Kii Campaign (1585, Tenshō 13)

Overview

From the 3rd to the 4th month of Tenshō 13 (1585, lunar calendar), Toyotomi Hideyoshi attacked the Negoro and Saika forces in Kii Province. The forces from the Kamigata region are put at 60,000 to 100,000, depending on the source. Hideyoshi was commander-in-chief. The names of Ukita Hideie, Konishi Yukinaga (navy) and Nakamura Kazuuji appear in the attack on Ōta Castle, and Suzuki Magoichi urged its surrender.

Negoro-ji and Saika

Sengokubori Castle fell on the 21st day of the 3rd month, and Hatanaka Castle was burned by its own side and abandoned. Zenshō-ji Castle opened its gates on the 22nd, Sawa Castle did so on the 23rd, and Negoro-ji went up in flames that night. The burning of Kokawa-dera is placed on the 23rd or the 24th. The cause of the fire at Negoro-ji is not settled: there are accounts of the Negoro side burning it themselves, of Hideyoshi's burning it, and of arson or accidental fire by soldiers. On the 24th the Kamigata forces entered the Saika estate and set fire to the Minato and Nakanoshima areas. Some of the Saika, such as the Oka group, went over to the attackers.

The Flooding of Ōta Castle

On the 25th day of the 3rd month the call to surrender was refused; embankment work began on the 28th and was completed on the 5th day of the 4th month, when water was let in. On the 8th and 9th the embankment broke, and men of Ukita's force drowned. On the 21st Konishi Yukinaga's naval force attacked but did not take the castle. Ōta Castle surrendered on the 22nd of the 4th month (21 May in the modern calendar); the heads of 53 leading men were handed over, and 23 wives are said to have been crucified, although the figure differs between sources. The garrison is put at about 1,000 soldiers and about 4,000 non-combatants.

Mount Kōya and the Settlement

On the 10th of the 4th month Hideyoshi urged Mount Kōya to submit, and Mokujiki Ōgo met Hideyoshi on the 16th, and Mount Kōya submitted. Disarmament was completed by the 23rd of the 10th month. Yukawa Naoharu counterattacked at the end of the 4th month but was defeated at the Battle of Enokitōge on the 24th of the 9th month. In the 6th month a sword hunt order was issued to the Kii provincial league and Mount Kōya, and from the intercalary 8th month Hashiba Hidenaga began the Tenshō land survey. Kii came under Hidenaga after the war. Figures for losses vary between sources such as the Annual Letters of the Jesuits in Japan.