Changes

Takayama went on to serve in Hideyoshi’s invasion of Shikoku ([[1584]]) and in [[1585]] was transferred to Akashi (Harima province, 60,000 koku). Once there, Ukon, as he had at Takatsuki, set about converting the population, an activity that enraged the local Buddhist monks but drew no immediate attention from Hideyoshi<ref>It remains a point of debate as to whether or not Takayama engaged in forced conversions at either Takatsuki or Akashi-if not both locations.</ref>.

Takayama went on to serve in Hideyoshi’s invasion of Shikoku ([[1584]]) and in [[1585]] was transferred to Akashi (Harima province, 60,000 koku). Once there, Ukon, as he had at Takatsuki, set about converting the population, an activity that enraged the local Buddhist monks but drew no immediate attention from Hideyoshi<ref>It remains a point of debate as to whether or not Takayama engaged in forced conversions at either Takatsuki or Akashi-if not both locations.</ref>.

Takayama went on to serve in Hideyoshi’s invasion of Kyushu in [[1587]], but this campaign proved to be Takayama’s last. Hideyoshi had finished breaking the power of the armed monks (an effort Takayama had assisted him with in 1585-86) in the Yamato region; now the de facto ruler of Japan turned on Christianity. Takayama was known to be a dyed-in-the-wool Christian, and was therefore considered untrustworthy. Even before the Kyushu campaign had been wrapped up, Ukon was deprived of his fief and forced to find shelter under Konishi Yukinaga, a much more powerful Christian lord who was awarded a substantial fief in [[Hyuga province|Hyuga]]. Ukon ended up wandering all the way to the [[Hokuriku province|Hokuriku]], where he sought service with the Maeda family in [[Kaga province]]. In [[1588]] [[Maeda Toshiie]] accepted him as a retainer, an interesting turnaround in Ukon’s career poorly explored by western historians. Over the next decade, Hideyoshi gradually stepped up a program of persecution against Christianity in Japan that was only temporarily halted by the Taiko’s death in 1598. The short respite was ended by a Tokugawa edict in [[1614]] that finally banned Christianity in its entirety, and ordered the expulsion of all missionaries and those samurai who refused to recant their faith.

Takayama went on to serve in Hideyoshi’s invasion of Kyushu in [[1587]], but this campaign proved to be Takayama’s last. Hideyoshi had finished breaking the power of the armed monks (an effort Takayama had assisted him with in 1585-86) in the Yamato region; now the de facto ruler of Japan turned on Christianity. Takayama was known to be a dyed-in-the-wool Christian, and was therefore considered untrustworthy. Even before the Kyushu campaign had been wrapped up, Ukon was deprived of his fief and forced to find shelter under Konishi Yukinaga, a much more powerful Christian lord who was awarded a substantial fief in [[Hyuga province|Hyuga]]. Ukon ended up wandering all the way to the [[Hokuriku|Hokuriku region]], where he sought service with the Maeda family in [[Kaga province]]. In [[1588]] [[Maeda Toshiie]] accepted him as a retainer, an interesting turnaround in Ukon’s career poorly explored by western historians. Over the next decade, Hideyoshi gradually stepped up a program of persecution against Christianity in Japan that was only temporarily halted by the Taiko’s death in 1598. The short respite was ended by a Tokugawa edict in [[1614]] that finally banned Christianity in its entirety, and ordered the expulsion of all missionaries and those samurai who refused to recant their faith.

Though [[Maeda Toshitsune]] feared Ukon would fight rather than leave the country, Takayama peacefully complied and on 8 November 1614 departed for Manila. He arrived later that month and was greeted warmly by the Jesuits there, but died of illness just 40 days afterwards.

Though [[Maeda Toshitsune]] feared Ukon would fight rather than leave the country, Takayama peacefully complied and on 8 November 1614 departed for Manila. He arrived later that month and was greeted warmly by the Jesuits there, but died of illness just 40 days afterwards.