Fukushima Masanori

Fukushima Masanori

Fukushima Masanori (福島 正則, 1561 – August 26, 1624) was a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku Period to early Edo Period who served as lord of the Hiroshima Domain. A retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he fought in the battle of Shizugatake in 1583, and soon became known as one of Seven Spears of Shizugatake which also included Katō Kiyomasa and others.

Biography

Fukushima Masanori, or as he was first known, Ichimatsu, was born in Owari Province, the son of Fukushima Masanobu. He is believed to have been the cousin of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He first engaged in battle at the assault on Miki Castle in Harima Province, and following the battle of Yamazaki, he was granted a 500 koku stipend.

At the battle of Shizugatake in 1583 (Tenshō 11), Masanori had the honor of taking the first head, namely that of the enemy general Ogasato Ieyoshi, receiving a 5000 koku increase in his stipend for this distinction (the other six "Spears" each received 3000 Koku).

Masanori took part in many of Hideyoshi's campaigns; it was after the Kyūshū Expedition, however, that he was made a daimyō. Receiving the fief of Imabari in Iyo Province, his income was rated at 110,000 koku. Soon after, he took part in the Korean Campaign. Masanori was to once again receive distinction when he took Ch'ongju.^[1]

Following his involvement in the Korean campaign, Masanori was involved in the pursuit of Toyotomi Hidetsugu. He led 10,000 men in 1595, surrounded Seiganji temple on Mount Kōya, and waited until Hidetsugu had committed suicide.^[2] With Hidetsugu dead, Masanori received a 90,000 koku increase in stipend, and received Hidetsugu's former fief of Kiyosu, in Owari Province as well.^[3]

Masanori sided with Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara, and thus ensured the survival of his domain. Although he later lost his holdings, his descendants became hatamoto in the service of the Tokugawa shogun.

In popular culture

Fukushima Masanori is featured in Koei's video games Kessen, Kessen III, Samurai Warriors and, as a unique (yet not playable) character, Samurai Warriors 3, but in its expansions, Samurai Warriors 3 Z and Samurai Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends he becomes playable. He is a playable character in Pokémon Conquest (Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition in Japan), with his partner Pokémon being Krokorok and Krookodile.^[4]

Notes

1. Turnbull, Stephen. Samurai Invasion. London: Cassell & Co., p. 120.
2. Turnbull, Stephen. Samurai Invasion. London: Cassell & Co., p. 232.
3. Berry, Mary Elizabeth. Hideyoshi. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, pp. 127-8.
4. "Masanori + Krokorok - Pokémon Conquest characters". Pokémon. Retrieved 2012-06-17.

External links

• Biography of Fukushima Masanori (Japanese)