Kobayakawa clan


The Kobayakawa clan was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Taira clan. Their holdings were in the Chūgoku region. They were a powerful clan during the Sengoku period but were disbanded during the Edo period after the Battle of Sekigahara. However, the Kobayakawa clan was restored by the Mōri clan during the Meiji period and granted a title of baronage in the new nobility. In addition, the Kusai clan of Takehara which is a branch of the Kobayakawa were granted a rank of nobility.

Origins

The Kobayakawa clan descend from the Kanmu-Heishi branch of the Taira clan who are descendants of the 50th Emperor of Japan, Emperor Kanmu. The son of Taira no Tsunemune, Nakamura Munehira founded the Nakamura clan of Sagami Province. His first son became the next head of the Nakamura while his second son, Dohi Sanehira, founded the Dohi clan. Once again Sanehira's first son continued the Dohi clan while his second son, Kobayakawa Tohira, founded the Kobayakawa clan.
Kanmu-tennō
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Kazurawara-shinnō
　┃
Takami-Ō
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Taira no Takamochi
　┃
Taira no Yoshifumi
　┃
Taira no Tadayori
　┃
Taira no Raison
　┃
Taira no Tsuneto
　┃
Taira no Tsunemune
　┃
Nakamura Munehira
　┃
Dohi Sanehira
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Kobayakawa Tohira
　┃
Kobayakawa Kagehira

History

Two sons of the third head of the family, Kobayakawa Shigehira, split the clan into two branches. His third son, Kobayakawa Masahira made his base in Numata and became first head of the Numata-Kobayakawa clan. His fourth son, Kobayakawa Masakage made his base in Takehara and became first head of the Takehara-Kobayakawa clan.
Members of the Kobayakawa clan served under the Mōri clan, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. They held great power in administrating politics in Western Japan because the head of the family, Kobayakawa Takakage was in fact Mōri Terumoto's uncle and was recognized as one of the best statesmen by Toyotomi Hideyoshi who appointed Kobayakawa Takakage as a member of the Council of Five Elders but he died before Toyotomi Hideyoshi. They were also close allies with the Kikkawa clan which was run by Takakage's brother. The Kobayakawa fought alongside the Kikkawa, Mōri, Toyotomi, and Ōtomo clans against the Shimazu, for control of Kyūshū at the end of the 16th century; they were awarded Chikuzen Province as their fief following the Shimazu's defeat.

Family Heads

Numata-Kobayakawa clan :
  1. Kobayakawa Masahira - 3rd son of Shigehira.
  2. Kobayakawa Tomohira
  3. Kobayakawa Nobuhira
  4. Kobayakawa Sadahira
  5. Kobayakawa Haruhira
  6. Kobayakawa Norihira
  7. Kobayakawa Hirohira
  8. Kobayakawa Takahira
  9. Kobayakawa Sukehira
  10. Kobayakawa Okihira
  11. Kobayakawa Shigehira
  12. Kobayakawa Takakage - 3rd son of Mōri Motonari.
  13. Kobayakawa Hideaki - nephew of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Takehara-Kobayakawa clan :
  1. Kobayakawa Masakage - 4th son of Shigehira.
  2. Kobayakawa Kagemune
  3. Kobayakawa Sukekage
  4. Kobayakawa Shigekage
  5. Kobayakawa Shigemune
  6. Kobayakawa Saneyoshi
  7. Kobayakawa Yoshiharu
  8. Kobayakawa Nakayoshi
  9. Kobayakawa Hirokage
  10. Kobayakawa Morikage
  11. Kobayakawa Hirokage
  12. Kobayakawa Hirohira
  13. Kobayakawa Okikage
  14. Kobayakawa Takakage - 3rd son of Mōri Motonari.

    Significant Members