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==Yoshihisa's Advance==

==Yoshihisa's Advance==

Shimazu Yoshihisa was the eldest son of [[Shimazu Takahisa]] ([[1514]]-[[1571]]). His mother was the daughter of Iriki-In Tadashige. As talented as his father, whom he succeeded in [[1566]], Yoshihisa continued the long struggle to unify the fragmented Shimazu domain. To this end he was compelled to subdue both the Tomotsuki and Hisikari within the borders of [[Satsuma province|Satsuma]] and [[Osumi province|Ôsumi]] while fighting hard to fend off advances from the outside lords [[Sagara Yoshihi]] and [[Ito Yoshisuke]]. In these difficult endeavors Yoshihisa was well-served by his brothers ([[Shimazu Yoshihiro|Yoshihiro]], [[Shimazu Iehisa|Iehisa]], and Toshihisa) and his steadily growing retainer band, which included the noted generals [[Ijuin Tadamune]], [[Niiro Tadamoto]], and [[Uwai Akitane]].  His first wife was the daughter of his grandfather, [[Shimazu Takayoshi]] and thus his aunt.  He was very fond of her, as evidenced by his grief when she died.  His second wife was the daughter of [[Tanegashima Tokitada]].  The existence of a third wife is presumed but her identity is uncertain.

Shimazu Yoshihisa was the eldest son of [[Shimazu Takahisa]] ([[1514]]-[[1571]]). His mother was the daughter of Iriki-In Tadashige. He was named ''Shuri-daibu'' in [[1564]].

 

Takahisa took the [[tonsure]] in [[1566]], making Yoshihisa head of the Shimazu clan at that time. Yoshihisa continued the long struggle to unify the fragmented Shimazu domain. To this end he was compelled to subdue both the Tomotsuki and Hisikari within the borders of [[Satsuma province|Satsuma]] and [[Osumi province|Ôsumi]] while fighting hard to fend off advances from the outside lords [[Sagara Yoshihi]] and [[Ito Yoshisuke]]. In these difficult endeavors Yoshihisa was well-served by his brothers ([[Shimazu Yoshihiro|Yoshihiro]], [[Shimazu Iehisa|Iehisa]], and Toshihisa) and his steadily growing retainer band, which included the noted generals [[Ijuin Tadamune]], [[Niiro Tadamoto]], and [[Uwai Akitane]].  His first wife was the daughter of his grandfather, [[Shimazu Takayoshi]] and thus his aunt.  He was very fond of her, as evidenced by his grief when she died.  His second wife was the daughter of [[Tanegashima Tokitada]].  The existence of a third wife is presumed but her identity is uncertain.

Once he had defeated his rivals in Satsuma and Ôsumi, and brought around the Iriki-in and Togo to his side, Yoshihisa was able to concentrate on his greatest threat: [[Ito Yoshisuke|Itô Yoshisuke]]. The latter controlled much of southern [[Hyuga province|Hyûga]], and from the vital castle of Obi was threatening the borders of the Shimazu domain. In [[1572]]  [[Shimazu clan|the Shimazu]] and Ito fought a fierce battle at [[Battle of Kizakihara|Kizakihara]] [木崎原の戦い] that saw 300 Shimazu defeat an Ito army of as many as 3,000. The conclusion of this battle saw the Itô seriously battered and Yoshihisa in a position to expand northward. Four years later Yoshihisa and his brothers led some 6,000 men into Hyûga and defeated the Itô again at Takabaru. The war was decisively turned against Yoshisuke in January [[1578]], when he suffered yet another defeat at Kamiya. Largely abandoned by his followers, the once-proud Itô lord fled to the lands of the Ôtomo and begged asylum. His former capital, Sadowara, was occupied soon afterwards by the Shimazu.  

Once he had defeated his rivals in Satsuma and Ôsumi, and brought around the Iriki-in and Togo to his side, Yoshihisa was able to concentrate on his greatest threat: [[Ito Yoshisuke|Itô Yoshisuke]]. The latter controlled much of southern [[Hyuga province|Hyûga]], and from the vital castle of Obi was threatening the borders of the Shimazu domain. In [[1572]]  [[Shimazu clan|the Shimazu]] and Ito fought a fierce battle at [[Battle of Kizakihara|Kizakihara]] [木崎原の戦い] that saw 300 Shimazu defeat an Ito army of as many as 3,000. The conclusion of this battle saw the Itô seriously battered and Yoshihisa in a position to expand northward. Four years later Yoshihisa and his brothers led some 6,000 men into Hyûga and defeated the Itô again at Takabaru. The war was decisively turned against Yoshisuke in January [[1578]], when he suffered yet another defeat at Kamiya. Largely abandoned by his followers, the once-proud Itô lord fled to the lands of the Ôtomo and begged asylum. His former capital, Sadowara, was occupied soon afterwards by the Shimazu.