Kikkawa Motoharu


Kikkawa Motoharu was the second son of Mōri Motonari, and featured prominently in all the wars of the Mōri clan.
He became an active commander of the Mōri army and he with his brother Kobayakawa Takakage became known as the “Mōri Ryōkawa", or “Mōri's Two Rivers".

Biography

In 1530, he was born in Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle. When Motoharu was young he was adopted into the Kikkawa clan by Kikkawa Okitsune. He then became head of the family around 1550.
Motoharu fought in many battles alongside his brother, Kobayakawa Takakage, including the 1555 Battle of Miyajima and the 1570 Battle of Nunobeyama.
In 1566, he claimed Izumo Province as his fief, after defeating its lords, the Amago clan, in a number of battles.
He fought in the 1568 Battle of Torisaka. and the 1569 Battle of Tatarahama.
Motoharu also fought in many battles against the Oda such as the 1578 Siege of Kōzuki Castle and the 1582 Siege of Takamatsu.
After Oda Nobunaga's death in 1582, Motoharu fought under Toyotomi Hideyoshi on Invasion of Shikoku.
In 1586, he died in the Kokura Castle.　
After his death, Motoharu was succeeded as head of the Kikkawa clan by one of his sons, Kikkawa Hiroie.

Family