Kobayakawa Takakage

Kobayakawa Takakage
Native name	小早川 隆景
Born	1533
Died	July 26, 1597 (aged 63 or 64)
Allegiance	Mōri clan
Rank	Lord (Daimyō)
Relations	Father: Mōri Motonari Mother: Myōkyū

Kobayakawa Takakage (小早川 隆景, 1533 – July 26, 1597) was a samurai retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi during Japan's Sengoku period, and the son of Mōri Motonari. Adopted by the head of the Kobayakawa clan, Takakage took his name, and succeeded his adoptive father to become head of the Kobayakawa clan following his death in 1545.

As head of the Kobayakawa clan, he expanded the clan's territory in the Chūgoku region (western Honshū), and fought for the Mōri clan in all their campaigns; for a time, he also opposed both the great warlords Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He later swore loyalty to Hideyoshi, however, and entered his service; he was then awarded domains in Iyo Province on Shikoku and Chikuzen Province on Kyūshū, totalling 350,000 koku.

Takakage took part in Hideyoshi's invasions of Shikoku, Kyūshū, and Korea, and adopted Kobayakawa Hideaki, formerly an adopted son of Hideyoshi, and named him successor to the clan.

He led the Mori navy in the recapture of Moji Castle and its defense in 1561. He also fought in the 1568 Battle of Torisaka, the 1568 Battle of Tatarahama, and the 1570 Battle of Nunobeyama.

Family

• Father: Mōri Motonari (1497–1571)
  • Foster Father: Kobayakawa Okikage (1519-1541)
• Mother: Myōkyū (1499-1546)
• Siblings:
  • An unnamed sister
  • Mōri Takamoto (1523–1563)
  • Lady Goryū, wife of Shishido Takaie (died 1574)
  • Kikkawa Motoharu (1530–1586)
• Half Siblings:
  • Ninomiya Naritoki (1546-1607)
  • Mōri Motokiyo (1551–1597)
  • Mōri Motoaki (1552-1585)
  • Izuha Mototomo (1555-1571)
  • Amano Motomasa (1559-1609)
  • Suetsugu Motoyasu (1560-1601)
  • Kobayakawa Hidekane (1567-1601)
• Wife: Lady Toida, daughter of Kobayakawa Masahira (died 1619)
• Adopted Children:
  • Kobayakawa Hidekane (1567–1601) (also Takakage's half-brother)
  • Kobayakawa Hideaki (1577–1602)

See also

Media related to Kobayakawa Takakage at Wikimedia Commons

References

• Frederic, Louis (2002). "Japan Encyclopedia." Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.