Hosokawa Sumimoto facts for kids
Hosokawa Sumimoto (1489 – June 24, 1520) was an important samurai leader in Japan during the 1500s. He lived during a time called the Muromachi period.
He was born to Hosokawa Yoshiharu. Later, he was adopted by Hosokawa Masamoto, who was a very powerful official called a Kanrei (like a chief minister) for the Ashikaga shogunate (the government led by a shōgun). Sumimoto came from the powerful Hosokawa clan in Awa Province. His childhood name was Rokuro.
Becoming a Leader
Masamoto didn't have his own children. At first, he planned for another adopted son, Hosokawa Sumiyuki, to take over the family. But later, Masamoto changed his mind and chose Sumimoto instead. This caused a big disagreement between Sumimoto and Sumiyuki.
In 1507, Masamoto was killed by someone who supported Sumiyuki. Sumimoto was attacked by Sumiyuki's supporter, Kozai Motonaga. Sumimoto had to escape to Koga in Ōmi Province, where he found safety with Rokkaku Takayori.
After this, a strong supporter of the Hosokawa family, Miyoshi Yukinaga, gathered an army in Settsu. He fought against Sumiyuki in Sumimoto's name. Yukinaga defeated Sumiyuki, and then Sumimoto officially became the head of the Hosokawa family.
Supporting the Shogun
Sumimoto and Hosokawa Takakuni, who was also an adopted son of Masamoto, supported Ashikaga Yoshizumi. Yoshizumi had been made the 11th Shogun by Masamoto. Back in 1493, Masamoto had removed the 10th Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshitane, from power. Yoshitane later escaped and went to other parts of Japan, hoping to get his position back.
In 1508, Ōuchi Yoshioki, who was helping Yoshitane, marched his armies into Kyoto. He brought Yoshitane back to be Shogun again. At this point, the friendship between Sumimoto and Takakuni broke down. Takakuni joined forces with Yoshioki, and Sumimoto was forced to leave Kyoto and go to Ōmi Province.
Sumimoto planned to fight Yoshioki in Settsu Province. However, when he saw how many soldiers Yoshioki had, Sumimoto decided to retreat to Awa Province.
Battles and Retreats
In 1511, Sumimoto returned to Kyoto. But he was defeated by Takakuni and the Ōuchi clan at a place called Funaokayama. He had to flee again. The death of Shogun Yoshizumi was another difficult blow for Sumimoto's side.
In 1518, Ōuchi Yoshioki left Kyoto to take care of his own lands. Sumimoto saw this as a chance to try again. The next year, he planned another move on Kyoto, working with Miyoshi Yukinaga.
However, Yukinaga was attacked and defeated by Hosokawa Takakuni and the Rokkaku clan, who were now on Shogun Yoshitane's side. Yukinaga was captured and forced to take his own life. Sumimoto was ill and had not even reached Kyoto yet. After Yukinaga's defeat, Sumimoto escaped again to his home province of Awa. He died soon after.
Family Life
- Father: Hosokawa Yoshiharu (1468–1495)
- Adopted father: Hosokawa Masamoto
- Wife: Seitai-in
- Children:
- Hosokawa Harumoto
- A daughter who married Hatakeyama Yoshitaka
- A daughter who married Arima Shigenori
