Changes

* ''Birth: [[1512]]''

* ''Birth: [[1512]]''

* ''Death: [[1585]]''

* ''Death: [[1585]]/8/29''

* ''Sons: [[Ito Yoshimasu]], [[Ito Suketaka]]''

* ''Sons: [[Ito Yoshimasu|Itô Yoshimasu]], [[Ito Suketaka|Itô Suketaka]]''

* ''Distinction: Lord of [[Hyuga province|Hyûga province]]''

* ''Distinction: Lord of [[Hyuga province|Hyûga province]]''

Yoshisuke succeeded his brother [[Ito Sukemitsu|Sukemitsu]] in [[1533]], afterwards having to contend with a rebellion among his retainers. In various clashes with neighboring clans such as the [[Kitahara clan|Kitahara family]] he proved himself a capable commander. By [[1568]] he was on hostile terms with the [[Shimazu clan]] of [[Satsuma province]]. That year he took [[Obi castle]] in southern Hyûga in 1568 but in [[1572]] his 3,000-man army was defeated by 300 troops commanded [[by Shimazu Yoshihiro]] in what is sometimes called the '[[Battle of Okehazama|Okehazama]] of [[Kyushu]]'. By this time Yoshisuke had reportedly allowed himself to sink into a luxuriant lifestyle like that of a [[Kyoto]] courtier and in this way has been compared to [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]] (who was killed at Okehazama). Yoshisuke was defeated again at [[Battle of Takabaru|Takabaru]] in [[1576]] and in [[1577]], hard-pressed by the Shimazu (who defeated him at [[Battle of Tozaki-Kamiya|Tozaki-Kamiya]] that year), fled to the lands of the [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo]]. He eventually retired to Kyoto after wandering from place to place. He died on 8/29/1585.

After some conflict against his uncle, Yoshisuke secured the succession, and succeeded his brother [[Ito Sukemitsu|Sukemitsu]] as head of the [[Ito clan|Itô clan]] in [[1533]]. He is said to have led the Itô clan to its greatest heights of power and prosperity. He developed strong connections with the capital, and was named to the [[court rank|Junior Third Rank]] in [[1546]]. Yoshisuke also proved himself an able commander in various clashes with neighboring clans such as the [[Kitahara clan]], while negotiating alliances with other clans such as the [[Kimotsuki clan|Kimotsuki]]. Yoshisuke managed to gain control of the port of [[Shibushi]], in Hyûga, and gained some prominence in overseas trading.

 

However, at the same time, Yoshisuke contended with a number of rebellions among his retainers, and by [[1568]] he was on hostile terms with the [[Shimazu clan]] of [[Satsuma province]]. He took [[Obi castle]] in southern Hyûga in 1568, as well as the area of Masakiin (today, Ebino city), but lost both in [[1572]], when his 3,000-man army was defeated by 300 troops commanded by [[Shimazu Yoshihiro]] in the [[battle of Kizakibaru]], which is sometimes called the "[[Battle of Okehazama|Okehazama]] of [[Kyushu]]." By this time Yoshisuke had reportedly allowed himself to sink into a luxuriant lifestyle like that of a [[Kyoto]] courtier and in this way has been compared to [[Imagawa Yoshimoto]] (who was killed at Okehazama); the defeat at Kizakibaru represented the beginning of the end for the Itô clan, however. Yoshisuke was defeated again at the [[battle of Takabaru]] in [[1576]]. The following year, driven out of Hyûga by the Shimazu (who defeated him at the [[battle of Tozaki-Kamiya]] that year), he fled to the lands of the [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo]]. He eventually retired to Kyoto after wandering the [[Inland Sea]], and died in [[Sakai]] on [[1585]]/8/29.

 

==References==

==References==

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

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