Changes

==Yoshihisa's Advance==

==Yoshihisa's Advance==

Shimazu Yoshihisa was the eldest son of [[Shimazu Takahisa]] ([[1514]]-[[1571]]) and a lady of the Iriki-in family. As talented as his father, whom he succeeded in [[1566]], Yoshihisa continued the long struggle to unify the fragmented Shimazu domain. To this end he was compelled to subdue both the Tomotsuki and Hisikari within the borders of [[Satsuma Province|Satsuma]] and [[Osumi province|Osumi]] while fighting hard to fend off advances from the outside lords Sagara and Ito. In these difficult endeavors Yoshihisa was well-served by his brothers ([[Shimazu Yoshihiro|Yoshihiro]], [[Shimazu Iehisa|Iehisa]], and Toshihisa) and his steadily growing retainer band, which included the noted generals [[Ijuin Tadamune]], [[Niiro Tadamoto]], and [[Uwai Akitane]].  

Shimazu Yoshihisa was the eldest son of [[Shimazu Takahisa]] ([[1514]]-[[1571]]) and a lady of the Iriki-in family. As talented as his father, whom he succeeded in [[1566]], Yoshihisa continued the long struggle to unify the fragmented Shimazu domain. To this end he was compelled to subdue both the Tomotsuki and Hisikari within the borders of [[Satsuma Province|Satsuma]] and [[Osumi province|Osumi]] while fighting hard to fend off advances from the outside lords Sagara and Ito. In these difficult endeavors Yoshihisa was well-served by his brothers ([[Shimazu Yoshihiro|Yoshihiro]], [[Shimazu Iehisa|Iehisa]], and Toshihisa) and his steadily growing retainer band, which included the noted generals [[Ijuin Tadamune]], [[Niiro Tadamoto]], and [[Uwai Akitane]].  

Unfortunately for the Shimazu, the aging Otomo Sorin played the final card in his hand, traveling to Osaka to beg for succor from [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] himself in [[1585]]. Hideyoshi, who had conquered Shikoku the year before, saw this as a useful opportunity to flex some of his considerable political muscle and sent a letter demanding Shimazu cease his activities. To this first letter, the Shimazu merely responded that their campaign was in fact what might be called a proactive defensive move. The following year Hideyoshi issued an even stronger ultimatum that was nonetheless generous - if Yoshihisa would show his compliance, he would be allowed to retain half of Chikugo and Higo in addition to his lands in Hyuga, Satsuma, and Osumi. Yoshihisa rashly penned in reply a dismissive letter that contrasted the Shimazu's long history and Hideyoshi's humble roots. After all, this was not the first time that an outsider had attempted to interfere with affairs on Kyushu: [[Oda Nobunaga]] had made similar demands (perhaps hoping to keep the Otomo alive-and a threat to the Mori) before his death in [[1582]].

Unfortunately for the Shimazu, the aging Otomo Sorin played the final card in his hand, traveling to Osaka to beg for succor from [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] himself in [[1585]]. Hideyoshi, who had conquered Shikoku the year before, saw this as a useful opportunity to flex some of his considerable political muscle and sent a letter demanding Shimazu cease his activities. To this first letter, the Shimazu merely responded that their campaign was in fact what might be called a proactive defensive move. The following year Hideyoshi issued an even stronger ultimatum that was nonetheless generous - if Yoshihisa would show his compliance, he would be allowed to retain half of Chikugo and Higo in addition to his lands in Hyuga, Satsuma, and Osumi. Yoshihisa rashly penned in reply a dismissive letter that contrasted the Shimazu's long history and Hideyoshi's humble roots. After all, this was not the first time that an outsider had attempted to interfere with affairs on Kyushu: [[Oda Nobunaga]] had made similar demands (perhaps hoping to keep the Otomo alive-and a threat to the Mori) before his death in [[1582]].

==Hideyoshi Intervenes==

==Hideyoshi Intervenes==

Yoshihisa had made a grave mistake in his underestimation of Hideyoshi, but as 1586 drew to a close, the latter's threats may have seemed a moot point. With the Otomo everywhere retreating or switching sides, the occupation of the Otomo capital in Bungo, [[Funai]], was only a matter of time. Perhaps hoping to buy back a little of that time to rally his great hosts, Hideyoshi dispatched a force to Bungo commanded by [[Chosokabe Motochika]] and [[Sengoku Hidehisa]]. Though these men were under orders to sit tight in the Otomo capital, Sengoku and [[Otomo Yoshimune]], over Motochika's objections, decided to take the fight to the Shimazu. Their reasoning was that the Shimazu seemed to have drawn back to rest (as indeed they had) and this presented a fine opportunity to relieve Toshimitsu, a nearby castle currently under siege by [[Niiro Tadamoto]]. Unfortunately for the allies, Yoshihisa learned of their movements and hastened to the area. Toshimitsu was overrun, and Otomo and his allies were confronted with a Shimazu army. Motochika suggested they retreat to Funai, but was again ignored. Instead, Yoshimune decided to have a go at what seemed to be a reasonably manageable enemy force (unaware as he was that the bulk of the Shimazu were hidden in the hills across the Hetsugigawa). The fighting commenced with [[Sogo Nagayasu]] (a Shikoku warrior like Motochika) falling for a feint across the river by [[Ijuin Hisanori]]. The result of the battle was another Otomo defeat and the occupation of Bungo. Unfortunately for Yoshihisa, his moment of glory would be brief indeed. On 20 January [[1587]] [[Hashiba Hidenaga]] landed on Kyushu with as many as 60,000 men, followed by [[Kobayakawa Takakage]] and the Mori, who had with them a further 90,000. Faced with this mighty host and already stretched to the limit, the Shimazu withdrew south rapidly, allowing Hidenaga to proceed with an advance along the eastern coast of the island. Hideyoshi himself arrived with yet another 30,000 in February and secured the submission of most of the warlords of the provinces conquered by the Shimazu in the past decade, including the [[Akizuki clan|Akizuki]], [[Arima clan|Arima]], [[Goto clan|Goto]], [[Nabeshima clan|Nabeshima]], Omura, and Ryuzoji. The Toyotomi progress was almost leisurely, especially since the only real Shimazu resistance would come at the Sendai River on 6 June, and this was in essence a show of simple defiance by the proud Shimazu warriors. By this point, the approaches to Kagoshima lay open, and Toyotomi troops were pouring into Satsuma.  

Yoshihisa had made a grave mistake in his underestimation of Hideyoshi, but as 1586 drew to a close, the latter's threats may have seemed a moot point. With the Otomo everywhere retreating or switching sides, the occupation of the Otomo capital in Bungo, [[Funai]], was only a matter of time. Perhaps hoping to buy back a little of that time to rally his great hosts, Hideyoshi dispatched a force to Bungo commanded by [[Chosokabe Motochika]] and [[Sengoku Hidehisa]]. Though these men were under orders to sit tight in the Otomo capital, Sengoku and [[Otomo Yoshimune]], over Motochika's objections, decided to take the fight to the Shimazu. Their reasoning was that the Shimazu seemed to have drawn back to rest (as indeed they had) and this presented a fine opportunity to relieve Toshimitsu, a nearby castle currently under siege by [[Niiro Tadamoto]]. Unfortunately for the allies, Yoshihisa learned of their movements and hastened to the area. Toshimitsu was overrun, and Otomo and his allies were confronted with a Shimazu army. Motochika suggested they retreat to Funai, but was again ignored. Instead, Yoshimune decided to have a go at what seemed to be a reasonably manageable enemy force (unaware as he was that the bulk of the Shimazu were hidden in the hills across the Hetsugigawa). The fighting commenced with [[Sogo Nagayasu]] (a Shikoku warrior like Motochika) falling for a feint across the river by [[Ijuin Hisanori]]. The result of the battle was another Otomo defeat and the occupation of Bungo. Unfortunately for Yoshihisa, his moment of glory would be brief indeed. On 20 January [[1587]] [[Hashiba Hidenaga]] landed on Kyushu with as many as 60,000 men, followed by [[Kobayakawa Takakage]] and the Mori, who had with them a further 90,000. Faced with this mighty host and already stretched to the limit, the Shimazu withdrew south rapidly, allowing Hidenaga to proceed with an advance along the eastern coast of the island. Hideyoshi himself arrived with yet another 30,000 in February and secured the submission of most of the warlords of the provinces conquered by the Shimazu in the past decade, including the [[Akizuki clan|Akizuki]], [[Arima clan|Arima]], [[Goto clan|Goto]], [[Nabeshima clan|Nabeshima]], Omura, and Ryuzoji. The Toyotomi progress was almost leisurely, especially since the only real Shimazu resistance would come at the Sendai River on 6 June, and this was in essence a show of simple defiance by the proud Shimazu warriors. By this point, the approaches to Kagoshima lay open, and Toyotomi troops were pouring into Satsuma.