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At the age of eight he was sent as a hostage to Oda Nobunaga, who had him established at Nagahama Castle [長浜城] in Omi Province.  In the fall of [[1578]] [[Araki Murashige]] of [[Settsu province|Settsu]] rebelled against Nobunaga and shut himself up in [[Itami castle]].  Kuroda Yoshitaka was dispatched to Itami in an effort to negotiate a settlement but failed to return.  Nobunaga believed that Yoshitaka had betrayed him, although in fact the latter had been detained against his will.  Nobunaga accordingly ordered that the young Nagamasa be executed at once, an order that was luckily circumvented by [[Takenaka Shigeharu]].  Nobunaga later granted the use of the character Naga [長] in Nagamasa's adult name.

At the age of eight he was sent as a hostage to Oda Nobunaga, who had him established at Nagahama Castle [長浜城] in Omi Province.  In the fall of [[1578]] [[Araki Murashige]] of [[Settsu province|Settsu]] rebelled against Nobunaga and shut himself up in [[Itami castle]].  Kuroda Yoshitaka was dispatched to Itami in an effort to negotiate a settlement but failed to return.  Nobunaga believed that Yoshitaka had betrayed him, although in fact the latter had been detained against his will.  Nobunaga accordingly ordered that the young Nagamasa be executed at once, an order that was luckily circumvented by [[Takenaka Shigeharu]].  Nobunaga later granted the use of the character Naga [長] in Nagamasa's adult name.

Following the death of Nobunaga in [[1582]], the Kuroda, including Nagamasa, experienced steady growth under Hideyoshi owing to the talents of Yoshitaka and the favor that he enjoyed with Hideyoshi as a trusted confidante.  Nagamasa distinguished himself in the [[1597]] invasion of Kyushu at [[Takarabe Castle]] [財部城].  Afterwards the Kuroda were established in [[Buzen province|Buzen Province]] with a fief valued at around 50,000 [[koku]], Nagamasa himself being awarded the title 'Kai no kami' [甲斐守] and succeeding his father when the latter went into retirement in [[1589]].

Following the death of Nobunaga in [[1582]], the Kuroda, including Nagamasa, experienced steady growth under Hideyoshi owing to the talents of Yoshitaka and the favor that he enjoyed with Hideyoshi as a trusted confidante.  Nagamasa distinguished himself in the [[1597]] [[invasion of Kyushu at [[Takarabe Castle]] [財部城].  Afterwards the Kuroda were established in [[Buzen province|Buzen Province]] with a fief valued at around 50,000 [[koku]], Nagamasa himself being awarded the title 'Kai no kami' [甲斐守] and succeeding his father when the latter went into retirement in [[1589]].

Nagamasa led 6,000 men in the [[First Korean Campaign]] ([[1592]]-[[1593|93]]). He acted as a rearguard of sorts when the Japanese finally withdrew from Korea in [[1598]], holding the port of [[Pusan]] open until all his countrymen could embark. He was given a 120,000-koku fief at Nakatsu in [[Buzen province]].  

Nagamasa led 6,000 men in the [[Korean Invasions|First Korean Campaign]] ([[1592]]-[[1593|93]]). He acted as a rearguard of sorts when the Japanese finally withdrew from Korea in [[1598]], holding the port of [[Pusan]] open until all his countrymen could embark. He was given a 120,000-koku fief at Nakatsu in [[Buzen province]].  

In [[1600]] he and his father sided with [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] against [[Ishida Mitsunari]]. While Yoshitaka fought against Ishida's allies on [[Kyushu]], Nagamasa led 5,400 men in the Tokugawa vanguard at [[Battle of Sekigahara|Sekigahara]] and was afterwards praised for his efforts by Ieyasu. In the aftermath of the Tokugawa victory, he was given a 520,000-koku fief in [[Chikuzen province]] at Najima [名島] and built [[Fukuoka castle]]. He contributed to the construction of [[Edo castle]], personally overseeing the building of the keep. He next went on to serve in the [[Osaka Castle Campaigns]] and fought under [[Tokugawa Hidetada]].  

In [[1600]] he and his father sided with [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] against [[Ishida Mitsunari]]. While Yoshitaka fought against Ishida's allies on [[Kyushu]], Nagamasa led 5,400 men in the Tokugawa vanguard at [[Battle of Sekigahara|Sekigahara]] and was afterwards praised for his efforts by Ieyasu. In the aftermath of the Tokugawa victory, he was given a 520,000-koku fief in [[Chikuzen province]] at Najima [名島] and built [[Fukuoka castle]]. He contributed to the construction of [[Edo castle]], personally overseeing the building of the keep. He next went on to serve in the [[Osaka Castle Campaigns]] and fought under [[Tokugawa Hidetada]].