Background
Otomo Yoshimune was born in 1558. He was the eldest son of Yoshishige, Lord of Bungo (Oita Prefecture). His mother was the anti-Christian wife of Sôrin, known today only by the Jesuits' epithet for her, Jezebel.
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Otomo Yoshimune
Edit ProfileCareer
Succeeded his father as Lord of Bungo (1579) and occupied Chikuzen (Fukuoka Prefecture) (1580). In Hideyoshi's campaign against the Shimazu family (1586), he spearheaded Hideyoshi's forces. Was given the Court rank of Chamberlain (1587) and Court Councilor (1592). In Hideyoshi's expedition to Korea, he failed to succor the isolated force of Yukinaga Konishi for fear of the horde of Li Ju-sung, the Chinese general. Hideyoshi punished him by exiling him to Itsukushima near Hiroshima. He attempted to recover his lost domain by fighting on the side of Mitsunari Ishida, a Toyotomi retainer, against the Tokugawas in the Sekigahara Battle (1600). Defeated, he was exiled to Hitachi Province (Ibaraki Prefecture).
