Changes

Motonari inherited a clan that claimed direct descent from [[Oie Hiromoto|Ôie Hiromoto]] (大江広元, 1148-1225), an advisor to [[Minamoto Yoritomo]] who served the [[Hojo clan|Hôjô]] well after Yoritomo's death. Hiromoto's son assumed the name Môri, and in [[1336]] Aki province became the clan's homeland when [[Mori Tokichika|Môri Tokichika]] was appointed Jito there. The clan experienced a power struggle in the 1470's that saw the main [[Mori clan|Môri]] line absorb both its branch families.  

Motonari inherited a clan that claimed direct descent from [[Oie Hiromoto|Ôie Hiromoto]] (大江広元, 1148-1225), an advisor to [[Minamoto Yoritomo]] who served the [[Hojo clan|Hôjô]] well after Yoritomo's death. Hiromoto's son assumed the name Môri, and in [[1336]] Aki province became the clan's homeland when [[Mori Tokichika|Môri Tokichika]] was appointed Jito there. The clan experienced a power struggle in the 1470's that saw the main [[Mori clan|Môri]] line absorb both its branch families.  

Motonari was the second son of [[Mori Hiromoto|Môri Hiromoto]], a daimyo in Aki Province who struggled against the local [[Takeda clan]] and the encroaching [[Ouchi clan|Ôuchi]]. His mother was a daughter of [[Fukubara Hirotoshi]] [福原広俊].  In [[1499]], Hiromoto found himself in the path of a looming Amako invasion from Izumo, and allied with Oûchi. At the time, [[Ouchi Yoshioki|Ôuchi Yoshioki]] was becoming involved in the gunboat politics of Kyoto and while he was away, the Amako grew stronger. In [[1506]] Hiromoto died, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Okimoto, who ended up assisting Yoshioki in Kyoto for a short period. Motonari, meanwhile, was given his manhood ceremony in 1511.  It happened that Okimoto died in [[1516]], and Motonari was named to act as guardian to the late lord's young son, [[Môri Komatsumaru|Komatsumaru]] [幸松丸]. The most powerful daimyo in Aki, [[Takeda Motoshige]], took advantage of Okimoto's death to launch an attack on the Môri and Kikkawa domains, bringing 5,000 men to attack [[Arita Castle]] [有田城].  Motonari led an allied army of some 1,000 out to contest the Takeda.  The Takeda's vanguard commander, [[Kumagai Motonao]] [熊谷元直] killed in the first action and in response Motoshige himself lead the army against Motonari but was himself killed by an arrow crossing the Mataouchigawa (又打川).  This [[Battle of Arita-Nakaide]] [有田中井手の戦い], possibly Motonari's first action, was a pivotal moment for the Môri and increased their influence in Aki Province greatly.  However, some time after this, the Amako, as part of their ongoing conflict with the Ôuchi, compelled the Môri to ally with them.  In 1522, Motonari married the daughter of [[Kikkawa Kunitsune]], known today as [[Myoukyuu]] [妙玖].  This match secured the friendship of the Kikkawa and would in time produce three fine sons.

Motonari was the second son of [[Mori Hiromoto|Môri Hiromoto]], a daimyo in Aki Province who struggled against the local [[Takeda clan]] and the encroaching [[Ouchi clan|Ôuchi]]. His mother was a daughter of [[Fukubara Hirotoshi]] [福原広俊].  In [[1499]], Hiromoto found himself in the path of a looming Amako invasion from Izumo, and allied with Oûchi. At the time, [[Ouchi Yoshioki|Ôuchi Yoshioki]] was becoming involved in the gunboat politics of Kyoto and while he was away, the Amako grew stronger. In [[1506]] Hiromoto died, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Okimoto, who ended up assisting Yoshioki in Kyoto for a short period. Motonari, meanwhile, was given his manhood ceremony in 1511.  It happened that Okimoto died in [[1516]], and Motonari was named to act as guardian to the late lord's young son, [[Mori Komatsumaru|Komatsumaru]] [幸松丸]. The most powerful daimyo in Aki, [[Takeda Motoshige]], took advantage of Okimoto's death to launch an attack on the Môri and Kikkawa domains, bringing 5,000 men to attack [[Arita Castle]] [有田城].  Motonari led an allied army of some 1,000 out to contest the Takeda.  The Takeda's vanguard commander, [[Kumagai Motonao]] [熊谷元直] killed in the first action and in response Motoshige himself lead the army against Motonari but was himself killed by an arrow crossing the Mataouchigawa (又打川).  This [[Battle of Arita-Nakaide]] [有田中井手の戦い], possibly Motonari's first action, was a pivotal moment for the Môri and increased their influence in Aki Province greatly.  However, some time after this, the Amako, as part of their ongoing conflict with the Ôuchi, compelled the Môri to ally with them.  In 1522, Motonari married the daughter of [[Kikkawa Kunitsune]], known today as [[Myoukyuu]] [妙玖].  This match secured the friendship of the Kikkawa and would in time produce three fine sons.

In 1523 the Amako launced an attack against Ôuchi holdings in Aki and Motonari led the Môri in service in Amako Tsunehisa's army.  The Amako were initally repulsed in their attempts to bring down [[Kagamiyama Castle]], held by [[Kurata Fusanobu]] (蔵田房信).  Motonari suggested a trick that resulted in Fusanobu's murder.  The castle fell and Motonari himself gained further prestige.  Later that same year, Komatsumaru died. Motonari was nominated by the family's retainers to become the official head of the clan.  His younger brother, [[Sogo Motostuna|Sôgô Mototsuna]] (相合元綱, d.1524), resented the decision and plotted against Motonari, only to be discovered and at length forced to commit suicide.  His supporter [[Katsura Hirozumi]] and others were also killed or committed suicide.  Relations between the Môri and the Amako declined over the next few years and Motonari decided to cut his ties with the Amako and allied his clan with the Ôuchi.

In 1523 the Amako launced an attack against Ôuchi holdings in Aki and Motonari led the Môri in service in Amako Tsunehisa's army.  The Amako were initally repulsed in their attempts to bring down [[Kagamiyama Castle]], held by [[Kurata Fusanobu]] (蔵田房信).  Motonari suggested a trick that resulted in Fusanobu's murder.  The castle fell and Motonari himself gained further prestige.  Later that same year, Komatsumaru died. Motonari was nominated by the family's retainers to become the official head of the clan.  His younger brother, [[Sogo Motostuna|Sôgô Mototsuna]] (相合元綱, d.1524), resented the decision and plotted against Motonari, only to be discovered and at length forced to commit suicide.  His supporter [[Katsura Hirozumi]] and others were also killed or committed suicide.  Relations between the Môri and the Amako declined over the next few years and Motonari decided to cut his ties with the Amako and allied his clan with the Ôuchi.

In [[1528]], Ôuchi Yoshioki passed away and was succeeded by his son Yoshitaka. The Amako made an effort to capitalize on this turn of events, but with only minimal success.  Meanwhile, Motonari set about consolidating the Môri's holdings in Aki, and gathering local allies, chief among these being the [[Shisido clan|Shisido]], [[Kumagai clan|Kumagai]], and [[Amano clan|Amano]]. Efforts by the Amako to bring the Môri back under their sway failed, and in [[1540]] (Tenbun 9/8/10) [[Amako Akihisa]] (Haruhisa) dispatched a sizable army drawn from all his holdings into Aki with the intention of bringing down Koriyama Castle. Motonari was heavily outnumbered and shut himself up in Koriyama, sending out raids to harrass the Amako troops under cover of darkness and fog and calling for aid from the Ôuchi. The Amako destroyed a number of Koriyama's outlying forts and burned Koriyama's accompanying town, Yoshida, to the ground. Still unable to convince Motonari to submit, the Amako attempted to besiege Koriyama. Ôuchi Yoshitaka dispatched his general [[Sue Takafusa]] (Harukata) to relieve Koriyama, and in early October Sue arrived and combined forces with Motonari and a number of hard-fought battles ensued. The [[Siege of Koriyama|Battle of Yoshida-Koriyama Castle]] [吉田郡山城の戦い], a term generally applied to the overall campaign but consisting of a number of stages and engagements that lasted for the rest of the year, ended in defeat for the Amako with the withdrawal of their battered army out of Aki at the beginning of 1541.  The defeat of the Amako had the benefit of isolating the Môri's enemies, the Takeda, who had come to rely on the Amako for aid.  Motonari threatened [[Aki Kanayama Castle|Kanayama Castle]] [銀山城] and [[Takeda Nobusane]] [武田信実] fled to Izumo and the castle was afterwards surrendered.  This marked the end of the Aki Takeda's power.

In [[1528]], Ôuchi Yoshioki passed away and was succeeded by his son Yoshitaka. The Amako made an effort to capitalize on this turn of events, but with only minimal success.  Meanwhile, Motonari set about consolidating the Môri's holdings in Aki, and gathering local allies, chief among these being the [[Shisido clan|Shisido]], [[Kumagai clan|Kumagai]], and [[Amano clan|Amano]]. Efforts by the Amako to bring the Môri back under their sway failed, and in [[1540]] (Tenbun 9/8/10) [[Amako Akihisa]] (Haruhisa) dispatched a sizable army drawn from all his holdings into Aki with the intention of bringing down Koriyama Castle. Motonari was heavily outnumbered and shut himself up in Koriyama, sending out raids to harrass the Amako troops under cover of darkness and fog and calling for aid from the Ôuchi. The Amako destroyed a number of Koriyama's outlying forts and burned Koriyama's accompanying town, Yoshida, to the ground. Still unable to convince Motonari to submit, the Amako attempted to besiege Koriyama. Ôuchi Yoshitaka dispatched his general [[Sue Takafusa]] (Harukata) to relieve Koriyama, and in early October Sue arrived and combined forces with Motonari and a number of hard-fought battles ensued. The [[Siege of Koriyama|Battle of Yoshida-Koriyama Castle]] [吉田郡山城の戦い], a term generally applied to the overall campaign but consisting of a number of stages and engagements that lasted for the rest of the year, ended in defeat for the Amako with the withdrawal of their battered army out of Aki at the beginning of 1541.  The defeat of the Amako had the benefit of isolating the Môri's enemies, the Takeda, who had come to rely on the Amako for aid.  Motonari threatened [[Aki Kanayama Castle|Kanayama Castle]] [銀山城] and [[Takeda Nobusane]] [武田信実] fled to Izumo and the castle was afterwards surrendered.  This marked the end of the Aki Takeda's power.

[[Amako Tsunehisa]] died in November 1541. Sensing a great opportunity in the passing of this formidable and considering Haruhisa's damaging defeat at Koriyama, Oûchi Yoshitaka and Môri planned a campaign to bring down Gassan-Toda Castle.  The combined forces mobilized in January of 1542 (Tenbun 11/1).  The Oûchi brought down [[Akana Castle]] [赤穴城] on the Iwami-Izumo border after a three month siege and eventually the allies approached Gassan-Toda, well into the year. By this time their troops were weary and at the absolute limits of their supply lines and numerically not powerful enough to storm the castle.  After some fighting after the new year, the allies conceded defeat and withdrew, harried as they went by the Amako.  The [[First Siege of Gassan-Toda|1st Battle of Gassan-Toda Castle]] [月山富田城の戦い] marked a turning point in the fortunes of the western provinces.  Motonari returned to Koriyama to lick his wounds while Yoshitaka, his confidence said to have been forever shattered by the fiasco, withdrew into Yamaguchi and increasingly relied on his senior retainers to manage the Oûchi domain. In fact, the failed expedition could be seen as benefiting the Môri in the long run. With Yoshitaka's lapse into inactivity, Motonari had more room to expand throughout Aki and consolidate his power. In the meantime, the Amako took advantage of their recent victory to push their influence into the lands to their east, [[Hôki Province|Hôki Province]], [[Mimasaka Province|Mimasaka Province]], and [[Bitchû Province|Bitchû Province]].  

[[Amako Tsunehisa]] died in November 1541. Sensing a great opportunity in the passing of this formidable and considering Haruhisa's damaging defeat at Koriyama, Oûchi Yoshitaka and Môri planned a campaign to bring down Gassan-Toda Castle.  The combined forces mobilized in January of 1542 (Tenbun 11/1).  The Oûchi brought down [[Akana Castle]] [赤穴城] on the Iwami-Izumo border after a three month siege and eventually the allies approached Gassan-Toda, well into the year. By this time their troops were weary and at the absolute limits of their supply lines and numerically not powerful enough to storm the castle.  After some fighting after the new year, the allies conceded defeat and withdrew, harried as they went by the Amako.  The [[First Siege of Gassan-Toda|1st Battle of Gassan-Toda Castle]] [月山富田城の戦い] marked a turning point in the fortunes of the western provinces.  Motonari returned to Koriyama to lick his wounds while Yoshitaka, his confidence said to have been forever shattered by the fiasco, withdrew into Yamaguchi and increasingly relied on his senior retainers to manage the Oûchi domain. In fact, the failed expedition could be seen as benefiting the Môri in the long run. With Yoshitaka's lapse into inactivity, Motonari had more room to expand throughout Aki and consolidate his power. In the meantime, the Amako took advantage of their recent victory to push their influence into the lands to their east, [[Hôki province|Hôki Province]], [[Mimasaka province|Mimasaka Province]], and [[Bitchû province|Bitchû Province]].  

Over the next few years, Motonari concluded alliances with such powers as the Kumagai and [Western Murakami clan|Murakami], the latter a family consisting of three branches that was essentially an Inland Sea pirate organization. Môri's alliance with [[Murakami Torayasu]] would pay dividends for years to come. In 1550 Motonari arranged for his sons to assume the leadership of two powerful Aki clans-the [[Kikkawa clan|Kikkawa]] and [[Kobayakawa clan|Kobayakawa]]. His second son [[Kikkawa Motoharu|Motoharu]] went to the Kikkawa, and his third son, [[Kobayakawa Takakage|Takakage]], went to the Kobayakawa. Motonari's eldest son and heir, a onetime goodwill hostage of the Oûchi, was [[Môri Takamoto|Takamoto]], the father of the future [[Mori Terumoto|Môri Terumoto]]. By [[1550]], both Motoharu and Takakage had become the lords of their respective clans, and not a moment too soon, for turmoil erupted in [[Suo province|Suo]].  

Over the next few years, Motonari concluded alliances with such powers as the Kumagai and [Western Murakami clan|Murakami], the latter a family consisting of three branches that was essentially an Inland Sea pirate organization. Môri's alliance with [[Murakami Torayasu]] would pay dividends for years to come. In 1550 Motonari arranged for his sons to assume the leadership of two powerful Aki clans-the [[Kikkawa clan|Kikkawa]] and [[Kobayakawa clan|Kobayakawa]]. His second son [[Kikkawa Motoharu|Motoharu]] went to the Kikkawa, and his third son, [[Kobayakawa Takakage|Takakage]], went to the Kobayakawa. Motonari's eldest son and heir, a onetime goodwill hostage of the Oûchi, was [[Môri Takamoto|Takamoto]], the father of the future [[Mori Terumoto|Môri Terumoto]]. By [[1550]], both Motoharu and Takakage had become the lords of their respective clans, and not a moment too soon, for turmoil erupted in [[Suo province|Suo]].  

==The Battle of Miyajima==

==The Battle of Miyajima==

As mentioned, Oûchi Yoshitaka had retreated from affairs of state following the Izumo debacle in 1543. During the next seven years, he handed over most martial matters to his retainers, notably the [[Western Naitô clan|Naitô]] and [[Sue Harukata]] (Takafusa). It would seem that Sue had attempted again and again to warn his lord against neglecting military affairs, going so far as to insinuate that someone close to the Ôuchi might rebel. In 1550, Sue himself revolted. When Harukata revolted, Yoshikata was forced to flee Yamaguchi and, finding that none of his major retainers were willing to help him, committed suicide. Sue quickly made a thin attempt to legitimize his actions by arranging for Ôtomo Haruhide, a son of [[Ôtomo Sôrin]] whose mother was the daughter of Ôuchi Yoshioki, to be installed in Yamaguchi as [[Ôuchi Yoshinaga]].

As mentioned, Oûchi Yoshitaka had retreated from affairs of state following the Izumo debacle in 1543. During the next seven years, he handed over most martial matters to his retainers, notably the [[Western Naitô clan|Naitô]] and [[Sue Harukata]] (Takafusa). It would seem that Sue had attempted again and again to warn his lord against neglecting military affairs, going so far as to insinuate that someone close to the Ôuchi might rebel. In 1550, Sue himself revolted. When Harukata revolted, Yoshikata was forced to flee Yamaguchi and, finding that none of his major retainers were willing to help him, committed suicide. Sue quickly made a thin attempt to legitimize his actions by arranging for Ôtomo Haruhide, a son of [[Otomo Sorin|Ôtomo Sôrin]] whose mother was the daughter of Ôuchi Yoshioki, to be installed in Yamaguchi as [[Ouchi Yoshinaga|Ôuchi Yoshinaga]].

Môri's immediate reaction to Sue's rebellion is unknown, but for the next few years he paid the new lord of the Ôuchi lip service.  Motonari contented himself with expanding the Môri presence in [[Bingo province]], taking [[Takiyama Castle]] in 1552.

Môri's immediate reaction to Sue's rebellion is unknown, but for the next few years he paid the new lord of the Ôuchi lip service.  Motonari contented himself with expanding the Môri presence in [[Bingo province]], taking [[Takiyama Castle]] in 1552.