Toyotomi Hidenaga | |
Native Name: | 豊臣 秀長 |
Birth Name: | Koichirō (小一郎) |
Birth Date: | April 8, 1540 |
Death Place: | Kōriyama, Yamato Province |
Office: | Governor of Izumi, Kii and Yamato Province |
Term Start: | 1585 |
Term End: | 1591 |
Allegiance: | Toyotomi clan |
Rank: | Dainagon |
Unit: | Toyotomi clan |
Battles: | Chugoku campaign (1577-1582) Battle of Yamazaki (1582) Battle of Shizugatake (1583) Battle of Komaki and Nagakute (1584) Invasion of Shikoku (1585) Kyūshū Campaign (1587) |
Spouse: | Chiun'in |
Relations: | Chikuami (father) Ōmandokoro (mother) Toyotomi Hideyoshi (half-brother) Asahi no kata (sister) Toyotomi Hidetsugu (nephew) Toyotomi Hideyori (nephew) |
Signature: | Toyotomi Hidenaga kao.jpg |
, formerly known as or . He was a half-brother of Toyotomi Hideyoshi,[1] one of the most powerful and significant warlords of Japan's Sengoku period and regarded as 'Hideyoshi's brain and right-arm'.
Hidenaga was also known by his court title, . He promoted Tōdō Takatora to chief engineer. He led Hideyoshi's vanguard force a few years later into Satsuma Province, contributing heavily to his half-brother's victories in gaining control of Kyūshū. Hidenaga was awarded the provinces of Kii, Izumi and Yamato, reaching a governance of one million koku.
He took part in the 1582 Battle of Yamazaki, the 1583 Battle of Shizugatake, also lead Toyotomi's troops at the Invasion of Shikoku (1585), and the 1587 Battle of Takajo, Battle of Sendaigawa and Siege of Kagoshima.[2]
He died in 1591, at Kōriyama, Yamato Province (now Nara Prefecture), and his tomb is called .
During the Warring States period, it was not uncommon for even parents and siblings to engage in lethal conflicts, yet he unwaveringly supported his brother. Many historians believe that "Had Hidenaga lived longer, the Toyotomi regime would have been secure". Indeed, Hideyoshi's Korean campaign and the purge of Hidetsugu occurred after the deaths of Hidenaga and Sen no Rikyū.[3]