Yoshimasa Tanaka

A military commander and feudal lord from the end of the Sengoku period to the beginning of the early modern period. Born in Omi (Shiga Prefecture) in Tenbun 17. He first served Miyabe Zenshobo in Inaba Tottori, but later served Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In 1588 (Tensho 16), he was appointed Hyobu no Taifu (Military Secretary), with the rank of Junior Fifth Rank. The following year, he was given Mikawa Okazaki Castle and was given a fief of over 50,000 koku, which was later increased to 100,000 koku. At this time, Hideyoshi gave him a character to use as a title and he was renamed Yoshimasa. He belonged to the Eastern Army in the Battle of Sekigahara, and achieved military merit by capturing Ishida Mitsunari. He was given over 325,000 koku in the entire Chikugo province and made his castle in Yanagawa (Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture). At that time, he was a Junior Fourth Rank, later a Chamberlain and a Chikugo no Kami. He died on February 18, 1604, while on a visit to Edo. He was 62 years old. His eldest son, Tadamasa, inherited his estate, but Tadamasa died without an heir in 1620 (Genwa 6), and the Tanaka clan became extinct.

[Yasunori Koya]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

戦国末・近世初頭の武将、大名。天文(てんぶん)17年近江(おうみ)（滋賀県）に生まれる。初め宮部善祥坊(みやべぜんしょうぼう)に仕えて因幡(いなば)鳥取にいたが、のち豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉に仕えた。1588年（天正16）従(じゅ)五位下兵部大輔(ひょうぶのたい)。翌年三河岡崎(みかわおかざき)城を与えられて5万石余を領し、のち加増されて10万石となった。このとき秀吉から一字を与えられて吉政と改称。関ヶ原の戦いでは東軍に属し、石田三成(みつなり)を捕縛するなどの戦功をあげ、筑後(ちくご)一国32万5000石余を与えられて柳河(やながわ)（福岡県柳川市）に居城を置いた。このとき従四位下、のち侍従(じじゅう)、筑後守(かみ)。慶長(けいちょう)14年2月18日、江戸参府の途中で没した。年62。遺領は嫡男忠政(ただまさ)が継いだが、忠政は1620年（元和6）に後嗣(こうし)がないまま没して、田中氏は絶家となった。

［荒野泰典］

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