In this Japanese name, the family name is Konishi.

Konishi Yukinaga (小西 行長 Konishi Yukinaga, born 1555 and died November 6, 1600) was a Japanese Christian daimyō under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He was the son of a wealthy Sakai merchant, Konishi Ryūsa.^[1]

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, Naitou Joan acted as the envoy to negotiate peace with Ming China.

In order to achieve a truce, he negotiated a false surrender to China, although to Toyotomi Hideyoshi it was a truce between two equal states. Later, a Ming envoy came to Japan to award Toyotomi the position of the King of Japan. This enraged Hideyoshi and exposed the truth behind Yukinaga's earlier diplomatic mission. Despite blaming for being disloyal, Yukinaga again led forces alongside Katō Kiyomasa to invade Korea a second time. He defended Suncheon Japanese Castle, and repelled Ming (China) and Joseon allied forces.

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

[edit] References

1. ^ Sansom, George Bailey, A History of Japan, 1334-1615, page 383; Stanford University Press, © 1961.