoshi?
- The greatest success story of the Sengoku age: he rose from foot soldier to unify Japan. After Nobunaga's death he beat Akechi Mitsuhide at Yamazaki and Shibata Katsuie at Shizugatake to become master of the realm.
- What are Hideyoshi's most famous battles?
- The "overnight castle" at Sunomata, the western campaign (the sieges of Miki, Tottori and Takamatsu), Yamazaki after the Great Return from Chūgoku that followed Honnō-ji, Shizugatake, and Komaki and Nagakute.
- How did Hideyoshi die?
- He died of illness at Fushimi Castle in Keichō 3 (1598), anxious for the future of his young son Hideyori. His death poem reads: "Like dew I fell, like dew I vanish; even Naniwa was a dream within a dream."