Toyotomi Hideyoshi: photo, biography, quotation, activity

Toetomi Hideyoshi is a prominent military and political figure of medieval Japan, who managed to reach the very top of the hierarchical system from the peasantry. His reforms formed the basis of the structure of the Japanese state and existed practically unchanged for 300 years. The name of Toetomi is shrouded in secrets and legends, it is even to some extent a symbol of modern Japan.

Birth and youth

Toyotomi Hideyoshi was born either on February 2, 1536, or March 26, 1537, which corresponded to the fifth or sixth year of Tenbun, the exact date is still unknown. His small homeland was the village of Nakamura in the province of Ovari. He was born into a peasant family, and if he were an ordinary child, then he would go to the field until the end of his days. However Hideyoshi was not a simple man, and he managed to prove it to everyone, including the emperor. Although, perhaps, he was not a peasant, since other sources claim about his samurai origin, and from the most "black" layer - foot soldiers ashigaru. This mystery remained unsolved even after four centuries after the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

His brief biography is full of many facts and events in the military and political life of the country. But there is a possibility that if his father had not died so early, Japan and the whole world would not have heard such a name. The thing is that after the death of Yaemon's father, his mother got married. His stepfather immediately disliked his wife's son, often raised his voice and often beat him. This prompted the future ruler to flee from his father's house. He went to the province of Suruga, where he ruled the family of Imagawa. T. Hideyoshi was recruited to Matsushito Naganori with a new name Kinoshita Tokitiro. From this moment begins his adult life away from his father's house and home land.

Oda Nobunaga and the beginning of growth in the hierarchical system

The year 1554 was marked by a meeting between Hideyoshi and Oda Nobunaga. At the same time, he left the Imagawa and began to serve the new master. Of course, he did not immediately become a samurai, at first he was a carrier of Nobunaga sandals.

Toetomi Hideyoshi stood out from the midst of simple servants, he was smart, cautious, and in his work, engineering inclinations slipped. The last point helped to change the attitude of the ruler towards him. Once there was a collapse of the fortified residence of Ode. The landslides were considerable, but the capable peasant Toetomi managed to eliminate them in just three days. On Nobunaga this made an indelible impression, and he, in turn, did not remain indebted to his servant. In an instant, Oda appointed him the governor of the city of Kiyos, which had the status of a prizkakovogo, in addition, the financial affairs of the ruling family were transferred to the management of Hideyoshi. Given the fact that Toetomi did not have an aristocratic background, this was an exception to all the rules. To consolidate the high status in the society he succeeded in 1564, when he married with the daughter of the nearest vassal Nobunaga Asan Nagamasi.

Military activities under the command of Nobunaga

Oda Nobunaga is a historical personality, which played a huge role in the unification of Japan. As a rule, the union took place due to the conquest of neighboring provinces, therefore it was accompanied by constant internecine wars. Tootomi Hideyoshi played a big role in this process. His biography is simply stuffed with military successes in the struggle for the rise of the Ode clan. In 1566 the war with the Saito family was unleashed. The stumbling block was the province of Mino. Hideyoshi succeeded in erecting a fortification on a swamp in just one night, which became a springboard for the advance of Nobunaga's troops. At the same time, it should be noted his diplomatic abilities, because it was in this resistance of the two Japanese families that he lured influential Saito generals to his side. After that there was a turning point in the course of the war, and two years later it ended with the victory of Ode.

1568 was important in the political activities of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. After the capture of Kyoto, he was appointed one of the co-rulers of the capital.

From an upstart in commanders

Two years after the capture of Kyoto, Nobunaga assembled an army to march on the province of Echizen, where the Asakur clan ruled. This campaign carried unexpected losses and the complete destruction of Ode's troops. Already during the campaign Nobunaga found out about the treason of one of the influential allies, with whom the enemy could take the army in a vice and smash. Oda prepared for an urgent retreat, and as a cover left the rearguard led by Hideyoshi. Everyone understood perfectly well that this was a sure death. However, contrary to all prejudices, Toetomi was able to repel all enemy raids, returning to Kyoto to the main forces undefeated. This act was not just a cover for the retreating forces of the ruler, he changed the views of the samurai Oda. Previously, they believed that Hideyoshi is a simple civil upstart, now he began to see a gifted commander.

In 1573, the family of Adzai was destroyed, while Toyotomi Hideyoshi was appointed to his territory in the province of Ome and the ruler of the castle of Nagamaha. The photo of those possessions did not reach our days, but the fact that the former peasant received a military fortification for use speaks volumes.

In 1576 Hideyoshi was appointed assistant military general Katsuie Sibata, in order to repel the battle onslaught of Kensin's forces. During the discussion of the strategy of fighting, there was a quarrel, as a result of which our hero went AWOL - left the headquarters. The result was the complete defeat of Nobunaga's troops. Initially, it was decided to execute Toetomi, but given his remarkable abilities, the ruler left him alive, issuing a severe warning.

Redemption of guilt

The activity of Toyotomi Hideyoshi dates from the second half of the 16th century. This is the peak of the intense struggle within the state between the individual representatives of the clans, this is the time of incessant wars. And so the best way to earn the pardon of the ruler was a military feat. Toetomi did not take long to wait, especially since the command itself gave him a convenient chance. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief of Nobunaga's army in the fight against the growing Mori clan. For two years Hideyoshi managed to subordinate to his power three kinds - Kodera, Akamatsu and Bassho. At the same time, he created a stronghold, the center of which was Himeji Castle. In 1579, it turned out to entice Ukita, the vassal of Mori, to his side.

However, the following year was not so cloudless. In the rear rose the Besse family. Hideyoshi could not continue the offensive when he was restless in the rear, so he returned his forces to suppress the rebellion. In order to take the fortress of the rebels, had to spend a year, because it was possible to make only an izmerom. Immediately after this, Toetomi subordinated to his power the region of Tajima, which belonged to the family of Yaman. The remnants of the subordinate Yaman, realizing the incompetence of his suzerain, expelled him and concentrated in the fortress of Tottori, moving to the side of Mori. But this did not save them: in 1581, Toetomi surrounded the fortress, bought all the provisions in the district and took it by the wind.

In 1582, just as in the previous one, Fortune smiled at our hero Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The photo of his victories, of course, does not exist, but if they were captured, the future generations would be amazed by their originality. In the meantime, Toetomi continued his victorious series and, having invaded the lands of the Bittu province, began the siege of the Takamatsu fortress. It was a well-armed and impregnable castle. From all sides the valley in which it was located was surrounded by mountains, and on both sides there were two rivers. Hideyoshi once again resorted to engineering, constructing dams in such a way that the whole valley, together with the incessant rains, turned into a huge lake, and the castle itself was like an islet. A few weeks later the impregnable fortress fell.

Political Rise

The years of Oda Nobunaga's rule can not be called stable and prosperous. The population suffered from constant incessant wars. Under his power, he managed to capture 33 provinces in which he created an indescribable outrage. All this led to a revolt against Nobunaga. The rebels, led by Akechi Mitsuhide and his 10,000-strong army, forced Nobunaga to commit seppuku.

At this time, Toyotomi was busy storming the castle of Takamatsu, but hearing about the disturbing news, not telling anyone, in a short time concluded a truce with Maury and went to the capital. At the same time, another colleague of Nobunaga - Tokugawa Ieyasu went to Kyoto. But Hideyoshi was ahead of him, within three days, breaking the distance of several hundred kilometers. In May, 12 days, in 1582, the forty-thousand-strong army of Toetomi defeated Mitsuhide's troops under Yamazaki. The rebel himself was killed by ordinary peasants while robbing food for horses.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, whose quotations scattered over all former Nobunaga possessions, positioned himself as an avenger, which led him to increase the influence among influential feudal lords and samurais. When deciding on the succession of Toetomi's power, it was not difficult to enlist the support of generals. Potential as a competitor for the throne - Nobunaga's son Nobutaka - he forced to suicide. After that, Hideyoshi received most of the possessions of the Ode, being the regent-adviser to the new ruler of the family Oda Sanbosi (3 years old). Open discontent at the same time designated long-time opponent Sibata Katsuie.

Uniting the country through bloodshed

Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1582-1598 gg.) Found no peace after declaring him the actual heir of Nobunaga's power. At this time, the old opponent and opponent Hideyoshi Shibata unleashed a war against him. In the decisive battle the enemy was defeated and was forced to retreat to his province of Echizen. Most of the allies of Sibata eventually passed under the banner of Toetomi. Taking advantage of the moment, Hideyoshi broke into the enemy's lands and surrounded the fortress of Kitanos. Shibata and his wife took death from seppuku, the citadel surrendered to the mercy of the winner. As a result, all the former lands controlled by Nobunaga moved into possession of Hideyoshi.

In 1583 the city of Osaka became the center of construction: here was erected the erection of a huge castle. As contemporaries testified, such fortresses were not possessed by any state of the civilized world. According to the Japanese, Japan, China and Korea belonged to such. Simultaneously, Osaka turned into a major financial center and an unofficial but actual capital of the country.

Subordination of the whole territory of Japan

The most wealthy competitor in the unification of the country for Toyotomi was the former Nobunaga ally Tokugawa Ieyasu. In 1584 there was a general battle between their armies, the victory in which won the samurai Tokugawa. But the potential and reserve of forces for the continuation of the war was on the side of Hideyoshi, so Ieyasu went to peace talks. Toetomi had little peace, he needed the obedience of absolutely all the rulers of Japan. To do this, he even gave his sister Asahi to marry Tokugawa, and the mother sent him to him as a hostage. In 1586, Tokugawa himself arrived in Kyoto and took an oath of allegiance to Hideyoshi.

In the same years, Toyotomi Hideyoshi decided to add to his possessions the island of Shikoku, on which he ran the Tesokaba Mototiki. Initially, Hideyoshi suggested that he simply recognize the vassalage. But, as expected, Tesokaba refused, after which Hideyoshi sent a 100-thousand army, before which the enemy capitulated.

Next came the island of Kyushu, governed by the Shimazu family. In 1587, Toetomi personally led the 200,000-strong army. Local governors could not resist such a force and surrendered to the conquerors.

By the end of the 80s of the 16th century, there was still one of the largest landowners in the territory of Japan - the genus Go-Hojo. In 1590, an open war broke out between the two titans. Toyotomi besieged the main fortress of Odawara. Immediately after that, the samurai of the Eastern part of Japan ordered to gather in his residence. As a result, almost all military feudal lords appeared to him and recognized dependence on Hideyoshi. After three months of siege the impregnable fortress, which no illustrious military commander could take to Toetomi, fell. The ruler of the family and his sons committed seppuku.

As a result of this activity, under the influence of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the commander and politician subordinated to his authority the entire territory of Japan. He became the most powerful ruler in the history of the state.

Internal Reforms

In domestic affairs, Toetomi Hideyoshi was as active as in military operations. After the end of the century of internecine wars, a period of stability ensued in the country, which entailed an instant increase in the cultivated areas - they grew by 70%. However Hideyoshi imposed a huge tax on farmers - 2/3 of the harvest they had to deposit into the treasury. Thus, the collection of rice for the year was about 3.5 million tons.

Toyotomi carried out a policy of seizing all weapons in the midst of a simple population, and even the braids and sickles belonged to this category at that time. The entire population of Japan was clearly divided into two classes: administrators, to which the military class belonged, and civil subjects. The all-Japanese land cadastre was also created for the first time in the years of Hideyoshi's rule and existed unchanged for 300 years.

One of the most significant moments in Hideyoshi's internal activity is the expulsion of Christian missionaries. This was a lot of reasons from official economic to personal. June 19, 1587. He issued a decree according to which all Christians were to leave the Japanese islands for 20 days, otherwise they were to die. To be intimidated, exemplary executions were carried out: 26 Christians were crucified, among them were Europeans.

Imperialist views of Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Intoxicated by inner successes, believing in his God-chosenness, Toetomi began to gradually go crazy, as some scholars have argued. He got himself a harem consisting of 300 concubines, all the time, driving hundreds of thousands of peasants to build military fortifications, and no one wanted. But the main thing is his imperialist ideas. Toetomi came to mind to capture the entire civilized world. He started with Korea. The first period of the war, undoubtedly, remained with the Japanese - they captured almost all the cities on the Korean peninsula and reached the borders with China. However, after this, the guerrilla war unfolded , plus the Chinese army came to the north from it, considering Korea its vassal territory. The result - the samurai were pushed to the south. Korea was divided into Chinese and Japanese occupation zones. This struggle continued until the death of Hideyoshi in 1598. After this event, the samurai capitulated and went to their native land, where once more the internecine struggle broke out, the main figure in which became Tokugawa Ieyasu.

So spoke Hideyoshi

Quotes and statements, as well as poems of the all-powerful dictator Hideyoshi, were filled with profound philosophical meaning. However, this was typical of all the rulers of the civilized East of those times, and our hero is not an exception.

By its origin, Toyotomi could not become an emperor, so he was assigned the title of a campaign. It can be interpreted in different ways, but the point is that he was the actual ruler of the state under the nominal power of the emperor. Therefore, when the samurai swore allegiance, the slope was not made to the emperor, but to the campaign of Hideyoshi. This is evidenced by the main text of the oath, compiled directly by Toetomi: "Orders and orders of the campaign must be respected by all, and they must be obeyed without question."

One of the philosophical quotes of Hideyoshi is the reasoning about life: "I am unshakable and firm in achieving my goal, and in every new situation all my domestic affairs will also be in perfect order. With hope, as before, I look to the future, I believe in my longevity, and nothing wrong with me should happen. I will continue to enjoy all the delights of life. "

His quotes are full of philosophy of life, however, his statements on the state administration, in which he was very strong, did not reach us. Hideas went a long way from peasant to campaign and in the declining years, as contemporaries claimed, turned into a very superstitious and pious man. That is why his last poem, written already on his deathbed, was the following philosophical conclusion:

I'm like a drop of dew falling,

Like a dewdrop, that will disappear without a trace.

Even the castle in Osaka -

Just a dream.

Toetomi Hideyoshi is a "monkey" or "Mr. Monkey", that's how he was named in Japanese historiography. This was not due to his unseemly appearance. In Japan, people who all had time to call such a nickname or the word "Tokitiro" were named, were endowed with remarkable intelligence, ingenuity and vital energy. Toetomi Hideyoshi has proved all this on the example of his own life. He managed to become a ruler of all Japan from a poor peasant, defeating opponents, and at the same time uniting the state under sole authority.