Shimazu Tadatsune

Quick Facts: Who was Shimazu Tadatsune?

Subject:

Shimazu Tadatsune

Known for:

Powerful Satsuma daimyō who ruled the Ryūkyū Kingdom and submitted to Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Born:

1576-11-27

Died:

1638-04-07

Century / Era:

1576s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Shimazu Tadatsune (島津 忠恒; November 27, 1576 – April 7, 1638) was a tozama daimyō of Satsuma, the first to hold it as a formal fief (han) under the Tokugawa shogunate, and the first Japanese to rule over the Ryūkyū Kingdom. As lord of Satsuma, he was among the most powerful lords in Japan at the time, and formally submitted to Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1602, to prove his loyalty, being rewarded as a result with the name Matsudaira Iehisa; Matsudaira being a branch family of the Tokugawa, and "Ie" of "Iehisa" being taken from "Ieyasu", this was a great honor. As of 1603, his holdings amounted to 605,000 koku. Tadatsune was the third son of Shimazu Yoshihiro.

Career & Major Achievements

Since Yoshihiro's elder brother, Shimazu Yoshihisa, did not have a son and his other elder brother, Shimazu Hisakazu, had died of illness in Korea, he was deemed successor to their uncle and he later took the name of Iehisa (家久). Like his father and uncle, he was known for bravery on the battlefield. As head of the Shimazu clan, he sought to remove corrupt or disloyal counselors, and to reform the clan leadership. To this end, in 1599, he killed a long-time retainer and karō, Ijuin Tadamune, as well as his son, Ijuin Tadazane, when they tried to part with the Shimazu clan.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1602, he became the head of Shimazu clan but his father held real power until 1619. On April 5, 1609, Tadatsune led an expeditionary force to the Ryūkyū Kingdom, subjugating it and using it to affect trade with China. The Ryūkyūs were allowed to remain semi-independent, and would not be formally annexed by Japan until after the Meiji Restoration (1868); if China knew that the Ryūkyūs were controlled by the Japanese, trade would have come to an end. Thus, Tadatsune forced this unusual status upon the kingdom.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1576 (1576-11-27): Birth of Shimazu Tadatsune — Powerful Satsuma daimyō who ruled the Ryūkyū Kingdom and submitted to Tokugawa Ieyasu.
2. 1599: 1599 Milestone — To this end, in 1599, he killed a long-time retainer and karō, Ijuin Tadamune, as well as his son, Ijuin Tadazane, when they tried to part with the Shimazu clan.
3. 1602: 1602 Milestone — As lord of Satsuma, he was among the most powerful lords in Japan at the time, and formally submitted to Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1602, to prove his loyalty, being rewarded as a result with the name Matsudaira Iehisa; Matsudaira being a branch family of the Tokugawa, and "Ie" of "Iehisa" being taken from "Ieyasu", this was a great honor.
4. 1603: 1603 Milestone — As of 1603, his holdings amounted to 605,000 koku.
5. 1609: 1609 Milestone — On April 5, 1609, Tadatsune led an expeditionary force to the Ryūkyū Kingdom, subjugating it and using it to affect trade with China.
6. 1638 (1638-04-07): Passing & Historical Legacy — Shimazu Tadatsune passed away on 1638-04-07, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
7. 1868: 1868 Milestone — The Ryūkyūs were allowed to remain semi-independent, and would not be formally annexed by Japan until after the Meiji Restoration (1868); if China knew that the Ryūkyūs were controlled by the Japanese, trade would have come to an end.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Shimazu Tadatsune

True or False: “Did Shimazu Tadatsune's submission to Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1602 result in him being granted the name Matsudaira Iehisa?”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): Yes, this was a great honor that linked his family name to the powerful Tokugawa lineage.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Shimazu Tadatsune