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Toyotomi Hideyoshi

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Military Personnel

The Resume

    (February 2, 1536-September 18, 1598)
    Born in Nagoya, Japan
    Samurai and daimyo (feudal lord)
    Retainer of Oda Nobunaga
    Served as Chief Advisor to the Emperor (1585-92) and Chancellor of the Realm (1586-98)
    Known as the second 'Great Unifier' of Japan

Why he might be annoying:

    He imposed a rigid class structure and travel restrictions on the population.
    He launched an invasion of Korea (1590) that bogged down into a stalemate.
    After his son was born, he ordered his nephew and former heir, Hidetsugu, to commit suicide (1595).
    Members of Hidetsugu's family who did not follow his lead were murdered, including 31 women and several children.
    To discourage the Japanese from converting, he had 26 Christians, including three young boys, tortured and crucified in public (February 5, 1597).
    To avoid demoralizing the army, his death was kept secret until the forces in Korea could be withdrawn to Japan.
    His son's rule lasted only two years before he was overthrown by Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He rose to power from the peasantry.
    He defeated Akechi Mitsuhide (July 2, 1582), the samurai who had betrayed Oda Nobunaga.
    He continued Nobunaga's campaign of uniting Japan.
    He memorized the leads of ten noh plays, which he often performed.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 85.71% Annoying