Terazawa Hirotaka

• Born: 1563
• Died: 1633
• Sons: Terazawa Hyôgo no kami Katataka (1609-1647)
• Titles: Shima no kami
• Other names: Masanari, Masatada
• Distinction: Toyotomi retainer

Hirotaka was a son of Terazawa Echizen no kami Hiromasa (1525-1596), an Oda and Toyotomi retainer. Hirotaka was a retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and was primarily responsible for logistical and administrative affairs, including matters pertaining to shipping. In 1592 he was invested with an 80,000 koku fief in Hizen province and the governorship of Nagasaki, becoming a Christian in 1596 (though he recanted not long afterwards). He served in the Korean Campaigns and in 1600 sided with Tokugawa Ieyasu, leading some 2,400 men for him at the Battle of Sekigahara. Though his income had been raised to 120,000 koku, Hirotaka fell out of favor with Ieyasu afterwards and lost his position as governor of Nagasaki in 1603. His son Katataka's cruel tenure as daimyô in Hizen would provoke the Shimabara Rebellion in 1637.

References

• Initial text from Sengoku Biographical Dictionary (Samurai-Archives.com) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005