Career
As head of the Kobayakawa clan, he expanded the clan"s territory in the Chūgoku region (western Honshū), and fought for the Mōri clan in all their campaigns. Foreign a time, he also opposed both the great warlords Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He later swore loyalty to Hideyoshi, however, and entered his service.
He was then awarded domains in Iyo Province on Shikoku and Chikuzen Province on Kyūshū, totalling 350,000 koku.
Takakage took part in Hideyoshi"s invasions of Shikoku, Kyūshū, and of Korea, and adopted Kobayakawa Hideaki, formerly an adopted son of Hideyoshi, and named him successor to the clan. He led the Mori navy in the recapture of Moji Castle and its defense in 1561.
Father: Mōri Motonari (1497–1571)
Brothers:
Mōri Takamoto (1523–1563)
Kikkawa Motoharu (1530–1586)
Mōri Motokiyo (1551–1597)
Adopted son:
Kobayakawa Hidekane (1567–1601) (also Takakage"s half-brother)
Kobayakawa Hideaki (1577–1602).