Mori Nagayoshi

Mori Nagayoshi
森 長可
Head of Mori clan (Genji)
In office
1570–1584
Preceded byMori Yoshinari
Succeeded byMori Tadamasa
Personal details
Born1558
DiedMay 18, 1584(1584-05-18) (aged 25–26)
SpouseIkeda Sen
Parent
Nickname"Devil"
Military service
Allegiance Oda clan
Toyotomi clan
Unit Mori clan (Genji)
CommandsKaneyama Castle
Battles/warsSieges of Nagashima (1574)
Siege of Shigisan (1577)
Siege of Takatō (1582)
Battle of Komaki and Nagakute (1584)

Mori Nagayoshi (森 長可, 1558 – May 18, 1584) was a samurai officer under the Oda clan following Japan's 16th-century Sengoku period,[1][2] and the older brother of the famous Mori Ranmaru. His wife Ikeda Sen, was the daughter of Ikeda Tsuneoki.

Nagayoshi was known to have such a bad temper and to be particularly ruthless in battle that he came to be known as the "Devil". Nagayoshi was gifted with Kaneyama Castle after his father died in battle. While he was under the service of the Oda clan, he was directly under the service of Nobunaga’s eldest son, Oda Nobutada, who fought alongside Nagashima in 1574.

In 1577, Nagayoshi serving Nobutada to attack Matsunaga Danjo Hisahide in the Siege of Shigisan.

In 1582, He serve Nobutada to occupy Takeda Castle, he took Takatō Castle in Shinano Province and took Kazu Castle in Kai Province. He was given an award of 100, 000 Koku. However, his campaign was forced to stop when his lord Oda Nobunaga and Nobutada died at Honno-ji incident. Later, Nagayoshi took Mino Castle with the help of his relatives from the Ikeda clan side of his family.

In 1584, Nagayoshi's efforts for Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the difficult Battle of Komaki and Nagakute ultimately took his life. During the battle he rode in front of his lines and waved a war fan frantically.[3] He stood out conspicuously wearing a white jinbaori and was subsequently shot in the head by Tokugawa ashigaru firing a matchlock rifle.[3][4] His younger brother Mori Tadamasa became the next clan head.

  1. ^ Mary Elizabeth Berry (1989). Hideyoshi. Harvard Univ Asia Center. p. 51. ISBN 9780674390263.
  2. ^ Stephen Turnbull (2012). Samurai Commanders (2): 1577–1638. Bloomsbury. p. 63. ISBN 9781782000457.
  3. ^ a b Stephen Turnbull (2011). Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Bloomsbury. p. 41. ISBN 9781846039614.
  4. ^ Noel Perrin (1979). Giving Up the Gun: Japan's Reversion to the Sword, 1543-1879. David R. Godine. p. 26. ISBN 9780879237738.