Ukita Hideie

• Born: 1573
• Died: 1655
• Sons: Ukita Hidetaka
• Titles: Chûnagon, Sangi
• Distinction: Lord of Bizen
• Japanese: 宇喜多秀家 (Ukita Hideie)

Ukita Hideie was one of the Five Regents (Go-Tairô) appointed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to ensure the continuation of Toyotomi clan rule after Hideyoshi's death.

Hideie was the second son of Ukita Naoie, lord of Okayama castle, and later succeeded his father to become head of the Ukita clan. His position as lord of the Ukita had earlier been confirmed by Oda Nobunaga. He received the title of Chûnagon in 1594 and acted as a chief field commander in Hideyoshi's Second Invasion of Korea. He served as one of the Five Regents (Go-Tairô) following Hideyoshi's death in 1598 and with Okayama castle as his seat ruled over Bizen, Mimasaka, and part of Bitchû provinces (wielding an income of around 575,000 koku). He sided with Ishida Mitsunari in 1600 and commanded 17,000 troops, the largest loyal -and active- "Western" contingent present at the Battle of Sekigahara. The Ukita troops fought very well in the battle but were overwhelmed when attacked by the turncoat Kobayakawa Hideaki. Following the general defeat of Mitsunari's army, Hideie went into hiding, seeking refuge with the Shimazu clan. In 1603 he was revealed by Shimazu Iehisa, and Tokugawa Ieyasu at first ordered his execution. That sentence was reduced to exile, and Hideie died in exile on Hachijô Island - possibly the last of the Toyotomi-era daimyô to die.

References

• Initial text from Sengoku Biographical Dictionary (Samurai-Archives.com) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005
• Ono Masako, Tomita Chinatsu, Kanna Keiko, Taguchi Megumi, "Shiryô shôkai Kishi Akimasa bunko Satsuyû kikô," Shiryôhenshûshitsu kiyô 31 (2006), 238.