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• Born: [[1537]]

• Died: [[1619]]

Nabeshima Naoshige a retainer of the [[Ryuzoji clan]] during the [[Sengoku Period]] of the 16th century. Naoshige was the son of [[Nabeshima Kiyosada]] and was known as Nobumasa throughout half of his career under the Ryuzoji. Naoshige proved himself as being one of the greatest generals under [[Ryuzoji Takanobu]]. Following the year of [[1570]] Naoshige assisted Takanobu while at [[Saga Castle]] when it was surrounded by a 60,000-man [[Ōtomo clan]] army. However, Naoshige had only 5,000 troops, so he suggested to do a night raid on the enemies camp which successfully routed them. Following the year of [[1575]] he attacked [[Suko Castle]] in western [[Hizen]] and forced its commander, [[Hirai Tsuneharu]], to commit suicide.

In [[1584]], [Nabeshima Naoshige] was the chief retainer for the Lord of [[Hizen]] until he was killed in battle by the forces of the powerful [[Shimazu]] Clan. After his lord's death, Nabeshima became the true leader of the fiefdom and fought against the Shimazu again in 1587. A Sengoku era warlord, Nabeshima distinguished himself in battle by killing hundreds of men. He was later sent on Hideyoshi's Korean campaigns where he struck up a friendship with [[Kato Kiyomasa]] and upon his return to Hizen, [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]].

Naoshige also assisted Takanobu during the [[Battle of Okitanawate]] but was unable to prevent their rout which later ended in Takanobu's death. Naoshige took this chance of having a weak heir to leave the Ryuzoji and to support [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] while during his battle against [[Kyushu]] in [[1587]]. Afterwards much of the Ryuzoji territory which also included the Saga Castle. Naoshige followed in leading over 12,000 men to [[Korea]] in the 1st Korean Campaign.

At Sekigahara, Lord Nabeshima's son, Katsushige, was convinced to take sides against Tokugawa Ieyasu. Nabeshima wisely recalled him to attack Toku­gawa's enemies in Kyushu, thus saving the clan from disaster. Historians describe Nabeshima as "a survivor and a man of quick intelligence" who saved his domain from invasion several times.{{citation needed}} His actions and sayings are immortalized in the third chapter of the [[Hagakure]] by writer [[Tsunetomo Yamamoto]], a close attendant of Nabeshima Naoshige's grandson, Mitsushige.

Following the [[Battle of Sekigahara]] during the year of [[1600]] Naoshige sent his son, [[Nabeshima Katsushige]] to assist [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]]. Following the victory of the [[Tokugawa clan|Tokugawa]], their 357,000-koku fief went untouched by Ieyasu. Following Naoshige's death his family became very well known.
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