Toyotomi Hideyoshi—The Third Pirate King of Japan (0-15)

     In 1569, Otomo Yoshishige (1530-1587) in Northern Kyushu, Uragami Munekage (?-?) in Bizen Province, and Amago Katsuhisa (1553-1578) in Izumo and Oki Provinces formed the military besiegement against the Mori Clan.  In February, 1571, Murakami Takeyoshi (1533-1604) and Shima Yoshitoshi (?-1602) went over to the besiegement.  Yoshishige might have lured Murakami Pirates with some rights and interests in Northern Kyushu.  In April, Kobayakawa Takakage (1533-1597) quickly occupied (took back?) Motobuto Castle.  In May, without the support from Murakami Pirates, Takakage suffered a crushing defeat against Ukita Naoie (1529-1582), a vassal of the Uragami Clan, who enjoyed the support form the Awa Sea Forces.  The castle fell into the hands of Nose Yoriyoshi (?-?), a vassal of Ukita Naoie.  This defeat demonstrated that the Tada-no-umi Sea Guards under the command of Takakage was no match for the Awa Sea Forces on their own.  The development of the battle also implied that Murakami Pirates didn’t support either side.  The Mori Clan must have realized the market value of the pirates at the cost of the rout.

     In 1574, Ukita Naoie betrayed Uragami Munekage, and went over to the Mori Clan.  Murakami Takeyoshi was also shifting from the besiegement to the Mori Clan.  In 1576,

Murakami Pirates helped the Mori Clan break the blockage and send military provisions to Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple, which was under siege by Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582).

     Just an aside, in 1579, Ukita Naoie went over from the Mori Clan to Oda Nobunaga.  In 1582, the Mori samurais and the Ukita samurais clashed against each other in Kojima.  The Ukita  samurais were heavily beaten, and held Hachihama Castle and waited for reinforcements by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), a vassal of Nobunaga.  The fate of Motobuto Castle was not clear.  The castle, which was the witness to countless betrays, certainly existed until 1580.