Nakagawa Kiyohide facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nakagawa Kiyohide
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| Native name |
中川 清秀
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| Born | 1542 Settsu province |
| Died | June 10, 1583 Shizugatake, Ōmi Province |
| Allegiance |  Oda clan Toyotomi clan |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Shiraigawara (1571) Battle of Yamazaki (1582) Battle of Shizugatake (1583) |
| Children | Nakagawa Hidemasa Nakagawa Hidenari |
| Relations | Nakagawa Shigekiyo (father) |
Nakagawa Kiyohide (中川 清秀; 1542 – June 10, 1583) was an important Japanese warrior. He was known as a daimyō, which means a powerful lord or leader, during a time in Japan called the Azuchi–Momoyama period (around the late 1500s). His childhood name was Nakagawa Toranosuke. He was a skilled fighter who served some of Japan's most famous leaders, including Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Contents
Life of a Samurai Warrior
Early Life and Family Connections
Nakagawa Kiyohide was born in 1542. His father was Nakagawa Shigekiyo. Kiyohide had two sons, Nakagawa Hidemasa and Nakagawa Hidenari. His younger sister was married to Furuta Oribe, who was also a well-known figure.
Starting His Military Career
Kiyohide began his career working for Ikeda Katsumasa. Katsumasa was a powerful leader from Settsu Province. Later, Kiyohide decided to become independent, working alongside other strong warriors like Araki Murashige and Takayama Ukon in Settsu Province.
Serving Oda Nobunaga
When the powerful leader Oda Nobunaga marched his armies into Kyoto, Kiyohide decided to join him. He surrendered and became one of Nobunaga's loyal followers. In 1571, Kiyohide and Murashige worked together to defeat Wada Koremasa. Koremasa was an important helper of the Ashikaga Shogunate, which was the military government at the time. This happened during the Battle of Shiraigawara.
A Change of Sides
In 1578, Kiyohide faced a difficult choice. His ally, Araki Murashige, decided to go against Nobunaga. Kiyohide joined Murashige in this rebellion. However, when Nobunaga attacked with a very large army, Kiyohide realized it was a losing battle. He surrendered to Nobunaga again and then helped Nobunaga defeat Murashige instead. After Murashige was defeated, Kiyohide continued to fight in many battles. He served under other important generals like Niwa Nagashige and Ikeda Tsuneoki.
Joining Toyotomi Hideyoshi
In 1582, after Oda Nobunaga died, Kiyohide began to serve Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi became one of the most powerful leaders in Japan. Kiyohide played an active role in the Battle of Yamazaki, helping Hideyoshi win an important victory.
The Battle of Shizugatake
In 1583, Kiyohide was a key part of Hideyoshi's army at the Battle of Shizugatake. He was in the "second vanguard," meaning he was one of the first groups of soldiers to attack. He helped defend a fort called Oiwayama-fort. He held this fort with Takayama Ukon and Miyoshi Hidetsugu. During this battle, he bravely fought against Sakuma Morimasa, who was a very strong military commander serving Shibata Katsuie.
Death and What He Left Behind
Sadly, Nakagawa Kiyohide was killed by Sakuma Morimasa during the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583. His grave is located at a temple called Bairin-ji in Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture.
His second son, Nakagawa Hidenari, became the first leader of the Oka clan. This family line continued for a very long time, all the way until the Meiji period in Japan. A special bell, known as the Takeda Bell, is dedicated to Nakagawa Kiyohide's memory.
