1609

Keichô 14 (慶長十四年)

Timeline of 1609

• 1606/3 The Kiyû Treaty, a trade treaty, is established between Tsushima han and Joseon Korea.
• 1609/5/2 First Dutch ships enter Hirado.
• 1609/8/22 Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie factory is established in Hirado.
• 1609/9/29 The shogunate confiscates a number of large ships from daimyo in the western regions of the archipelago.

Invasion of Ryûkyû

• 1609/2/6 The senior Shimazu clan retainers meet and choose Kabayama Hisataka to lead the invasion. The invasion forces begin to be gathered.
• 1609/3/4 One hundred ships carrying 3000 warriors depart from Yamakawa harbor, near the southern tip of Kyushu, under the command of Kabayama Hisataka.
• 1609/3/5 The fleet reaches Kuchinoerabujima, one of the Ôsumi Islands.
• 1609/3/7 Shimazu forces land on Amami-Ôshima.
• 1609/3/10 A Ryukyuan envoy is dispatched from Okinawa to Amami-Ôshima.
• 1609/3/12 Skirting the coast, the Shimazu forces continue to fight for control of Amami-Ôshima.
• 1609/3/16 Fighting for Amami-Ôshima ends in Shimazu victory.
• 1609/3/20 Shimazu forces land on Tokunoshima.
• 1609/3/22 Fighting for Tokunoshima ends in Shimazu victory.
• 1609/3/23 Shimazu forces fail to intercept a number of Ryukyuan boats heading in the direction of Amami-Ôshima as the latter pass Tokunoshima.
• 1609/3/25 Shimazu forces land on Kourijima, just off the coast of Nakijin, in preparation for their first assault upon Okinawa Island.
• 1609/3/26 Shimazu forces siege Nakijin gusuku.
• 1609/3/27 A Shimazu reconnaissance force led by Hirata Masamune and Ijuin Hisamoto, operating off of Kourijima, find Nakijin abandoned; the Shimazu seize control of Unten Harbor. Ryukyuan officials, led by Kyan ueekata, seek to negotiate a settlement but are refused.
• 1609/3/29 The Shimazu fleet lands at Yomitan and splits, one half travelling overland and the other attacking by sea.
• 1609/3/30 The Shimazu naval attack on the port of Naha is repulsed; the fleet withdraws to Makiminato.
• 1609/4/05 Shuri castle falls to the invaders; King Shô Nei surrenders.
• 1609/4/25 The Shimazu fleet returns to Kagoshima, with King Shô Nei and other royals and officials as prisoners.
• 1609/5/05 The last of the outlying Ryukyu Islands submits to Shimazu authority, the sanshikan having been dispatched to relay the news of Shuri's fall, thus sparing the Shimazu forces (and the Ryukyuans) any further fighting.

Other Events of 1609

• Suminokura Ryôi survives a shipwreck on his way back to Japan from Annam, and has his son Suminokura Soan take over overseas operations.

Births and Deaths of 1609

• Yamada Arinobu, retainer of Shimazu clan, dies (b. 1544).
• 1609/3/28 Shô Kokushi, Warden of the North (Hokuzan Kanshi) and son of King Shô Nei, is killed.
• 1609/4/2 Satsuma samurai Umekita Shôzonbô and Komatsu Hikokurô are killed in action.
• 1609/5/3 Kyôgoku Takatsugu, daimyô of Obama han, dies (b. 1563).

Previous Year 1608

1609

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