Kikkawa Motoharu

Kikkawa Motoharu
Native name	吉川元春
Nickname(s)	Shōnojirō (少輔次郎) “Mōri Ryōkawa", or “Mōri's Two Rivers" (毛利両川).
Born	1530 Yoshida, Aki Province
Died	December 25, 1586 (aged 56 or 57) Aki Province
Allegiance	Mōri clan Toyotomi clan
Rank	Daimyō
Unit	Kikkawa clan
Commands held	Hinoyama Castle
Battles/wars	Battle of Miyajima (1555) Siege of Toda Castle (1566) Battle of Torisaka (1568) Battle of Tatarahama (1569) Siege of Kōzuki Castle (1578) Siege of Takamatsu (1582) Invasion of Shikoku (1585)
Relations	Father: Mōri Motonari Mother: Lady Myōkyū

Kikkawa Motoharu (吉川 元春, 1530 – December 25, 1586) was the second son of Mōri Motonari, and featured prominently in all the wars of the Mōri clan. He became an active commander of the Mōri army and he with his brother Kobayakawa Takakage became known as the “Mōri Ryōkawa", or “Mōri's Two Rivers" (毛利両川).

Biography[]

In 1530, he was born in Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle.^[1] When Motoharu was young he was adopted into the Kikkawa clan by . He then became head of the family around 1550.

Motoharu fought in many battles alongside his brother, Kobayakawa Takakage, including the 1555 Battle of Miyajima and the 1570 .^{[2]:213, 220–221}

In 1566, he claimed Izumo Province as his fief, after defeating its lords, the Amago clan, in a number of battles.

He fought in the 1568 Battle of Torisaka.^[2] and the 1569 Battle of Tatarahama.

Motoharu also fought in many battles against the Oda such as the 1578 Siege of Kōzuki Castle and the 1582 Siege of Takamatsu. After Oda Nobunaga's death in 1582, Motoharu fought under Toyotomi Hideyoshi on Invasion of Shikoku (1585).

In 1586, he died in the Kokura Castle.^[1]　 After his death, Motoharu was succeeded as head of the Kikkawa clan by one of his sons, Kikkawa Hiroie.

Mōri's Two Rivers[]

Japan in 1570 showing the extent of the Mōri clan.

Strong and fearless, Motoharu participated in many battles such as Miyajima and Nunobeyama, bolstering his reputation as a valiant commander. There are claims that he won 64 of 76 battles throughout his entire life. According to the Meisho Genko Roku, his brawn was often contrasted with Kobayakawa Takakage's intellect back in their youth. This inspired Mori Motonari to make effective use of their differences in personality by relegating Motoharu to the front lines while leaving Takakage to provide strategic support from the rear. Although Motoharu heavily contributed to the Mōri's military growth, he was familiar with literature and even transcribed a series of books called the Taiheki during the siege of Gassantoda Castle. They were both together pillars of the Mōri forces and were known as "Mōri's Two Rivers" (Mōri Ryōkawa, 毛利両川). This was because both of their adoptive clan names had the river "川" character.

After the death of Mōri Motonari in 1571, "Mōri's Two Rivers" (Kobayakawa Takakage and Kikkawa Motoharu) became more important as assistants to Mōri Terumoto against the remnants of their enemies, the Ōtomo clan (大友氏), Amako clan (尼子氏), and Ōuchi clan (大内氏).^[3]

Family[]

Kikkawa clan mon

• Father: Mōri Motonari (1497–1571)
  • Foster Father: Kikkawa Okitsune (1508–1550)
• Mother: Myōkyū (1499–1546)
• Siblings:
  • An unnamed sister
  • Mōri Takamoto (1523–1563)
  • Lady Goryū, wife of Shishido Takaie (died 1574)
  • Kobayakawa Takakage (1533–1597)
• Half-siblings:
  • Ninomiya Naritoki (1546–1607)
  • Mōri Motokiyo (1551–1597)
  • Mōri Motoaki (1552–1585)
  • Izuha Mototomo (1555–1571)
  • Amano Motomasa (1559–1609)
  • Suetsugu Motoyasu (1560–1601)
  • Kobayakawa Hidekane (1567–1601)
• Wife: Lady Shinjō, daughter of Kumagai Nobunao (died 1606)
• Children:
  • (1548–1587)
  • Mōri Motōji (1556–1631)
  • Kikkawa Hiroie (1561–1625)
  • Kikkawa Shōjumaru (died 1578)
  • Masuda Motonaga's wife
  • Yoshimi Motoyori's wife

References[]

• Turnbull, Stephen (1998). 'The Samurai Sourcebook'. London: Cassell & Co.

Further reading[]