Chōsokabe Morichika


Chōsokabe Morichika was a Japanese samurai of the Azuchi–Momoyama period through early Edo period. Once the ruler of Tosa Province, his fief was revoked by Tokugawa Ieyasu after the Battle of Sekigahara. His childhood name was Sen'yumaru.

Biography

Morichika was the 4th son of Chōsokabe Motochika. He was named the heir to the Chôsokabe following Chōsokabe Nobuchika's death in 1587 and fought in the Siege of Odawara and 1st Korean Campaigns. He sided with Ishida Mitsunari in 1600 and commanded 6,600 men at Battle of Sekigahara and was afterwards deprived of his fief despite sending an apology to Tokugawa Ieyasu. That same year, he had ordered the execution of his elder brother Tsuno Chikatada, who had questioned his right to be Motochika's heir.
As ruler of Tosa Province, in 1614 he went to join the defenders of Osaka Castle against the Tokugawa, he arriving there the same day as Sanada Yukimura. His Chôsokabe contingent fought very well in both the Winter and Summer at Osaka Campaigns. After the fall of Osaka, Morichika attempted to flee but was apprehended at Hachiman-yama by Hachisuka men, He and his sons were beheaded on May 11, 1615, following the defeat of the Toyotomi and Chosokabe forces at the Battle of Tennōji.

Family