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* ''Born: [[1559]]''
* ''Death: [[1600]]''
* ''Titles: Gyôbu-shôsuke''
* Japanese: 大谷吉継 ''(Ootani Yoshitsugu)''


Ôtani Yoshitsugu's origins are unclear, however one theory holds that Yoshitsugu's family were former retainers of the [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo family]] of [[Bungo province]]. He was recommended to [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] (possibly by the young [[Ishida Mitsunari]]) around [[1574]] and quickly rose through the ranks. He attacked [[Takigawa Kazumasu]] in the [[1583]] [[Shizugatake campaign]] and afterwards, following Hideyoshi's defeat of [[Shibata Katsuie]], was given Tsuruga in [[Echizen province]]. He assisted in the logistical aspects of Hideyoshi's [[1587]] invasion of Kyushu and was present for the [[Siege of Odawara Castle]] in [[1590]]. He was later dispatched to the northern provinces as a land survey officer, though his activities during the 1590's are otherwise obscure, possibly due to a worsening case of leprosy he was suffering from by this point. While in the north he was forced to deal with the resistance of [[Onodera Yasumichi]] in [[1599]], whose castle of Ômori Yoshitsugu besieged. In 1600 he at first thought of joining [[Tokugwa Ieyasu|Tokugawa Ieyasu's]] side in the coming war but was convinced by Ishida Mitsunari to follow the latter instead. Though suffering from now-advanced leprosy, he joined the 'western' forces on the battlefield at Sekigahara and directed his troops from within a palanquin. After the defection of [[Kobayakawa Hideaki]] to Tokugawa Ieyasu's side, he ordered a retainer to cut off his head and spirit it away. His daughter was married to [[Sanada Yukimura]].

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]