Soma Yoshitane

Soma Yoshitane was a warrior of Mutsu Province and the 16th head of the Soma clan. Born in 1548 as the eldest son of Soma Moritane, he died in 1635 at the age of 88.

Succession and conflict with the Date

He joined the suppression of a revolt in his first campaign in 1563 and inherited the clan in 1578 when his father retired. From 1581 to 1589 he fought Date Terumune and Masamune over territory, and at Hitotoribashi in 1585 he joined the Ashina-Satake coalition with about 300 horsemen. After the Ashina fell following Suriagehara in 1589, he was left in a precarious position.

Under Toyotomi rule

In late May 1590 he met Toyotomi Hideyoshi and took part in the Odawara campaign, and at the Utsunomiya settlement on 26 July his three home districts were confirmed. In 1592 he was stationed at Nagoya during the Korean campaign.

Crisis after Sekigahara and the move to Nakamura

In 1600 he strengthened his defenses and agreed to Masamune passing through Soma territory. In May 1602 he faced confiscation as a result of Satake Yoshinobu's removal, but in October the order was withdrawn through his eldest son's efforts and his domain was confirmed. After the Aizu earthquake and the Keicho Sanriku earthquake of 1611 he moved his seat from Odaka to Nakamura Castle, and in 1612 he retired in favor of Toshitane.

Death

By his will he is said to have been buried in armor facing north, a posture said to glare toward the Date lands. No sword associated with him was found in the sources checked.