Sengoku Hidehisa

• Born: 1552
• Died: 1614
• Sons: Sengoku Tadamasa
• Titles: Echizen no kami
• Distinction: Toyotomi retainer

Hidehisa served Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In 1581 he captured Awaji Island and in 1584 was dispatched to Shikoku to check any possible moves by Chosokabe Motochika, who was nominally part of the anti-Hideyoshi union that included Tokugawa Ieyasu. Hidehisa was defeated by Motochika at Hikita in Awa province and forced to retreat. After Hideyoshi's invasion of Shikoku in 1585, Hidehisa was granted a 100,000 koku fief in Sanuki province. Later, he was dispatched to Kyushu along with Chosokabe Motochika to bolster the defense of the Ôtomo capital of Funai against the Shimazu. Once at Funai, Hidehisa and Ôtomo Yoshimune disregarded Hideyoshi's orders to stand fast, instead marching out to relieve Toshimitsu castle. When they encountered the Shimazu army, they attacked despite Chosokabe's objections and were defeated at the battle of Hetsugigawa. For this Hideyoshi stripped him of his domain and he went to live at Mt. Koya. Hideyoshi was later prevailed upon to give him a 50,000 koku fief at Komoro in Shinano province. He supported the Tokugawa in the Sekigahara Campaign. Hidehisa had earlier earned fame for his capture of the famous bandit Ishikawa Gôemon. He died on 13 June 1614.

References

• Initial text from Sengoku Biographical Dictionary (Samurai-Archives.com) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005