Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) was a Japanese military leader who, along with his predecessor Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) and his successor Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616), is credited with unifying Japan in the 16th century. Hideyoshi rose from a humble background to become the country's military supremo, and he then reorganised the class system, instigated tax reforms, built castles, restored temples, and launched two invasions of Korea. Hideyoshi's foreign ambitions may have met with disaster but his restructuring of the state would establish the social and political norms which endured in Japan until the 19th century.
More about: Toyotomi HideyoshiDefinition
Timeline
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1581The first version of Himeji Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
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1582 - 1598Toyotomi Hideyoshi is the military leader of Japan.
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1582 - 1598Oda Nobunaga and his successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi conduct an extensive land ownership survey across Japan.
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1586Toyotomi Hideyoshi builds the huge Osaka castle.
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1587Toyotomi Hideyoshi passes his first edict to banish Christian missionaries from Japan.
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1588Toyotomi Hideyoshi prohibits commoners from carrying weapons, including swords.
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1591Toyotomi Hideyoshi builds the massive Odoi ("Great rampart") fortification wall around Heiankyo (Kyoto).
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1591Toyotomi Hideyoshi redefines the class system of Japan.
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1592Toyotomi Hideyoshi sends an army to invade Korea. It is not successful.
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1594Toyotomi Hideyoshi builds the Fushimi Castle outside Heiankyo (Kyoto).
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1597Toyotomi Hideyoshi passes his second edict to remove Christian missionaries from Japan and executes 26 Christians in Nagasaki.
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1597Toyotomi Hideyoshi sends a second army to invade Korea. It is not successful.
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18 Sep 1598Death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the military leader of Japan.
