1585: Hideyoshi Becomes Kampaku and Pacifies Shikoku
In July, Hashiba Hideyoshi was appointed Kampaku (imperial regent), reaching the summit of court society. That same year, he dispatched a large army to Shikoku under his brother Hidenaga and other commanders, attacking Chōsokabe Motochika, who had nearly unified the island, and forcing his surrender. Motochika was allowed to keep only Tosa Province, and Hideyoshi's campaign to unify the realm advanced further still.
Events this year
Month 3
The armies of Hashiba Hideyoshi and Hidenaga attacked the Negoro and Saika groups and advanced their conquest of Kii Province.
Month 4
Sengoku Hidehisa and Bitō Tomonobu landed at Yashima with the Ukita and Kuroda armies and took Kioka Castle, Kōzai Castle and other strongholds.
See this battle in detail →Sources 香川県立図書館「香川県史年表（近世 1585年〈天正13〉〜）」
Month 6
Mori forces crossed to Iyo, Hashiba Hidenaga and Hidetsugu landed in Awa, and the Ukita and Kuroda forces landed in Sanuki, attacking Chosokabe castles.
See this battle in detail →Sources 東京大学史料編纂所『大日本史料 第十一編之十七』／高知県「長宗我部元親と土佐の戦国時代」／香川県立図書館「香川県史年表」／徳島市立徳島城博物館「長宗我部元親書状」
Kobayakawa Takakage, leading the first wave of the Mōri force, landed from Aki at Imabari-ura (present-day Imabari) and opened the Iyo front.
See this battle in detail →Sources 愛媛県生涯学習センター データベース『えひめの記憶』／松山市「室町時代から安土・桃山時代」
Month 7
Following the Hashiba invasion of Shikoku, Chōsokabe Motochika submitted and was confirmed in Tosa Province.
See this battle in detail →Sources 東京大学史料編纂所『大日本史料 第十一編之十七』／高知県「長宗我部元親と土佐の戦国時代」／香川県立図書館「香川県史年表」／徳島市立徳島城博物館「長宗我部元親書状」
Hashiba Hideyoshi was appointed kampaku, gaining an imperial office through which to advance his rule over the country.
The Mōri force that had entered Iyo surrounded Takao Castle and Maruyama in Nii District, and the castle fell after resistance led by Kaneko Motoie. In Niihama the fighting is remembered as the Tenshō Campaign.
See this battle in detail →Sources 愛媛県生涯学習センター データベース『えひめの記憶』／新居浜市「滝の宮公園」
In the redistribution of provinces after the Shikoku campaign, Sengoku Hidehisa received Sanuki from Hideyoshi, though twenty thousand koku remained under the rule of Sogō Masayasu.
See this battle in detail →Sources 香川県立図書館「香川県史年表（近世 1585年〈天正13〉〜）」
Month 8
Kobayakawa Takakage, whose army had closed on Yuzuki Castle, urged Kōno Michinao to surrender; Michinao opened the castle and sued for terms. Kōno rule in Iyo ended and Yuzuki Castle became Takakage’s residence.
See this battle in detail →Sources 愛媛県生涯学習センター データベース『えひめの記憶』／松山市「室町時代から安土・桃山時代」
Sanada Masayuki broke with the Tokugawa after refusing to hand over the Numata territory. A Tokugawa army of more than 7,000 men attacked Ueda Castle, and Masayuki drove it off with fewer than 2,000.
Sources 上田市「上田城の歴史」
Month 9
Building work carried out with many Uesugi commanders mobilized brought Ueda Castle to a first state of completion. Sanada Masayuki had sent his second son to Uesugi Kagekatsu as a hostage in return for help with the castle.
Sources 上田市「上田城の歴史」
9/3
Toyotomi Hidenaga entered Kōriyama Castle with Hideyoshi and developed the castle and town as a base for governing Yamato, Kii, and Izumi.
Month 11
Date Masamune fought a coalition led by Satake Yoshishige and including the Ashina around Hitotoribashi. The Date army was hard pressed, but the coalition withdrew.
See this battle in detail →Sources 福島県「中世」／本宮市地域資料／南奥州の佐竹・伊達抗争に関する調査ノート
11/13
Ishikawa Kazumasa, a senior retainer of Tokugawa and former deputy of Okazaki Castle, defected to Hideyoshi's side, taking his wife, children, and a hostage from the Shinano Ogasawara family. The defection of this senior retainer, well-versed in Tokugawa military organization, proved a serious setback; it is said that Tokugawa subsequently reformed his military system. The reasons for his defection remain uncertain.
Sources 国立公文書館「徳川家康－将軍家蔵書からみるその生涯－」
12/10
Hashiba Hidekatsu, Oda Nobunaga's son who became Hideyoshi's adopted heir, died of illness at age eighteen while serving as lord of Tanba Kameyama Castle. He is distinguished from other Hidekatsu, such as Ishimatsu Hidekatsu and Koyoshi Hidekatsu, due to multiple people sharing the same name.
Sources 長浜市曳山博物館 特別展「秀吉と三人の秀勝たち」
After the Shikoku campaign, Hachisuka Iemasa was granted Awa Province and built Tokushima Castle as his seat of government.
Tokugawa Ieyasu began construction of Sunpu Castle. He was transferred to the Kantō in 1590, after which Nakamura Kazuuji became lord of the castle.
Sources 静岡市「駿府城公園城遺構案内板 解説」
Toyotomi Hideyoshi invaded Etchū and Sassa Narimasa surrendered. Shiratori Castle in Toyama served as the forward base of Hideyoshi’s army, and after the surrender Nakagawa Mitsushige, a senior retainer of Maeda Toshiie, entered Masuyama Castle.
Sources 文化庁 文化遺産オンライン「増山城跡」／富山市「婦中安田城跡歴史の広場」
Maeno Nagayasu, who moved from being lord of Miki Castle in Harima to become lord of Izushi and Arikoyama Castle in Tajima, engaged in renovation of the castle fortifications.
In recognition of his service in the conquest of Shikoku, Hideyoshi sought to grant Awa Province to Hachisuka Masakatsu, but Masakatsu declined due to his advanced age. His eldest son Iemasa received Awa Province in his stead and took up residence at Ichinomiya Castle.
See this battle in detail →After Hideyoshi's subjugation of Kii, Hidenaga had Wakayama Castle built on Tora Fushi Mountain under his orders. Tōdō Takatora served as construction magistrate, and after its completion Kuwayama Shigeharu, a retainer of Hidenaga, served as deputy, handling the practical administration of Kii.
Sources 和歌山県立博物館、史跡和歌山城
Under Toyotomi Hideyoshi's settlement of Settsu, Takayama was transferred from Takatsuki to Akashi in Harima and undertook construction of Funage Castle and development of the castle town.
As Settsu came entirely under Hideyoshi's direct control through his settlement of Settsu, Nakagawa Hidemasa was transferred to Miki in Harima.
Accompanying Hidenaga in the conquest of Kii, Takatori gained military renown and was promoted to 10,000 koku with a 5,400-koku increase, achieving daimyo rank. That same year, as Hidenaga had Wakayama Castle built while becoming lord of Kii, Takatori served as construction magistrate.
Sources 津市「藤堂高虎 略年譜」