Otomo (genus)

For 400 years, the Otomo clan owned vast lands on the island of Kyushu . After the establishment of the Kamakur shogunate in 1185, representatives of the Otomo clan received from the shogun the posts of the shugo (military governor) of the provinces of Bungo and Buzen on the island of Kyushu.

The Otomo clan was one of the three main samurai clans on the island. The families of Otomo, Sh Сni and Shimazu played an important role in organizing the defense of Kyushu in repelling the Mongol attacks in 1274 and 1281 .

In the 1330s, the Otomo clan played an important role in establishing the Ashikaga shogunate . Otomo's daimyo squads fought under the banners of Asikagi Takaudzi and helped him gain a number of key victories, including at the Battle of Sanoyama. After the victory of Asikagi Takaudzi, the Otomo clan received high government posts in the new shogunate.

The Otomo clan was one of the first Japanese sovereign clans to come into contact with Europeans and establish trade relations with them. In 1542, three Portuguese ships sailed to the island of Tanegashima , off the coast of Kyushu, due to the typhoon. For ten years, Otomo conducted regular trade with the Europeans. In 1549, the Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier arrived in Japan, he met with Otomo Sorin Yoshishige, shugo of the provinces of Bungo and Buzen. In 1578, Otomo Sorin adopted the Roman Catholic faith and received the name Francisco.

The daimyo of the Otomo clan sought to continue trade contacts with the Portuguese, seeing in them great technological and economic benefits. In 1552, emissaries of the Otomo clan, together with Xaverius, traveled to Goa , where they met with the Portuguese Governor General of India. Francis Xavier and the other Jesuit missionaries returned to Kyushu, where Otomo was well received. In the domain of the clan began the gradual spread of Christianity .

In the second half of the 16th century, the Otomo clan fought with the clans of Ryujoji , Mori and Shimazu for power over the island. In 1578, Otomo Sorin suffered a crushing defeat from the Shimazu clan at the Battle of Mimigawa. In 1586-1587, the actual ruler of Japan Toyotomi Hideyoshi undertook a large military campaign on the island of Kyushu, allegedly acting in defense of the Otomo family. The Shimazu clan was completely defeated and lost most of its possessions in Kyushu. Otomo Yoshimune , the son and successor of Yoshishige, was deprived of Toyotomi Hideyoshi some of his possessions.

In 1600, Otomo Yoshimune supported Ishida Mitsunari in his confrontation with Tokugawa Ieyasu . After the victory of Tokugawa Ieyasu over Ishida Mitsunari at the Battle of Sekigahara, he lost his possessions on the island of Kyushu and was sent into exile.

• Otomo Yoshinao (1172-1223), 1st head of the Otomo clan
• Otomo Yoriasu (1222–1300), 3rd head of the clan
• Otomo Sadamune (? - 1334), 6th head of the Otomo clan (1311–1333)
• Otomo Udziyasu (1321–1362), 7th chapter of the gens (1333–1362)
• Otomo Chikayo (? - 1418), head of the clan (1368-1401)
• Otomo Yoshinaga (1478-1518), 19th head of the Otomo clan (1497 / 1501-1515)
• Otomo Yoshiaki (1502-1550), shugo of the provinces of Bungo , Higo and Chikugo
• Otomo Sorin Yoshishige (1530-1587), 21th head of the Otomo clan (1550-1576), major military leader, shugo of the provinces of Bungo, Higo, Chikugo, Buzen and Tikuzen
• Otomo Yoshimune (1558-1610), 22nd head of the clan (1576-1600)

• Sansom, George (1958). 'A History of Japan to 1334'. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
• Turnbull S. Samurai, Moscow , AST, 2008 ISBN 978-5-17-040815-3