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]].  

Once he had defeated his rivals in Satsuma and Osumi, and brought around the Iriki-in and Togo to his side, Yoshihisa was able to concentrate on his greatest threat: [[Ito Yoshisuke]]. The latter controlled much of southern [[Hyuga province|Hyuga]], and from the vital castle of Obi was threatening the borders of the Shimazu domain. In [[1572 the Shimazu]] and Ito fought a fierce battle at [[Battle of Kizakihara|Kizakihara]] that saw 300 Shimazu defeat an Ito army of as many as 3,000. The conclusion of this battle saw the Ito seriously battered and Yoshihisa in a position to expand northward. Four years later Yoshihisa and his brothers led some 6,000 men into Hyuga and defeated the Ito again at Takabaru. The war was decisively turned against Yoshisuke in January [[1578]], when he suffered yet another defeat at Kamiya. Largely abandoned by his followers, the once-proud Ito lord fled to the lands of the Otomo and begged asylum. His former capital, Sadowara, was occupied soon afterwards by the Shimazu.  

Once he had defeated his rivals in Satsuma and Osumi, and brought around the Iriki-in and Togo to his side, Yoshihisa was able to concentrate on his greatest threat: [[Ito Yoshisuke]]. The latter controlled much of southern [[Hyuga province|Hyuga]], and from the vital castle of Obi was threatening the borders of the Shimazu domain. In [[1572]]  [[Shimazu clan|the Shimazu]] and Ito fought a fierce battle at [[Battle of Kizakihara|Kizakihara]] that saw 300 Shimazu defeat an Ito army of as many as 3,000. The conclusion of this battle saw the Ito seriously battered and Yoshihisa in a position to expand northward. Four years later Yoshihisa and his brothers led some 6,000 men into Hyuga and defeated the Ito again at Takabaru. The war was decisively turned against Yoshisuke in January [[1578]], when he suffered yet another defeat at Kamiya. Largely abandoned by his followers, the once-proud Ito lord fled to the lands of the Otomo and begged asylum. His former capital, Sadowara, was occupied soon afterwards by the Shimazu.  

The battles in southern Hyuga in 1578 had established Yoshihisa as a great warrior and had the additional benefit of increasing the confidence of his followers. Almost overnight, the ranks of the Shimazu swelled - and not a moment too soon, for the Otomo had taken notice of the disturbance on their southern border. Determined to nip the Shimazu menace in the bud, the father and son team of [[Otomo Sorin]] and Yoshimune gathered a great army from the considerable Otomo domain (which included much of northern Kyushu) and marched into southern Hyuga.  

The battles in southern Hyuga in 1578 had established Yoshihisa as a great warrior and had the additional benefit of increasing the confidence of his followers. Almost overnight, the ranks of the Shimazu swelled - and not a moment too soon, for the Otomo had taken notice of the disturbance on their southern border. Determined to nip the Shimazu menace in the bud, the father and son team of [[Otomo Sorin]] and Yoshimune gathered a great army from the considerable Otomo domain (which included much of northern Kyushu) and marched into southern Hyuga.  

Yoshihisa had by now returned to Satsuma, having left his brother Iehisa with a thousand men to watch the border at Takajo. The advancing Otomo quickly crushed the pro-Shimazu lord (and former Ito vassal) [[Tsuchimochi Chikanari]] and occupied [[Matsuo Castle]]. The two Otomo lords lingered there after sending a relative, [[Tawara Chikataka]], ahead with the main body. This invested Takajo, which Iehisa defended fiercely.  

Yoshihisa had by now returned to Satsuma, having left his brother Iehisa with a thousand men to watch the border at Takajo. The advancing Otomo quickly crushed the pro-Shimazu lord (and former Ito vassal) [[Tsuchimochi Chikanari]] and occupied [[Matsuo castle]]. The two Otomo lords lingered there after sending a relative, [[Tawara Chikataka]], ahead with the main body. This invested Takajo, which Iehisa defended fiercely.  

[[Image:Mimigawa.jpg|thumb|left|Battle of Mimigawa, (1578)]]

[[Image:Mimigawa.jpg|thumb|left|Battle of Mimigawa, (1578)]]