| Harunobu was the daimyô of the [[Arima clan]], a small family that controlled the Shimabara area of [[Hizen province]]. [[Arima Yoshisada|Arima Yoshisada's]] son and successor, Harunobu began a persecution of the Christians in his domain after his father's death. In [[1579]], with [[Ryuzoji Takanobu|Ryûzôji Takanobu]] expanding into the area, Harunobu - like his uncle [[Omura Sumitada|Ômura Sumitada]] - turned to the Jesuits for assistance. In return, he was baptized as Protasio and ended the persecution. The arrival of Portuguese weapons and ships bought the Arima a little time, but in [[1582]] Harunobu lost his important [[Shimabara castle|Shimabara Castle]] and was reduced to holding a thin strip of the peninsula. In desperation, he turned to the [[Shimazu clan]], presently at war with the [[Ryuzoji clan|Ryûzôji]] in [[Higo province]]. The Shimazu dispatched a force under [[Shimazu Iehisa]] to Shimabara and in [[1584]] they and the [[Arima clan|Arima]], with a combined 3,000 men, defeated the much larger Ryûzôji army at [[Battle of Okitanawate|Okitanawate]], a battle in which Takanobu was killed. Afterwards Shimazu Yoshihisa suggested the Arima renounce Christianity but did not press the issue when Harunobu declined. | | Harunobu was the daimyô of the [[Arima clan]], a small family that controlled the Shimabara area of [[Hizen province]]. [[Arima Yoshisada|Arima Yoshisada's]] son and successor, Harunobu began a persecution of the Christians in his domain after his father's death. In [[1579]], with [[Ryuzoji Takanobu|Ryûzôji Takanobu]] expanding into the area, Harunobu - like his uncle [[Omura Sumitada|Ômura Sumitada]] - turned to the Jesuits for assistance. In return, he was baptized as Protasio and ended the persecution. The arrival of Portuguese weapons and ships bought the Arima a little time, but in [[1582]] Harunobu lost his important [[Shimabara castle|Shimabara Castle]] and was reduced to holding a thin strip of the peninsula. In desperation, he turned to the [[Shimazu clan]], presently at war with the [[Ryuzoji clan|Ryûzôji]] in [[Higo province]]. The Shimazu dispatched a force under [[Shimazu Iehisa]] to Shimabara and in [[1584]] they and the [[Arima clan|Arima]], with a combined 3,000 men, defeated the much larger Ryûzôji army at [[Battle of Okitanawate|Okitanawate]], a battle in which Takanobu was killed. Afterwards Shimazu Yoshihisa suggested the Arima renounce Christianity but did not press the issue when Harunobu declined. |