Background
Fukushima Masanori was the son of Masanobu Fukushima, cousin of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. He was born in Owari Province (Aichi Prefecture) in 1561. His early name was Ichimatsu.
福島 正則
Fukushima Masanori was the son of Masanobu Fukushima, cousin of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. He was born in Owari Province (Aichi Prefecture) in 1561. His early name was Ichimatsu.
In 1585, he was made lord of Imabari Castle in Iyo (Ehime Pre¬fecture), with a fief of 100,000 koku. He rendered conspicuous services in the battle against the Hojos at Odawara and in the expedition to Korea. Was made lord of Kiyosu castle in Owari, with a fief of 200,0 koku (1595).
In the Sekigahara Battle between the Ishidas and Tokugawas in 1600, he sided with Ieyasu Tokugawa because he was at feud with Mitsunari Ishida, the chief strategist of the Ishida clan. Masanori, leading the vanguard of the East (Toku- gawa’s) army carried Gifu Castle in that battle. After the war, he was transferred to Hiroshima Castle. Because of his former relations with the Toyotomis, the Tokugawas became suspicious of Masanori. He was called to account for some repair work made on Hiroshima Castle, which the Tokugawas suspected of having originat¬ed from a treasonable design on the part of Masanori. His two provinces of Bmgo and Aki were confiscated and he was demoted to lordship of Shinano (Nagano Prefecture).
