Mōri Motonari
Mōri Motonari (毛利 元就, April 16, 1497 – July 6, 1571) was a prominent daimyō (feudal lord) in the western Chūgoku region of Japan during the Sengoku period of the 16th century. The Mōri clan claimed descent from Ōe no Hiromoto (大江広元), an adviser to Minamoto no Yoritomo. Motonari was called the "Beggar Prince". He was known as a great strategist who began as a small local warlord (jizamurai) of Aki Province and extended his clan's power to nearly all of the Chūgoku region through war, marriage, adoption and assassination.
Mōri Motonari | |
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毛利 元就 | |
Mōri Motonari | |
| Head of Mōri clan | |
| In office July 1523 – 1557 | |
| Preceded by | Mōri Kōmatsumaru |
| Succeeded by | Mōri Takamoto |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Shōjumaru (松寿丸) April 16, 1497 Suzuo Castle, Aki |
| Died | July 6, 1571 (aged 74) Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle, Aki |
| Parents |
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| Nickname | "Beggar Prince" (乞食若殿) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Imperial House of Japan Amago clan (1522–1525) Ōuchi clan (1525–1554) |
| Years of service | Mōri clan (1523–1571) "Retired": (1546, 1557) |
| Rank | Daimyō (Lord) Ju go-i-no-ge (従五位下) Ju shi-i-no-jō (従四位上) Jibu-shō (治部少輔) Mutsu-no-kami (陸奥守) Ju san-mi (従三位) Shō ichi-i (正一位) |
| Unit | Mōri clan |
| Commands | Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle |
| Battles/wars |
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Sandwiched between the powerful Amago and Ōuchi clans, Motonari led his clan by carefully balancing actions and diplomacy. Eventually, Motonari succeeded in defeating both and controlled the entire Chūgoku region. In his later years, he crushed the Ōtomo clan of Bungo Province in Kyūshū. Motonari ruled from Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle, the clan's main bastion since the early 14th century. His descendants became lords of the Chōshū Domain.