Amago Haruhisa (March 8, 1514 – January 9, 1561) was a powerful daimyō and warlord in the Chūgoku region of western Japan. Born as the second son of Amago Masahisa, he initially bore the name Akihisa, but in 1541, upon an offer from Ashikaga Yoshiharu, he adopted the name Haruhisa by incorporating a kanji character from Yoshiharu's own name.
Upon the untimely death of his father, Amago Masahisa, in battle, Haruhisa assumed leadership of the Amago clan in 1537, succeeding his grandfather. Eager to expand his territory, he launched a series of invasions, extending his influence as far as Harima. During his youth, he was known by the name Saburōshirō.
The Siege of Koriyama in 1540, pitting Haruhisa against Mōri Motonari, concluded in a humiliating defeat. This led to the defection of many of his retainers, who doubted Haruhisa's prospects for success. The subsequent year saw the passing of his grandfather, Amago Tsunehisa, and Ōuchi Yoshitaka initiated a counteroffensive to crush the Amago clan.
In the 1542–43 Siege of Toda Castle, Haruhisa successfully defended the castle. This victory not only bolstered his standing but also inspired the return of some of his earlier defectors. With sufficient forces gathered, he managed to repel the invasion and gradually solidified control over domains like Izumo, Hōki, Mimasaka, and Oki.
Following the death of Ōuchi Yoshitaka in 1551 due to the rebellion led by Sue Harukata, Haruhisa was offered lordship over eight domains by the Muromachi shogunate in 1552, four of which he already held in his firm grasp.
In his later years, Haruhisa made a sudden decision to eliminate his uncle Amago Kunihisa, along with the retainers under his command, collectively known as Shingūtō. This action, which initially led to a scarcity of experienced leaders, was likely a move by Haruhisa himself to consolidate his rule over the Amago clan, rather than a plot by Mori Motonari as depicted in certain fictional works.
After Sue Harutaka's defeat and death in the Battle of Miyajima, Haruhisa sought to claim Iwami, forming an alliance with the Ogasawara clan of Iwami to seize control of the Omori Silver Mine. This sparked a series of battles with no clear victor. In late 1560, while engaged in battle against Motonari, Haruhisa fell ill at Gassantoda Castle and passed away on January 9, 1561.
Amago Hisayuki, as documented in Unyo Gunjitsuki, remarked that Haruhisa was "Quick to act, yet lacked the strategic discipline of a seasoned general; eager for combat, yet not inclined towards forgiveness."
See also
-
Uesugi Kagetora
Uesugi Kagetora (1552 – April 19, 1579) was the seventh son of Hojo Ujiyasu and was originally known as Hojo Saburo. He was adopted by Uesugi Kenshin and intended to be Kenshin's heir. However, in 1578, he was attacked in his Otate Castle by Uesugi Kagekatsu, his brother-in-law, and was ultimately defeated. Kagetora committed suicide the following year at Samegao Castle.
-
Hojo Ujinao
Hojo Ujinao (1562 – December 19, 1591) was a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku period and the last leader of the Later Hojo clan. An important figure in Azuchi-Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the Siege of Odawara (1590). Despite this, he survived, and his family continued as minor daimyo during the Edo period.
-
Takeda Katsuyori
Takeda Katsuyori (1546 – April 3, 1582) was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period, renowned as the head of the Takeda clan and successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was also the son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu. Katsuyori was born to Shingen and the daughter of Suwa Yorishige, known posthumously as Suwa-goryonin and by her real name, Koihime. His children included Takeda Nobukatsu and Takeda Katsuchika.
-
Yasuke
Yasuke, an African page, arrived in Japan in 1579 as the attendant of the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Before the arrival of the Englishman William Adams, it is thought that Yasuke was possibly the inaugural non-Japanese samurai, arriving about twenty years earlier.
-
Yamanami Keisuke
Yamanami Keisuke, the second in command of the Shinsengumi, a special police force during the late Edo period, shocked many when he performed seppuku on March 20, 1865, at the age of 32.
-
Yamamoto Kansuke
Yamamoto Kansuke, renowned as a samurai strategist and one of Takeda Shingen's esteemed 24 Generals, hailed from the Mikawa region, known for breeding formidable warriors. Despite physical challenges—blindness in one eye, lameness in one leg, and a malformed hand—Kansuke embarked on a warrior's pilgrimage in his twenties. Traveling across the land, he honed his skills in strategy, tactics, castle construction, and warfare, engaging in various swordsmanship schools and forms.
-
Yamaga Soko
Yamaga Soko was a multifaceted figure in Japanese history, renowned as a strategist, philosopher, and scholar. Later in life, he became a ronin, leaving a significant mark on the understanding of the Tokugawa period samurai.
-
William Adams - Miura Anjin
William Adams, also known as Miura Anjin, holds the distinction of being one of the few non-Japanese individuals granted samurai status. Born in Gillingham, Kent, England in 1564, Adams embarked on a remarkable journey that led him to become an influential figure in Japanese history.
