Kuki Yoshitaka entered the world in Shima, along the southern coast of Mie Prefecture, in 1542. Hailing from a family that once held mastery over two castles, Yoshitaka faced adversity early on. At the tender age of nine, his father's demise plunged the family into hardship, resulting in the loss of their territories and a life on the run.
When Oda Nobunaga launched an invasion into the neighboring Ise province, targeting Kitabatake Tomonori and the Kitabatake clan in 1569, Kuki pledged loyalty to Nobunaga. He played a pivotal role by providing naval support for the annexation of Mie. Kuki showcased his maritime prowess during the naval blockade of the Nagashima Ikko-Ikki uprising, aiding Nobunaga in overcoming the militant followers of the Hongan-ji Temple.
In the Battle of Kizugawaguchi in 1576, where Kuki faced superior naval forces from the Mori clan, his ships were set ablaze at sea. Enraged by the defeat, Nobunaga tasked Kuki Yoshitaka with devising a strategy to conquer the Mori fleet. In response, Yoshitaka created what is believed to be the world's first ironclad warships in 1578. Deploying six of these formidable vessels, accompanied by a fleet of smaller ships, Kuki confronted a Mori armada comprising 600 vessels.
The ensuing Second Battle of Kizugawaguchi resulted in victory for Yoshitaka, earning him additional territories and a promotion to daimyo status.
In 1582, Kuki Yoshitaka served Nobunaga's son, Nobukatsu, during the tumultuous Honno-ji Incident orchestrated by Akechi Mitsuhide. Two years later, he aligned with former Oda clan statesman Takigawa Kazumasu in the service of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, participating in the Battle of Komaki Nagakute against the Tokugawa. Remaining a loyal vassal of the Toyotomi clan, he received the Toshi-gun in the Toba region, where he constructed Toba Castle in 1585.
As the Battle of Sekigahara unfolded in 1600, Yoshitaka sided with the Toyotomi loyalists of the Western forces led by Ishida Mitsunari. However, strategically, his son Moritaka fought for the Eastern side with the Tokugawa clan. This tactical move aimed to secure the family name's preservation, ensuring a family member's presence among the victors. Following the defeat of the Western forces, Yoshitaka abandoned Toba Castle and retreated to Toshijima, the largest island off Toba's coast.
Simultaneously, his son Moritaka sought clemency for his father from Tokugawa Ieyasu, securing an amnesty. Unfortunately, news of the pardon reached Yoshitaka on Toshijima after he had already performed seppuku.
He passed away at the age of 58, in close proximity to the foundation of his cherished naval fleet. Per his wishes, his head rests atop a hill overlooking Toba Castle, while his body finds its final resting place at the hill's base.
See also
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Watanabe (Hanzo) Moritsuna
Moritsuna was the son of Watanabe Takatsuna, a vassal of the Matsudaira clan. He was the same age as Tokugawa Ieyasu and was held hostage with him by the Imagawa clan. In 1557, Moritsuna joined Ieyasu.
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Ban Naoyuki
He was also known as Ban Danemon. In the early stages of his military career, he served under Kato Yoshiaki, one of the so-called “Seven Spears of Shizugatake,” who later became the ruler of the Aizu region in Mutsu Province. Naoyuki held the position of commander of the arquebusiers (teppo taishō).
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Asakura Toshikage
The Asakura family, who claimed kinship with several emperors, lived in the province of Echizen. Its representatives were considered hereditary vassals of the Shiba clan. From the mid-15th century until their defeat by Oda Nobunaga's army in 1573, which resulted in the final destruction of the Asakura clan, they were a significant military and economic force.
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Asakura Yoshikage
Yoshikage was the eldest son of Asakura Takakage. He began ruling in 1548 at the age of fifteen, and during his reign he twice defeated the Ikko-ikki forces, in 1555 and 1564. Yoshikage supported the Saito family in their struggle against Oda Nobunaga in 1561–1567. When Ashikaga Yoshiaki fled Kyoto in 1565 after the assassination of his older brother, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru, Yoshikage gave him refuge. However, he was unable to provide sufficient support for Yoshiaki's claim to the title of shogun, and Yoshiaki had to seek help from Oda Nobunaga.
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Asakura Norikage
Norikage came from the ancient samurai clan of Asakura, whose members considered themselves descendants of Prince Kusakabe, son of Emperor Tenmu (631–686). He was the eighth son of daimyo Asakura Takakage and was named Kotaro in childhood. Over time, Asakura Norikage became the pillar of the Asakura clan and was undoubtedly its most talented commander during that difficult period when the clan was experiencing internal difficulties, uprisings by the Ikko-ikki sect, and instability in the lands surrounding the capital. Although Norikage himself was never a daimyo, he served as an advisor to three generations of Asakura clan leaders. He spent his entire life on military campaigns. After his father's death in 1481, Norikage entered the service of his brother, Asakura Ujikage.
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Asai (Azai) Nagamasa
Asai Nagamasa inherited power from his father, Asai Hisamasa, when he was only fifteen years old. Both brave and impulsive, he proved himself a capable commander, managing to regain lands from the Rokkaku clan that had previously been lost by his father. After a territorial dispute with Oda Nobunaga over the province of Mino, Nagamasa formed an alliance with Nobunaga and married his sister Oichi, who was famous for her beauty. In 1570, when Oda Nobunaga declared war on the Asakura family, Nagamasa sided with the Asakura because he had long-standing ties with them. This unexpected move threatened Nobunaga's invasion of the Asakura lands by threatening him from the rear. Oda managed to save his army, not without the help of Tokugawa Ieyasu, but relations between Nobunaga and Asai were permanently damaged.
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Amano Yasukage
Yasukage was born into the family of the samurai Amano Kagetaka and was given the name Matagoro at birth. He later changed his name to Kageyoshi, and then to Yasukage. From an early age, Yasukage served Tokugawa Ieyasu and accompanied him when he was held hostage by Imagawa Yoshimoto. His loyalty and devotion to Ieyasu from a young age laid the foundation for Yasukage's future military and administrative career.
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Amago Tsunekisa
The Amago clan (also spelled Amako) was founded in 1392, when Sasaki Takahisa, who was orphaned at the age of three, took the new surname Amago, meaning “son of a nun,” in honor of the nun who raised him. Since the Sasaki family descended from Emperor Uda (866–931), the Amago clan traced its lineage back to this emperor. From around 1396, the Amago clan's headquarters was the mountain castle of Gassan-Toda in Izumo Province. Until the start of the Onin War, the Amago clan remained a minor clan in the service of the Kyogoku clan, which was also a descendant of the Sasaki clan. The Amago clan historically held the position of vice-governor of Izumo Province.
