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Brother of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and lord of Yamato Koriyama Castle

Toyotomi Hidenaga

豊臣秀長

birth year unknown – 1591

Half-brother of Toyotomi Hideyoshi who in 1585 held Izumi, Kii, and Yamato provinces and entered Yamato Koriyama Castle, establishing it as a base for Kinai governance. Although the castle was built during Tsutsui Junkei's time, after Hidenaga entered it, it was substantially developed as a major daimyo residence of over one million koku with triple moats and a castle town. This was not Hideyoshi's direct domain; rather, a system where Hideyoshi governed the Kinai by delegating a large domain to his brother. Hidenaga also participated in the subjugation of Kii, Shikoku, and Kyushu, linking rear-area bases connecting western Japan and the Kinai with domain governance. He died at Yamato Koriyama in January 1591. While 'finest assistant under heaven' is a widely quoted evaluation, the division of command and negotiations in each campaign must be verified document by document.

Sources 大和郡山市「秀長と郡山のあゆみ」/大和郡山市「郡山城跡」/大和郡山市「郡山城」/大和郡山市「豊臣秀長画像」/大和郡山市「郡山城跡について」

Family tree

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Sibling

Toyotomi Hidenaga

This person

Only relationships confirmed in the sources are shown. This is not a complete record of the family.Dashed lines mark adoptions, or relations where only the kinship is known and the parent has not been identified.

Related events

7

1577

Hashiba Hidenaga Becomes Castellan of Takeda Castle

Keeper of Takeda Castle
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During Hashiba Hideyoshi's campaign in Tajima, his brother Hidenaga became castellan of Takeda Castle and assumed a key role in the Hashiba advance into western Japan.

1580

Hashiba Hidenaga Enters Arikoyama Castle

Governed Tajima
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As the conquest of Tajima advanced, Hashiba Hidenaga entered Arikoyama Castle at Izushi and established a base for governing the province, entrusting Takeda Castle to his retainer Kuwayama Shigeharu.

1582

7/2

Hashiba Hidenaga Supports His Brother at Yamazaki

Hideyoshi's army
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Hashiba Hidenaga served in his brother Hideyoshi's army at the Battle of Yamazaki, a decisive step in Hideyoshi's rise after Akechi Mitsuhide's defeat.

1583

6/11

Battle of Shizugatake

Commander on the Hideyoshi side
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The decisive clash between Hashiba Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie over Nobunaga’s succession. After a long standoff across Lake Yogo, Sakuma Morimasa’s surprise attack set the battle in motion, and Katsuie took his own life at his home castle of Kitanosho.

1585

Month 6

Shikoku Campaign

Commander of the Awa army
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Hashiba Hideyoshi sent armies into Shikoku on three fronts against Chosokabe Motochika. Motochika submitted, retained only Tosa, and Shikoku was reorganized under Hideyoshi's settlement.

9/3

Toyotomi Hidenaga Enters Kōriyama Castle

Principal party
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Toyotomi Hidenaga entered Kōriyama Castle with Hideyoshi and developed the castle and town as a base for governing Yamato, Kii, and Izumi.

1587

Month 3

Kyushu Campaign

Toyotomi Hidenaga — 先発軍の指揮
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Toyotomi Hideyoshi invaded Kyushu after intervention in the Otomo-Shimazu conflict and compelled Shimazu Yoshihisa to submit.

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