Fukushima Masanori

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Fukushima Masanori

Role / Field:

Prominent daimyō who served Toyotomi Hideyoshi and fought in the pivotal Battle of Sekigahara.

Born:

1561

Died:

1624-08-26

Century / Era:

1561s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Fukushima Masanori (福島 正則; 1561 – August 26, 1624) was a Japanese daimyō of the late Sengoku period to early Edo period and served as the 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 the Seven Spears of Shizugatake, alongside Katō Kiyomasa and others. Fukushima Ichimatsu, was born in 1561, in Futatsudera, Kaitō, Owari Province (present-day Ama, Aichi Prefecture), as the eldest son of the barrel merchant Fukushima Masanobu. However, some sources suggest that Masanobu may have been his father-in-law, with his actual father believed to be Hoshino Narimasa, a cooper from Kiyosu, Kasugai, Owari Province (present-day Kiyosu, Aichi Prefecture). His mother was the younger sister of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's mother, making Hideyoshi his first cousin.

Career & Major Achievements

As a young man, he served as a page (koshō) to Hideyoshi due to the familial connection through their mothers. He first saw battle during the assault on Miki Castle in Harima Province from 1578 to 1580. After the Battle of Yamazaki in 1582, he was awarded a stipend of 500 koku. At the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583, he defeated Haigo Gozaemon, a prominent samurai. Masanori (Tenshō 11) had the honor of taking the first head, that of the enemy general Ogasato Ieyoshi, and received a 5,000 koku increase in his stipend for this distinction (while the other six "Spears" each received 3,000 koku).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Masanori took part in many of Hideyoshi's campaigns. However, it was after the Kyūshū Expedition in 1587 that he was made a daimyō, receiving the fief of Imabari in Iyo Province with an income rated at 110,000 koku. Soon after, he participated in the Korean Campaign, where he gained further distinction by capturing Ch'ongju in 1592. Following his involvement in the Korean campaign, Masanori was also involved in the pursuit of Toyotomi Hidetsugu. In 1595, Masanori led 10,000 men, surrounded Seiganji Temple on Mount Kōya, and waited until Hidetsugu had committed suicide.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1561: Birth of Fukushima Masanori — Prominent daimyō who served Toyotomi Hideyoshi and fought in the pivotal Battle of Sekigahara.
2. 1578: 1578 Milestone — He first saw battle during the assault on Miki Castle in Harima Province from 1578 to 1580.
3. 1582: 1582 Milestone — After the Battle of Yamazaki in 1582, he was awarded a stipend of 500 koku.
4. 1583: 1583 Milestone — A retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he fought in the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583 and soon became known as one of the Seven Spears of Shizugatake, alongside Katō Kiyomasa and others.
5. 1587: 1587 Milestone — However, it was after the Kyūshū Expedition in 1587 that he was made a daimyō, receiving the fief of Imabari in Iyo Province with an income rated at 110,000 koku.
6. 1592: 1592 Milestone — Soon after, he participated in the Korean Campaign, where he gained further distinction by capturing Ch'ongju in 1592.
7. 1595: 1595 Milestone — In 1595, Masanori led 10,000 men, surrounded Seiganji Temple on Mount Kōya, and waited until Hidetsugu had committed suicide.
8. 1624 (1624-08-26): Passing & Historical Legacy — Fukushima Masanori passed away on 1624-08-26, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Fukushima Masanori

True or False: “Fukushima Masanori was instrumental in leading the forces that defeated Ishida Mitsunari at the Battle of Sekigahara.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While he fought against Mitsunari's faction, his primary role in the final conflict was supporting Tokugawa Ieyasu's Eastern Army.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Amago Haruhisa — Contemporary (Died in 1561) (1561): Daimyō warlord of Izumo Province, known for his struggles to maintain the Amago clan's power.
• Bairam Khan — Contemporary (Died in 1561) (1561): Mughal military commander and statesman, regent for Emperors Humayun and Akbar.
• Francis Bacon — Contemporary (Born in 1561) (1561): English philosopher and statesman, proponent of empiricism and the scientific method.
• Ahmad Sirhindi — Contemporary (Died in 1624) (1624): Influential Naqshbandi Sufi scholar who championed Islamic orthodoxy in the Mughal era.
• Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham — Contemporary (Died in 1624) (1624): English statesman and Lord High Admiral, famed for securing victory against the Spanish Armada.
• George Fox — Contemporary (Born in 1624) (1624): English founder of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
• Aleksandr I. Kuprin — Shared historical date (08-26 · Born) (1870): Esteemed Russian author known for novels like The Duel and Yama: The Pit.
• Alessandro Cagliostro — Shared historical date (08-26 · Died) (1795): Italian occultist and self-styled magician, known for European court associations.
• Henry Briggs (mathematician) — Historical peer (Born in 1561) (1561): English mathematician known for developing common (base 10) logarithms and geometry.
• Ii Naomasa — Historical peer (Born in 1561) (1561): Prominent samurai general and daimyo who rose to power under the Tokugawa shogunate.
• 1561 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1561
• 1624 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1624
• August 26 (08-26) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 26

Frequently Asked Questions about Fukushima Masanori