Konishi Yukinaga

Konishi Yukinaga (小西 行長, baptised under the personal name Agostinho (Portuguese for Augustine); 1558 – November 6, 1600) was a Kirishitan daimyō under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Konishi Yukinaga was the son of a wealthy Sakai merchant, Konishi Ryūsa. Ryūsa's wife was also baptised under the name of Magdalena.[1]

Konishi Yukinaga

In 1587, during the Invasion of Kyushu, he quelled the local uprising in Higo Province and was awarded a fief in that province.

Yukinaga led the initial forces under Toyotomi Hideyoshi to invade Korea in the Seven-Year War. He was noted for his role in the capture of Busan and Seoul and the defensive at Pyongyang. Afterwards, his vassal, Naitō Joan acted as the envoy to negotiate peace with the Chinese Ming dynasty.

In order to achieve peace, he negotiated with the Chinese negotiator Shen Weijing (沈惟敬). The negotiation failed because Yukinaga was not telling Hideyoshi that the Ming demanded Japan to withdraw completely from Korea.[2] Hideyoshi used the fact that the Korean side did not send a prince as a hostage to reinvade Korea.[3]

Yukinaga again led forces alongside Katō Kiyomasa to invade Korea a second time. He defended Suncheon Castle, and repelled Ming (China) and Joseon allied forces. Konishi Yukinaga adopted a Korean Christian woman. Julia was adopted as her name.[4]

After Hideyoshi's death, Yukinaga joined Ishida Mitsunari's side during the Battle of Sekigahara, but was ultimately defeated. He fled to Mount Ibuki, but was captured by Takenaka Shigekado's forces. Being a Christian, Yukinaga refused to commit suicide and was executed.

Konishi Yukinaga Battle Standard