Kikkawa Motoharu

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).

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 (Lord)
Unit	Kikkawa clan
Battles/wars	Battle of Miyajima Battle of Torisaka Battle of Tatarahama Siege of Kōzuki Castle Siege of Takamatsu Invasion of Shikoku
Relations	Father: Mōri Motonari Mother: Lady Myōkyū

Biography

In 1530, he was born in Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle.[1] When Motoharu was young he was adopted into the Kikkawa clan by Kikkawa Okitsune. 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 Battle of Nunobeyama.[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.

Family

• 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:
  • Kikkawa Motonaga (1548–1587)
  • Mōri Motōji (1556–1631)
  • Kikkawa Hiroie (1561–1625)
  • Kikkawa Shōjumaru (died 1578)
  • Masuda Motonaga's wife
  • Yoshimi Motoyori's wife

References

1. "吉川元春" (in Japanese). 戦国武将列伝. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
2. Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. Cassell & Co. p. 218. ISBN 1854095234.

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

Further reading