Chosokabe Motochika
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Chosokabe Motochika (1539-1599)(長宗我部元親) was daimyo of Tosa province on Shikoku island, Japan. He was the eldest son of Chosokabe Kunichika. Motochika was soon dubbed 'Himewakako', or 'Young Princess' due to being a very thoughtful youth. Motochika truly proved himself as a heir when he valiantly led 50 horsemen men during the Battle of Nagahama in 1560, against the likes of Motoyama Shigetoki, the leader of a rival clan. Soon after, Motochika's father died, leaving Motochika as the head of the clan. Once again during the year of 1562, Motochika defeated the Motoyama during the Battle of Asakura. During the year of 1569, Motochika then went on to defeat the clan of Aki. Dueing so, Motochika displayed nominal deference to that of the Ichijo of eastern Tosa.
During the year of 1578, Motochika invaded Awa Province and clashed with the Sogo family at Hakuchi Castle. Once again doing the same in the Battle of Nakatomigawa in 1582. Then on in 1583, Motochika fought against Sengoku Hidehisa at the Battle of Hikita. At that time Shikoku was now under the control of Motochika, so he moved on to Iyo. Motochika went on against the Kono family, whom he forced to submit. When the latter invaded during the year of 1585, of June, Motochika was forced to submit to the likes of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Motochika was allowed to retain the region of Tosa. Motochika was then to have co-leadership of a Toyotomi force assigned to assist the Otomo in holding Funai Castle against the likes of the Shimazu. Then on Sengoku Hidehisa, once an enemy of Motochika but now one of his men, led on the field against the orders of Hideyoshi. This led to the Battle of Hetsugigawa in where the Otomo and Toyotomi lost.
During that battle, Motochika lost many loyal retainers, and even his own heir, Nobuchika. Even though he returned his Nobuchika's body, he was very despondent at the death of his son. Then on, Motochika refused the fief to Osumi Province, but did except the surname of "Toyotomi" from Hideyoshi. then on, Motochika named his fourth son Morichika along with as the new heir. To this decision, many divisions arose between the family of Chosokabe.
During the Battle of Odawara, Motochika commanded over 3,000 men in war ships. In the future, Motochika moved his capital many times. Before Motochika was to die, he composed an article known as "100-Article Code of the Chosokabe" in the year of 1596. Three years later, Motochika died at Fushimi on the 11th of July in 1599.
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