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''This article is about the Tachibana (立花) samurai clan. For the Tachibana (橘) court noble family、see [[Tachibana clan (kuge)]].''

''This article is about the Tachibana (立花) samurai clan. For the Tachibana (橘) court noble family、see [[Tachibana clan (kuge)]].''

The Tachibana clan was a samurai clan prominent in the [[Sengoku period|Sengoku]] and [[Edo period]]s. Originally based in [[Tachibana castle]] in [[Kyushu|Kyûshû]], the family's holdings were moved to [[Yanagawa han]] in the [[Tohoku|far north-east]] of [[Honshu|Honshû]] in the Edo period.

The Tachibana clan was a samurai clan prominent in the [[Sengoku Period|Sengoku]] and [[Edo Period]]. Originally based in [[Tachibana castle]] in [[Kyushu|Kyûshû]], the family's holdings were moved to [[Yanagawa han]] in the [[Tohoku|far north-east]] of [[Honshu|Honshû]] in the Edo period.

The clan, which bore no direct relation to the [[Tachibana clan (kuge)|Tachibana clan]] of the [[Heian period]], originated with [[Otomo Sadatoshi|Ôtomo Sadatoshi]] (d. 1336), who took on the name and assigned it to the family of [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo]] vassals who held Tachibana castle. For a time, the Tachibana served as loyal retainers under the Ôtomo clan, regularly battling the [[Shimazu clan|Shimazu]], rivals to the Ôtomo. In the mid-16th century, a conflict between Ôtomo Akitoshi and [[Otomo Sorin|Ôtomo Sôrin]] led to the former splitting from the family, and taking the name [[Tachibana Dosetsu|Tachibana Dôsetsu]].

The clan, which bore no direct relation to the [[Tachibana clan (kuge)|Tachibana clan]] of the [[Heian Period]], originated with [[Otomo Sadatoshi|Ôtomo Sadatoshi]] (d. 1336), who took on the name and assigned it to the family of [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo]] vassals who held Tachibana castle. For a time, the Tachibana served as loyal retainers under the Ôtomo clan, regularly battling the [[Shimazu clan|Shimazu]], rivals to the Ôtomo. In the mid-16th century, a conflict between Ôtomo Akitoshi and [[Otomo Sorin|Ôtomo Sôrin]] led to the former splitting from the family, and taking the name [[Tachibana Dosetsu|Tachibana Dôsetsu]].

Dôsetsu had no sons, and nominated his daughter, [[Tachibana Ginchiyo]], to succeed him. Shortly afterwards, she would marry Takahashi Munetora, a vassal of [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], who helped defeat the Shimazu in Hideyoshi's [[Kyushu Campaign|Kyûshû Campaign]]. Upon inheriting the clan leadership, Takahashi took a new name, and became known as [[Tachibana Muneshige]].

Dôsetsu had no sons, and nominated his daughter, [[Tachibana Ginchiyo]], to succeed him. Shortly afterwards, she would marry Takahashi Munetora, a vassal of [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], who helped defeat the Shimazu in Hideyoshi's [[Kyushu Campaign|Kyûshû Campaign]]. Upon inheriting the clan leadership, Takahashi took a new name, and became known as [[Tachibana Muneshige]].

Muneshige then fought for Hideyoshi in the [[Korean Invasion|invasions of Korea]], and was granted the ''[[han]]'' (fief) of [[Yanagawa han|Yanagawa]] ([[Chikugo Province]], 132,000 ''[[koku]]''), the land surrounding Tachibana castle. He fought against the Tokugawa, however, during the decisive [[Battle of Sekigahara]] of 1600, and was dispossessed of his holdings when the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] was established.  

Muneshige then fought for Hideyoshi in the [[Korean Invasion|invasions of Korea]], and was granted the ''[[han]]'' (fief) of [[Yanagawa han|Yanagawa]] ([[Chikugo province]], 132,000 ''[[koku]]''), the land surrounding Tachibana castle. He fought against the Tokugawa, however, during the decisive [[Battle of Sekigahara]] of 1600, and was dispossessed of his holdings when the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] was established.  

Ultimately, he proved his loyalty to the shogunate in 1611, and was granted a fief in [[Mutsu Province]], far from Kyûshû. This fief, the [[Tanakura han]], was only worth 20,000 ''koku'', but when the Tanaka family holding Tachibana castle and Yanagawa died out, due to a lack of heirs, the Tachibana were restored to their old territory. Their income remained around 20,000 ''koku'', however. Holding onto this fief continuously through the rest of the Edo period, the Tachibana were granted the title of ''[[kazoku|Hakushaku]]'' (Count) during the [[Meiji period]], when the feudal system and samurai class were [[Abolition of the han system|abolished]].

Ultimately, he proved his loyalty to the shogunate in 1611, and was granted a fief in [[Mutsu province]], far from Kyûshû. This fief, the [[Tanakura han]], was only worth 20,000 ''koku'', but when the Tanaka family holding Tachibana castle and Yanagawa died out, due to a lack of heirs, the Tachibana were restored to their old territory. Their income remained around 20,000 ''koku'', however. Holding onto this fief continuously through the rest of the Edo period, the Tachibana were granted the title of ''[[kazoku|Hakushaku]]'' (Count) during the [[Meiji period]], when the feudal system and samurai class were [[Abolition of the han system|abolished]].

Meanwhile, Muneshige's younger brother, Takahashi Munemasu (1573-1617), fell into much the same situation. His domain was reduced from 18,000 ''koku'' to 5000 as a result of his opposition to the Tokugawa at Sekigahara. He changed his name to [[Tachibana Naotsugu]], and passed on the [[Miike han]] to his heirs. [[Tachibana Takachika]], one of that line, was awarded the government post of ''[[wakadoshiyori]]'', gaining power and prestige for the clan even though he was soon demoted to ''[[hatamoto]]''. This branch of the family was granted the title of Viscount following the [[Meiji Restoration]].

Meanwhile, Muneshige's younger brother, Takahashi Munemasu (1573-1617), fell into much the same situation. His domain was reduced from 18,000 ''koku'' to 5000 as a result of his opposition to the Tokugawa at Sekigahara. He changed his name to [[Tachibana Naotsugu]], and passed on the [[Miike han]] to his heirs. [[Tachibana Takachika]], one of that line, was awarded the government post of ''[[wakadoshiyori]]'', gaining power and prestige for the clan even though he was soon demoted to ''[[hatamoto]]''. This branch of the family was granted the title of Viscount following the [[Meiji Restoration]].