Changes

At the age of 20, Motoharu, [[Mori Motonari|Môri Motonari's]] 2nd son, became the head of the Kikkawa daimyo family of [[Aki province|Aki]]. In [[1550]] Motonari arranged for a son to be adopted and named as heir by the Kikkawa house. The previous lord, Okitsune, had been a rival of the Mori and had allied himself with the [[Amako clan|Amako]] in the 1540's. Motonari had responded by pressuring Okitsune to adopt his son Motoharu; in 1550 Okitsune was forced into retirement and succeeded by Motoharu (Okitsune was later killed on [[Mori clan||Môri's]] orders). The Kikkawa became vassals to the Môri but maintained an important presence into the [[Edo Period]]. Motoharu proved himself an invaluable asset to his father and a warrior of great skill. He served at the [[Battle of Miyajima]] ([[1555]]), the [[Gassan-Toda Campaign|Gassan-Toda Campaigns]] ([[1563]]-[[1566|66]]), the sieges and counter-sieges of [[Moji castle|Moji]] and [[Matsuyama castle|Matsuyama]] castles ([[Buzen province]], [[1557]]-[[1563]]), the [[Battle of Torisaka]] ([[Iyo province]], [[1568]]), and countless other, less-notable engagements. Many of these actions saw Motoharu fighting side by side with his brother [[Kobayakawa Takakage]], and popular conception has Motoharu the brawn to Takakage's brains.  

At the age of 20, Motoharu, [[Mori Motonari|Môri Motonari's]] 2nd son, became the head of the Kikkawa daimyo family of [[Aki province|Aki]]. In [[1550]] Motonari arranged for a son to be adopted and named as heir by the Kikkawa house. The previous lord, Okitsune, had been a rival of the Mori and had allied himself with the [[Amako clan|Amako]] in the 1540's. Motonari had responded by pressuring Okitsune to adopt his son Motoharu; in 1550 Okitsune was forced into retirement and succeeded by Motoharu (Okitsune was later killed on [[Mori clan||Môri's]] orders). The Kikkawa became vassals to the Môri but maintained an important presence into the [[Edo Period]]. Motoharu proved himself an invaluable asset to his father and a warrior of great skill. He served at the [[Battle of Miyajima]] ([[1555]]), the [[Gassan-Toda Campaign|Gassan-Toda Campaigns]] ([[1563]]-[[1566|66]]), the sieges and counter-sieges of [[Moji castle|Moji]] and [[Matsuyama castle|Matsuyama]] castles ([[Buzen province]], [[1557]]-[[1563]]), the [[Battle of Torisaka]] ([[Iyo province]], [[1568]]), and countless other, less-notable engagements. Many of these actions saw Motoharu fighting side by side with his brother [[Kobayakawa Takakage]], and popular conception has Motoharu the brawn to Takakage's brains.  

After Gassan-Toda and the later death of Motonari, Motoharu became the guardian of [[Izumo province|Izumo]] and [[Hoki province|Hôki]] (taking up residence in Gassan-Toda Castle) and clashed with the Amako-loyalist [[Yamanaka Shikanosuke]]. Motoharu was active in the war with the [[Oda Clan|Oda]] that culminated in the [[Siege of Takamatsu Castle]] in [[Bingo province|Bingo]]. After the death of [[Oda Nobunaga]] ([[1582]]) played important role in [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Toyotomi Hideyoshi's]] conquest of Shikoku in [[1585]], landing with his brother Kobayakawa on Iyo with 30,000 men. He died the next year, followed in [[1587]] by his son Motonaga ([[1547]]-[[1587]]). Motoharu was considered a splendid leader of men and, along with his brother Takakage, a pillar of the Môri clan.  

After Gassan-Toda and the later death of Motonari, Motoharu became the guardian of [[Izumo province|Izumo]] and [[Hoki province|Hôki]] (taking up residence in Gassan-Toda Castle) and clashed with the Amako-loyalist [[Yamanaka Shikanosuke]]. Motoharu was active in the war with the [[Oda clan (Owari)|Oda]] that culminated in the [[Siege of Takamatsu Castle]] in [[Bingo province|Bingo]]. After the death of [[Oda Nobunaga]] ([[1582]]) played important role in [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Toyotomi Hideyoshi's]] conquest of Shikoku in [[1585]], landing with his brother Kobayakawa on Iyo with 30,000 men. He died the next year, followed in [[1587]] by his son Motonaga ([[1547]]-[[1587]]). Motoharu was considered a splendid leader of men and, along with his brother Takakage, a pillar of the Môri clan.  

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