Shimazu Takahisa

Shimazu Takahisa's grave, at the Shimazu clan cemetery at Fukushô-ji in Kagoshima

• Born: 1514
• Died: 1571
• Sons: Shimazu Yoshihisa, Shimazu Yoshihiro, Shimazu Iehisa, Shimazu Toshihisa
• Titles: Mutsu no kami, Saemon no jô
• Distinction: Lord of Satsuma
• Japanese: 島津貴久 (Shimazu Takahisa)

Takahisa was the son of Shimazu Sagami no kami Tadayoshi (1492-1568). He was born on 28 May 1514 and was adopted by Shimazu Katsuhisa. He became the lord of Kagoshima castle after Katsuhisa was forced to flee by Shimazu Sanehisa's rebellion in 1526. A capable and ambitious leader, Takahisa took Kagoshima in 1536 and afterwards gradually extended his authority throughout Satsuma province. In addition to Sanehisa's branch of the Shimazu, Takahisa faced resistance from such erstwhile vassals as the Iriki-in, Kimotsuki and Keto-in. He was one of the first daimyô to employ firearms in battle, doing so at Kajiki in Ôsumi province 1549. He officially retired in favor of his son, Yoshihisa, in 1566, having brought some measure of stability to the Shimazu domain. He met with Francis Xavier in Kagoshima in 1549. He died on 15 July 1571.

References

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