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Daimyô of the [[Chosokabe clan|Chosokabe]] family and eventual vassal to [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], Motochika rose to rule Tosa and, for a short time, the whole of Shikoku. The Chosokabe were respected Jito (deputy administrators) of Tosa from the 12th century and entered the 16th Century as vassals of the [[Ichijo clan|Ichijô Clan]], who were based in western Tosa.  

Daimyô of the [[Chosokabe clan|Chosokabe]] family and eventual vassal to [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], Motochika rose to rule Tosa and, for a short time, the whole of Shikoku. The Chosokabe were respected Jito (deputy administrators) of Tosa from the 12th century and entered the 16th Century as vassals of the [[Ichijo clan|Ichijô Clan]], who were based in western Tosa.  

Motochika was born at [[Oko castle|Okô castle]] in the Nagaoka district of Tosa, the eldest son of [[Chosokabe Kunichika]] ([[1503]])-([[1560]]). Motochika was a quiet youth and his father was said to have fretted about the boy's gentle nature (he seems to have been nicknamed Himewako, or 'Little Princess' by his father's vassals); Kunichika's worries evaporated when Motochika later proved himself a skilled and brave warrior during his first battle against the [[Motoyama clan]] in 1560.  

Motochika was born at [[Oko castle|Okô castle]] in the Nagaoka district of Tosa, the eldest son of [[Chosokabe Kunichika|Chôsokabe Kunichika]] ([[1503]]-[[1560]]). Motochika was a quiet youth and his father was said to have fretted about the boy's gentle nature (he seems to have been nicknamed Himewako, or 'Little Princess' by his father's vassals); Kunichika's worries evaporated when Motochika later proved himself a skilled and brave warrior during his first battle against the [[Motoyama clan]] in 1560.  

[[Image:Chosokabe_mon.jpg||thumb|left|The Chosokabe mon.]]When Motochika came of age, his father had already begun to draw away from the Ichijô, and Motochika would carry on his work. With his defeat of the locally powerful [[Motoyama clan|Motoyama]] at the [[Battle of Asakura]] and by forming alliances with local families, Motochika was able to build his power base on the Kochi Plain. While being careful to remain ostensibly loyal to the Ichijô over the next few years, Motochika's power grew to the extent that he was strong enough to march on the rival [[Aki clan]] of east Tosa with 7,000 men and bring them to bear in [[1569]]. In the course of the decade he was awarded a court rank (Kunai no shô) and was sufficiently confident after the reduction of the Aki to finally turn on the Ichijô. While still lord of the Hata district of Tosa, [[Ichijo Kanesada|Ichijô Kanesada]] ([[1542]]-[[1585]]) was unpopular and had already suffered the defection of a number of important retainers. Seizing the opportunity, Motochika wasted no time in marching on the Ichijô's headquarters at Nakamura and in [[1573]] Kanesada fled to [[Bungo province|Bungo]], defeated. The [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo]] later supplied Kanesada with a fleet and he returned in an expedition which the Chosokabe easily crushed. The twice defeated Ichijô daimyô submitted to Motochika and was allowed to go into exile on an island off [[Iyo province]] - only to be assassinated in 1585, presumably on Motochika's orders.  

[[Image:Chosokabe_mon.jpg||thumb|left|The Chosôkabe mon.]]When Motochika came of age, his father had already begun to draw away from the Ichijô, and Motochika would carry on his work. With his defeat of the locally powerful Motoyama at the [[Battle of Asakura]] and by forming alliances with local families, Motochika was able to build his power base on the Kôchi Plain. While being careful to remain ostensibly loyal to the Ichijô over the next few years, Motochika's power grew to the extent that he was strong enough to march on the rival [[Aki clan]] of east Tosa with 7,000 men and bring them to bear in [[1569]]. In the course of the decade he was awarded a court rank (Kunai no shô) and was sufficiently confident after the reduction of the Aki to finally turn on the Ichijô. While still lord of the Hata district of Tosa, [[Ichijo Kanesada|Ichijô Kanesada]] ([[1542]]-[[1585]]) was unpopular and had already suffered the defection of a number of important retainers. Seizing the opportunity, Motochika wasted no time in marching on the Ichijô's headquarters at Nakamura and in [[1573]] Kanesada fled to [[Bungo province|Bungo]], defeated. The [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo]] later supplied Kanesada with a fleet and he returned in an expedition which the Chôsokabe easily crushed. The twice defeated Ichijô daimyô submitted to Motochika and was allowed to go into exile on an island off [[Iyo province]] - only to be assassinated in 1585, presumably on Motochika's orders.  

[[Image:Tosa province.jpg|right|thumb|Tosa Province (click to enlarge)]]  

[[Image:Tosa province.jpg|right|thumb|Tosa Province (click to enlarge)]]  

Motochika was now sole ruler of Tosa, but pressed onwards. One of the problems the Chosokabe were faced with was the very territory they possessed. It was poor, and Motochika was hard-pressed to when it came to decent tracts of land to dole out as rewards to his men. This as much as his own ambitions propelled him towards domination of the whole island.

Motochika was now sole ruler of Tosa, but pressed onwards. One of the problems the Chôsokabe were faced with was the very territory they possessed. It was poor, and Motochika was hard-pressed to when it came to decent tracts of land to dole out as rewards to his men. This as much as his own ambitions propelled him towards domination of the whole island.

==Unification of Shikoku==

==Unification of Shikoku==