1609

(Keichô 14; 慶長十四年)

Timeline of 1609

• 1606/3 The Kiyû Treaty, a trade treaty, is established between Tsushima han and Joseon Korea.
• 1609/5/2 First Dutch ships enter Hirado.
• 1609/8/22 Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie factory is established in Hirado.
• 1609/9/29 The shogunate confiscates a number of large ships from daimyo in the western regions of the archipelago.

Invasion of Ryûkyû

• 1609/2/6 The senior Shimazu clan retainers meet and choose Kabayama Hisataka to lead the invasion. The invasion forces begin to be gathered.
• 1609/3/4 One hundred ships carrying 3000 warriors depart from Yamakawa harbor, near the southern tip of Kyushu, under the command of Kabayama Hisataka.
• 1609/3/5 The fleet reaches Kuchinoerabujima, one of the Ôsumi Islands.
• 1609/3/7 Shimazu forces land on Amami-Ôshima.
• 1609/3/12 Skirting the coast, the Shimazu forces continue to fight for control of Amami-Ôshima.
• 1609/3/16 Fighting for Amami-Ôshima ends in Shimazu victory.
• 1609/3/20 Shimazu forces land on Tokunoshima.
• 1609/3/22 Fighting for Tokunoshima ends in Shimazu victory.
• 1609/3/23 Shimazu forces fail to intercept a number of Ryukyuan boats heading in the direction of Amami-Ôshima from, or past, Tokunoshima.
• 1609/3/25 Shimazu forces land on Kourijima, just off the coast of Nakijin, in preparation for their first assault upon Okinawa Island.
• 1609/4/05 Shuri castle falls to the invaders; King Shô Nei surrenders.

Other Events of 1609

Births and Deaths of 1609

• Yamada Arinobu, retainer of Shimazu clan, dies (b. 1544).
• 1609/3/28 Shô Kokushi, Warden of the North (Hokuzan Kanshi) and son of King Shô Nei, is killed.
• 1609/5/3 Kyôgoku Takatsugu, daimyô of Obama han, dies (b. 1563).

Previous Year 1608

1609

Following Year 1610