Traitor or Loyalist? Hero or Heel? Kikkawa Hiroie

Saviour of the Mori Clan, Or Cowardly Turncoat?

A master of strategy and diplomacy, Kikkawa Hiroie was born, December 7, 1561, and made his battlefield debut aged nine alongside his father in defeating warlord Amago Katsuhisa in 1570.   In October of 1583, aged 22, he and his uncle, Kobayakawa Hidekane, an adopted son of Kobayakawa Takakage, were offered as hostages to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who had usurped Oda power after Nobunaga’s death, in exchange for the brothers Mori Shigemasa and Takamasa. Mori Motoharu had originally wanted the intelligent Hiroie to be his personal assistant in retirement, but for the sake of the Mori clan’s peace and security, sent him to Osaka. Hiroie was to have an audience with Hideyoshi within Osaka Castle on November 17, 1583. While Kobayakawa Hidekane was favoured by Hideyoshi and established as a feudal lord under the Toyotomi, Hiroie was immediately sent back to the Mori family. On his return, Hiroie was given Oki Province by Mori Terumoto, in thanks for his efforts. However, this measure was partly a response to Terumoto being made aware of Hiroie's dissatisfaction with his treatment, which was seen as one reason Hiroie had considered departing from Mori service and entering the Iwami Ogasawara clan.