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[[Image:Kuroda_yoshitaka.jpg|thumb|left|Kuroda Yoshitaka.]]

[[Image:Kuroda_yoshitaka.jpg|thumb|left|Kuroda Yoshitaka.]]

Yoshitaka was the son of [[Kuroda Mototaka]], a samurai originally from [[Bizen province|Bizen]] who ended up in the service of the [[Odera clan|Odera]] of [[Harima province|Harima]]. The Odera were in fact nominally vassals of the [[Akamatsu clan|Akamatsu]], whose power by [[1570]] had ebbed to such an extent that [[Akamatsu Yoshisuke]] was essentially living under the protection of the Odera at Himeji.  

Yoshitaka was the son of [[Kuroda Mototaka]], a samurai originally from [[Bizen province|Bizen]] who ended up in the service of the [[Kodera clan|Kodera]] of [[Harima province|Harima]]. The Kodera were in fact nominally vassals of the [[Akamatsu clan|Akamatsu]], whose power by [[1570]] had ebbed to such an extent that [[Akamatsu Yoshisuke]] was essentially living under the protection of the Kodera at Himeji.  

Mototaka took the name of his new lords and rose to become one of the Odera’s chief retainers and the holder of [[Himeji castle]]. In [[1576]], Mototaka’s son Yoshitaka noted the rise of the [[Oda clan]], and urged [[Odera Masamoto]] to make a pact with [[Oda Nobunaga]], who was presently at war with the [[Mori clan|Môri clan]]. It happened that Masamoto favored the Môri - as did many of the other clans of the region - and made no overtures to Nobunaga. Kuroda therefore contacted [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hideyoshi]] and managed to secure an audience with Nobunaga in Kyôto himself. Nobunaga, who had already ordered Hideyoshi and Akechi Mitsuhide to march west, was pleased at what proved to be enthusiastic support on Yoshitaka’s part. Harima was critical to the campaign against the Môri - both to aid in the isolation of the Ishiyama Honganji and as the gateway to Bizen and [[Mimasaka province|Mimasaka]]. Himeji was at the time not particularly impressive, but it’s surrender to the Oda forces would force the Odera to follow suit, as well as, of course, the Akamatsu. After Yoshitaka’s father had been convinced, this was just what happened.  

Mototaka took the name of his new lords and rose to become one of the Kodera’s chief retainers and the holder of [[Himeji castle]]. In [[1576]], Mototaka’s son Yoshitaka noted the rise of the [[Oda clan]], and urged [[Kodera Masamoto]] to make a pact with [[Oda Nobunaga]], who was presently at war with the [[Mori clan|Môri clan]]. It happened that Masamoto favored the Môri - as did many of the other clans of the region - and made no overtures to Nobunaga. Kuroda therefore contacted [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hideyoshi]] and managed to secure an audience with Nobunaga in Kyôto himself. Nobunaga, who had already ordered Hideyoshi and Akechi Mitsuhide to march west, was pleased at what proved to be enthusiastic support on Yoshitaka’s part. Harima was critical to the campaign against the Môri - both to aid in the isolation of the Ishiyama Honganji and as the gateway to Bizen and [[Mimasaka province|Mimasaka]]. Himeji was at the time not particularly impressive, but it’s surrender to the Oda forces would force the Kodera to follow suit, as well as, of course, the Akamatsu. After Yoshitaka’s father had been convinced, this was just what happened.  

Yet in [[1578]] [[Araki Murashige]], an Oda vassal who controlled [[Itami castle]] in [[Settsu province|Settsu]], rebelled; Odera Masamoto, who had begrudged the Kuroda’s political activities, swung back toward the Môri. Yoshitaka urged Masamoto to reconsider his stance, and in response Masamoto sent him on a diplomatic mission to Itami. Once there, Kuroda was thrown into a cell - evidently at Odera’s insistence. Yoshitaka eventually escaped, but at the cost of an injury that left him with a pronounced limp.

Yet in [[1578]] [[Araki Murashige]], an Oda vassal who controlled [[Itami castle]] in [[Settsu province|Settsu]], rebelled; Kodera Masamoto, who had begrudged the Kuroda’s political activities, swung back toward the Môri. Yoshitaka urged Masamoto to reconsider his stance, and in response Masamoto sent him on a diplomatic mission to Itami. Once there, Kuroda was thrown into a cell - evidently at Kodera’s insistence. Yoshitaka eventually escaped, but at the cost of an injury that left him with a pronounced limp.

Yoshitaka became a close associate of Hideyoshi, who considered him as close to his heart as his half-brother, Hidenaga. Yoshitaka proved himself worthy of Hideyoshi’s friendship in the campaigns on Shikoku ([[1585]]) and Kyushu ([[1587]]), after which he was rewarded for his services with a 120,000-koku fief in [[Buzen province|Buzen]]. In the [[Second Korean Campaign]] Hideyoshi entrusted Yoshitaka to act as chief advisor to the leader of the invasion force, the young [[Kobayakawa Hideaki]].  

Yoshitaka became a close associate of Hideyoshi, who considered him as close to his heart as his half-brother, Hidenaga. Yoshitaka proved himself worthy of Hideyoshi’s friendship in the campaigns on Shikoku ([[1585]]) and Kyushu ([[1587]]), after which he was rewarded for his services with a 120,000-koku fief in [[Buzen province|Buzen]]. In the [[Second Korean Campaign]] Hideyoshi entrusted Yoshitaka to act as chief advisor to the leader of the invasion force, the young [[Kobayakawa Hideaki]].