Early life (1537–1558)

Very little is known for certain about Toyotomi Hideyoshi before 1570, when he begins to appear in surviving documents and letters. His autobiography starts in 1577, but in it, Hideyoshi spoke very little about his past.

According to tradition, Hideyoshi was born on February 16, 1537, according to the lunar Japanese calendar (March 17, 1537, according to the Julian calendar; March 27, 1537 (Proleptic Gregorian calendar)) in Nakamura, Owari Province (present-day Nakamura Ward, Nagoya), in the middle of the chaotic Sengoku period under the collapsed Ashikaga Shogunate. Hideyoshi had no traceable samurai lineage, and his father Kinoshita Yaemon was an ashigaru – a peasant employed by the samurai as a foot soldier. Hideyoshi had no surname, and his childhood given name was ("Bounty of the Sun") although variations exist. Yaemon died in 1543 when Hideyoshi was seven years old.

Many legends describe Hideyoshi being sent to study at a temple as a young man, but he rejected temple life and went in search of adventure. Under the name , he first joined the Imagawa clan as a servant to a local ruler named .

Service under Nobunaga (1558–1582)

In 1558, Hideyoshi became an ashigaru for the powerful Oda clan, the rulers of his home province of Owari, now headed by the ambitious Oda Nobunaga.

Hideyoshi soon became Nobunaga's sandal-bearer, a position of relatively high status. According to his biographers, Hideyoshi also supervised the repair of Kiyosu Castle, a claim described as "apocryphal", and managed the kitchen. After Nobunaga noticed his talents at the Battle of Okehazama in 1560, when Nobunaga defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto, he became one of Nobunaga's trusted retainers.

In 1561, Hideyoshi married One, the adopted daughter of Asano Nagakatsu, a descendant of Minamoto no Yorimitsu. Hideyoshi carried out repairs on Sunomata Castle with his younger half-brother, Hashiba Koichirō, along with Hachisuka Masakatsu, and Maeno Nagayasu. Hideyoshi's efforts were well-received because Sunomata was in enemy territory, and according to legend Hideyoshi constructed a fort in Sunomata overnight and discovered a secret route into Mount Inaba, after which much of the local garrison surrendered.

In 1564, Hideyoshi found success as a negotiator. He managed to convince a number of Mino warlords to desert the Saitō clan, mostly with liberal bribes. This included the Saitō clan's strategist, Takenaka Shigeharu.

Nobunaga's easy victory at the siege of Inabayama Castle in 1567 was largely due to Hideyoshi's efforts, and despite his peasant origins, in 1568 Hideyoshi became one of Nobunaga's most distinguished generals, eventually taking the name . The new surname included two characters, one each from Oda's right-hand men and , and the new given name included characters from and .

In 1570, Hideyoshi protected Nobunaga's retreat from Azai-Asakura forces at Kanegasaki. Later, in June 1570, Nobunaga allied with Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Anegawa to lay siege to two fortresses of the Azai and Asakura clans, and Hideyoshi was assigned to lead Oda troops into open battle for the first time.

In 1573, after victorious campaigns against the Azai and Asakura, Nobunaga appointed Hideyoshi daimyō of three districts in the northern part of Ōmi Province. Initially, Hideyoshi stayed at the former Azai headquarters at Odani Castle, but moved to Kunitomo town and renamed it "Nagahama" in tribute to Nobunaga. Hideyoshi later moved to the port at Imahama on Lake Biwa, where he began work on Imahama Castle and took control of the nearby Kunitomo firearms factory that had been established some years previously by the Azai and Asakura. Under Hideyoshi's administration, the factory's output of firearms increased dramatically. Later, Hideyoshi participated in the 1573 siege of Nagashima.

In 1574, Hideyoshi and Araki Murashige captured Itami Castle, and later in 1575, he fought in the Battle of Nagashino against the Takeda clan.

In 1576, he took part in the Siege of Mitsuji, part of the eleven-year Ishiyama Hongan-ji War. Later, Nobunaga sent Hideyoshi to Himeji Castle to conquer the Chūgoku region from the Mori clan. Hideyoshi then fought in the Battle of Tedorigawa (1577), the siege of Miki (1578), the siege of Tottori (1581) and the siege of Takamatsu (1582).

Death of Nobunaga

On June 21, 1582, during the Siege of Takamatsu, Oda Nobunaga and his eldest son and heir Nobutada were both killed in the Honnō-ji incident. Their assassination ended Nobunaga's quest to consolidate centralised power in Japan under his authority. Hideyoshi, seeking vengeance for the death of his lord, made peace with the Mōri clan and thirteen days later met Akechi Mitsuhide and defeated him at the Battle of Yamazaki, avenging his Nobunaga and taking Nobunaga's authority and power for himself.

Meanwhile, the Hōjō clan and the Uesugi clan invaded Kai and Shinano province when they heard of Nobunaga's death, beginning the Tenshō-Jingo war. When the Oda clan learned of the defeat of Takigawa Kazumasu at the Battle of Kanagawa by the Hōjō clan, Hideyoshi sent a letter to Ieyasu on July 7 giving him authorization to lead military operations to secure the two provinces from the Hōjō and Uesugi clans. As the war turned in Ieyasu's favor and Sanada Masayuki defected to the Tokugawa side, the Hōjō clan negotiated a truce. Hōjō Ujinobu and Ii Naomasa were the Hōjō and Tokugawa representatives for the preliminary meetings. Representatives from the Oda clan such as Oda Nobukatsu, Oda Nobutaka, and Hideyoshi himself mediated the negotiation until the truce officially took effect in October with both Ieyasu and Hōjō Ujinao exchanging family members as hostages as a sign of goodwill.

Rise to power (1582–1585)

Construction of Osaka Castle

In 1582, Hideyoshi began construction of Osaka Castle. Built on the site of the temple Ishiyama Hongan-ji, which was destroyed by Nobunaga, construction was completed in 1597. The castle would become the last stronghold of the Toyotomi clan after Hideyoshi's death.

Conflict with Katsuie

In late 1582, Hideyoshi was in a very strong position. He summoned the powerful daimyō to Kiyosu Castle so that they could determine Nobunaga's heir. Oda Nobukatsu and Oda Nobutaka quarreled, causing Hideyoshi to instead choose Nobunaga's infant grandson Oda Hidenobu. Having won the support of the other two Oda clan elders, Niwa Nagahide and Ikeda Tsuneoki, Hideyoshi was able to distribute Nobunaga's provinces among the generals and form a council of four generals to help Hidenobu govern.

Shibata Katsuie initially supported Hideyoshi's decision, but later supported Nobunaga's third son Nobutaka, for whom Katsuie had performed the genpuku ritual. He allied with Nobutaka and Takigawa Kazumasu against Hideyoshi. Tension quickly escalated between Hideyoshi and Katsuie, and at the Battle of Shizugatake in the following year, Hideyoshi destroyed Katsuie's forces. Hideyoshi had thus consolidated his own power, dealt with most of the Oda clan, and now controlled some 30 provinces.

Conflict with Ieyasu

In 1584, Nobukatsu allied himself with Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the two sides fought at the inconclusive Battle of Komaki and Nagakute. This ultimately resulted in a stalemate, although Hideyoshi's forces were delivered a heavy blow. Ieyasu and Hideyoshi never fought against each other in person, but the former managed to check the advance of the latter's allies. After Hideyoshi and Ieyasu heard the news of Ikeda Tsuneoki and Mori Nagayoshi's deaths, both withdrew their troops. Later, Hideyoshi made peace with Nobukatsu and Ieyasu, ending the pretext for war between the Tokugawa and Hashiba clans. However, Ieyasu continued to refuse to become Hideyoshi's vassal. Hideyoshi began to move towards attacking Ieyasu, but just then the Tenshō earthquake occurred. Osaka suffered extensive damage, causing Hideyoshi to abandon the campaign against Ieyasu. Hideyoshi sent his younger sister Asahi no kata and mother Ōmandokoro to Tokugawa Ieyasu as hostages. In response, Ieyasu finally traveled to Osaka and expressed his intention to submit to Hideyoshi.

Toyotomi clan and Imperial Court appointment

Like Oda Nobunaga before him, Hideyoshi never achieved the title of shōgun. Instead, he arranged to have himself adopted by Konoe Sakihisa, one of the noblest men belonging to the Fujiwara clan, and secured a succession of high court titles. These included Chancellor (Daijō-daijin), and in 1585, the prestigious position of Imperial Regent (kampaku). Also in 1585, Hideyoshi was formally given the new clan name Toyotomi (instead of Fujiwara) by the Imperial Court. He built a lavish palace in 1587, the Jurakudai, and entertained the reigning Emperor Go-Yōzei the following year.

Unification of Japan (1585–1592)

Negoro-ji Campaign

Also in 1585, Hideyoshi launched the siege of Negoro-ji and subjugated Kii Province. The Negoro-gumi, the warrior monks of Negoro-ji, were allied with the Ikkō-ikki and with Tokugawa Ieyasu, whom they supported in the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute the previous year. After attacking a number of other outposts in the area, Hideyoshi's forces attacked Negoro-ji from two sides. Many of the Negoro-gumi had already fled to Ōta Castle by this time, which Hideyoshi later besieged. The complex was set aflame, beginning with the residences of the priests, and Hideyoshi's samurai cut down monks as they escaped the blazing buildings.

Shikoku Campaign

In the 1585 invasion of Shikoku, Toyotomi forces seized Shikoku island, the smallest of Japan's four main islands, from Chōsokabe Motochika. Toyotomi's forces arrived 113,000 strong under Toyotomi Hidenaga, Toyotomi Hidetsugu, Ukita Hideie and the Mōri clan's "Two Rivers", Kobayakawa Takakage and Kikkawa Motoharu. Opposing them were 40,000 men of Chōsokabe's. Despite the overwhelming size of Hideyoshi's army, and the suggestions of his advisors, Motochika chose to fight to defend his territories. The battles culminated in the siege of Ichinomiya Castle, which lasted for 26 days. Chōsokabe made a half-hearted attempt to relieve his castle from the siege, but eventually surrendered. He was allowed to keep Tosa Province, while the rest of Shikoku was divided among Hideyoshi's generals.

Toyama Campaign

During the late summer of August 1585, Hideyoshi launched an attack on Etchū Province and Hida Province. He dispatched Kanamori Nagachika to destroy the Anegakōji clan of Hida while Hideyoshi carried out the siege of Toyama Castle. The Toyama Castle garrison of 20,000, led by Hideyoshi's former ally Sassa Narimasa, tried to defend against Hideyoshi's 100,000 soldiers; in the end, Narimasa's defense was shattered, opening the way for Toyotomi's supremacy over Etchū Province and Hida Province.

Kyushu Campaign

In 1586 Hideyoshi conquered Kyūshū, wresting control from the Shimazu clan. Toyotomi Hidenaga, Hideyoshi's half-brother, landed to the south of Bungo province on Kyūshū's eastern coast. Meanwhile, Hideyoshi took his own forces down a more western route, in Chikuzen province. Later that year, with a total of 200,000 soldiers against the 30,000 men of the Shimazu forces, the two brothers met in Satsuma province. They besieged Kagoshima castle, the Shimazu clan's home. The Shimazu surrendered, and Hideyoshi was able to return his attention to the Hōjō clan of Kantō, the last major clan to oppose him.

Later in 1587, Hideyoshi banished Christian missionaries from Kyūshū, either to exert greater control over the Kirishitan daimyō or to prohibit human trafficking. Around that time, at least 50,000 Japanese people were sold overseas as slaves, mainly by Portuguese merchants. However, since he did much trade with Europeans, individual Christians were unofficially overlooked.

Sword Hunt

In 1588, Hideyoshi forbade ordinary peasants from owning weapons and started a sword hunt to confiscate all weapons owned by peasants. The weapons were melted down into building material for the Hall of the Great Buddha at the Hōkō-ji temple in Kyoto, that was built by Hideyoshi. This measure effectively stopped peasant revolts, and ensured greater stability at the expense of freedom of the individual daimyō.

Odawara Campaign

In 1590, Hideyoshi carried out the Odawara Campaign against the Hōjō clan in the Kantō region. This was the first battle that involved the alliance between Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Hideyoshi's army of 220,000 men surrounded Odawara Castle and its 82,000-strong Hōjō garrison, in what has been called "the most unconventional siege lines in samurai history". The samurai were entertained by everything from concubines, prostitutes, and musicians to acrobats, fire-eaters, and jugglers. The defenders slept on the ramparts with their arquebuses and armor; despite their smaller numbers, they discouraged Hideyoshi from attacking. Hideyoshi had Ishigakiyama Ichiya Castle secretly constructed in a nearby forest, and then had the forest chopped down, giving the impression it have been built overnight. This demoralized the defenders, leading to their surrender three months after the start of the siege. During the siege, Hideyoshi offered Ieyasu the eight Hōjō-ruled provinces in the Kantō region, in exchange for the submission of Ieyasu's five provinces, which Ieyasu accepted.

Death of Sen no Rikyū

In February 1591, Hideyoshi ordered Sen no Rikyū to commit suicide, likely in one of his angry outbursts. Rikyū had been a trusted retainer and master of the tea ceremony under both Hideyoshi and Nobunaga. Under Hideyoshi's patronage, Rikyū made significant changes to the aesthetics of the tea ceremony that had a lasting influence over many aspects of Japanese culture. Even after Rikyū's death, Hideyoshi is said to have built his many construction projects based upon aesthetics promoted by Rikyū.

Following Rikyū's death, Hideyoshi turned his attention from tea ceremony to Noh, which he had been studying since becoming Imperial Regent. During his brief stay in Nagoya Castle in what is today Saga Prefecture, on Kyūshū, Hideyoshi memorised the shite (lead role) parts of ten Noh plays, which he then performed, forcing various daimyō to accompany him onstage as the waki (secondary, accompanying role). He even performed before the emperor.

Kunohe Rebellion

The Kunohe rebellion, an insurrection that occurred in Mutsu Province from March 13 to September 4, 1591, began when Kunohe Masazane, a claimant to daimyo of the Nanbu clan, launched a rebellion against his rival Nanbu Nobunao which spread across Mutsu Province. Nobunao was backed by Hideyoshi, who along with sent a large army into the Tōhoku region in mid-1591 which quickly defeated the rebels. Hideyoshi's army arrived at Kunohe Castle in early September. Masazane, outnumbered, surrendered Kunohe Castle and was executed with the castle defenders. The Kunohe rebellion was the final battle in Hideyoshi's campaigns during the Sengoku period and completed the unification of Japan.

Taikō (1592–1598)

The future stability of the Toyotomi dynasty after Hideyoshi's eventual death was put in doubt when his only son, three-year-old Tsurumatsu, died in September 1591, which followed his half-brother Hidenaga's death from illness earlier that year in February. Hideyoshi subsequently named his nephew Hidetsugu his heir, adopting him in January 1592. Hideyoshi resigned as kampaku to take the title of taikō (retired regent), and Hidetsugu succeeded him as kampaku.

Hideyoshi adopted Oda Nobunaga's dream of a Japanese conquest of China, and launched the conquest of the Ming dynasty by way of Korea (at the time known as Koryu or Joseon).

In 1592, Hideyoshi began an invasion of Korea with the intent of conquering Korea and eventually Ming China. Hideoyoshi's explicit war goal was for Japan to replace China at the top of the international order. Hideyoshi wrote to his adopted son Hidetsugu that "it is not Ming China alone that is destined to be subjugated by us, but India, the Philippines, and many islands in the South Sea will share a like fate."

First campaign against Korea

In the first campaign, Hideyoshi appointed Ukita Hideie as field marshal, and had him go to the Korean peninsula in April 1592. Konishi Yukinaga occupied Seoul, which was the capital of the Joseon dynasty of Korea, on June 19. After Seoul fell, Japanese commanders held a war council in June in Seoul and determined targets of subjugation called Hachidokuniwari literally, Eight(八) Route(道), Country(国) Division(割). Each targeted province was attacked by one of the army's eight divisions:

• Pyeongan by the First Division led by Konishi Yukinaga.

• Hamgyong by the Second Division led by Katō Kiyomasa.

• Hwanghae by the Third Division led by Kuroda Nagamasa.

• Gangwon by the Fourth Division led by Mōri Katsunaga.

• Chungcheong by the Fifth Division led by Fukushima Masanori.

• Jeolla by the Sixth Division led by Kobayakawa Takakage.

• Gyeongsang by the Seventh Division led by Mōri Terumoto.

• Gyeonggi by the Eighth Division led by Ukita Hideie.

Within four months, Hideyoshi's forces had a route into Manchuria and had occupied much of Korea. The Korean king Seonjo of Joseon escaped to Uiju and requested military intervention from China. In 1593, the Wanli Emperor of Ming China sent an army under general Li Rusong to block the planned Japanese invasion of China and recapture the Korean peninsula. On January 7, 1593, the Ming relief forces recaptured Pyongyang and surrounded Seoul, but Kobayakawa Takakage, Ukita Hideie, Tachibana Muneshige and Kikkawa Hiroie were able to win the Battle of Byeokjegwan north of Seoul, in modern day Goyang City. At the end of the first campaign, Japan's entire navy was destroyed by Admiral Yi Sun-sin of Korea, whose base was located in a part of Korea the Japanese could not control. This destroyed Japan's ability to resupply their troops in Seoul, effectively ending the invasion.

Succession dispute

Following Hideyoshi's appointment of his nephew Hidetsugu to the position of kampaku, tensions started to develop due to the dual power structure between Hidetsugu, who led the court system, and Hideyoshi, who retained actual military power as retired regent. Although Hideyoshi orchestrated Hidetsugu's rise, the regent's position was governed by established court frameworks, limiting Hideyoshi's ability to bypass precedents. This led to the formation of two factions: the "Taiko (Hideyoshi's) group" and the "Kampaku (Hidetsugu's) group," which clashed over political and military issues.

The birth of Hideyoshi's second son in 1593, Hideyori, exacerbated these tensions, as it introduced another potential heir to the Toyotomi dynasty. In July 1595, amidst suspicions of treason and the ongoing Korean invasion, Hidetsugu was stripped of his titles, exiled to Mount Kōya, and then ordered to commit suicide in August 1595. Hidetsugu's family members who did not follow his example, including 31 women and several children, were then beheaded in Kyoto. In the aftermath, Hideyoshi solidified his authority by securing loyalty oaths, signed in blood, from magistrates and daimyos including influential damiyo like Tokugawa Ieyasu, Maeda Toshiie, Ukita Hideie, Mori Terumoto, and Kobayakawa Takakage.

Twenty-six martyrs of Japan

In January 1597, Toyotomi Hideyoshi had twenty-six Christians arrested as an example to Japanese who wanted to convert to Christianity. They are known as the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan. They included five European Franciscan missionaries, one Mexican Franciscan missionary, three Japanese Jesuits and seventeen Japanese laymen including three young boys. They were tortured, mutilated, and paraded through towns across Japan. On February 5, they were executed in Nagasaki by public crucifixion.

Second campaign against Korea

After several years of negotiations, broken off because envoys of both sides falsely reported that the opposition had surrendered, Hideyoshi appointed Kobayakawa Hideaki to lead a renewed invasion of Korea. This invasion met with less success than the first; Japanese troops remained pinned down in Gyeongsang Province, and although the Japanese forces turned back several Chinese offensives in Suncheon and Sacheon in June 1598, they were unable to make further progress as the Ming army prepared for a final assault. While Hideyoshi's battle at Sacheon led by Shimazu Yoshihiro was a major Japanese victory, all three parties to the war were exhausted. He told his commander in Korea, "Don't let my soldiers become spirits in a foreign land.".

Death

Toyotomi Hideyoshi died at Fushimi Castle on September 18, 1598 (Keichō 3, 18th day of the 8th month). His last words, delivered to his closest daimyō and generals, were "I depend upon you for everything. I have no other thoughts to leave behind. It is sad to part from you." His death was kept secret by the Council of Five Elders to preserve morale, and they ordered Japanese forces in Korea to return to Japan.

According to the Tokugawa Jikki record, Hideyoshi held a secret meeting with Koide Hidemasa and Katagiri Katsumoto where he shared his regret of launching invasions of Korea. Hideyoshi also instructed Hidemasa and Katsumoto to guide Hideyori into making an alliance with Ieyasu, as he predicted the power of the Tokugawa clan would grow unchecked after his death, and only solution for the Toyotomi clan to survive was to not oppose Ieyasu.

After Hideyoshi's death, the other members of the Council of Five Elders were unable to keep Ieyasu's ambitions in check. Two of Hideyoshi's top generals, Katō Kiyomasa and Fukushima Masanori, had fought bravely during the war but returned to find the Toyotomi clan castellan Ishida Mitsunari in power. He held the generals in contempt, and they sided with Ieyasu. Hideyori lost the power his father once held, and Ieyasu's power was consolidated when his Eastern Army defeated the Mitsunari's Western Army at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. Ieyasu, who was appointed as a shogun in 1603 and established the Tokugawa shogunate, attacked Osaka Castle twice in 1614 and 1615 (the Siege of Osaka), forcing Hideyoshi's concubine Yodo-dono and Hideyori to commit suicide, destroying the Toyotomi clan.

It is now believed that Hideyoshi's loss of all his adult heirs, leaving only the five-year-old Hideyori as his successor, was the primary reason for the weakening of the Toyotomi regime and its eventual downfall.

Family

• Father: Kinoshita Yaemon (d. 1543)

　• Adopted father: Konoe Sakihisa (1536–1612)

• Mother: Ōmandokoro (1513–1592)

　• Siblings:

　　• Toyotomi Hidenaga (1540–1591)

　　• Tomo (1534–1625), married Soeda Jinbae

　　• Asahi no kata (1543–1590), married first Soeda Oshinari then Tokugawa Ieyasu

Wives and concubines

• Wife Nene (between 1541 and 1549–1624), or One, later Kōdai-in

• Minami-dono, daughter of Yamana Toyokuni

• Yodo-dono (1569–1615), or Chacha, later Daikōin, daughter of Azai Nagamasa

• Minami no Tsubone, daughter of Yamana Toyokuni

• Kyōgoku Tatsuko, daughter of Kyōgoku Takayoshi

• Kaga-dono or Maahime, daughter of Maeda Toshiie

• Kaihime, daughter of Narita Ujinaga

• Sonnomaru-dono, adopted daughter of Gamō Ujisato, daughter of Oda Nobunaga

• Kusu no Tsubone, later Hokoin, daughter of Azai Nagamasa

• Sanjo-dono or Tora, daughter of Gamō Katahide

• Himeji-dono, daughter of Oda Nobukane

• Hirozawa no Tsubone, daughter of Kunimitsu Kyosho

• Ōshima or Shimako, later Gekkein, daughter of Ashikaga Yorizumi

• Anrunkin or Otane no Kata

• Ofuku, later Enyu-in, daughter of Miura Noto no Kami and mother of Ukita Hideie

Children

• Hashiba Hidekatsu (Ishimatsumaru) (1570–1576) by Minami-dono

• daughter (name unknown) by Minami-dono

• Toyotomi Tsurumatsu (1589–1591) by Yodo-dono

• Toyotomi Hideyori (1593–1615) by Yodo-dono

Adopted sons

• Hashiba Hidekatsu (Tsugaru) (1567–1586), fourth son of Oda Nobunaga

• Oda Nobutaka, later Toyotomi Takahiro (1576–1602), seventh son of Oda Nobunaga

• Oda Nobuyoshi, later Toyotomi Musashi (1573–1615), eighth son of Oda Nobunaga

• Oda Nobuyoshi (d. 1609), tenth son of Oda Nobunaga

• Ukita Hideie (1572–1655), son of Ukita Naoie

• Toyotomi Hidetsugu (1568–1595), first son of Hideyoshi's sister Tomo with Miyoshi Kazumichi

• Toyotomi Hidekatsu (1569–1592), second son of Hideyoshi's sister Tomo with Miyoshi Kazumichi

• Toyotomi Hideyasu (1579–1595), third son of Hideyoshi's sister Tomo with Miyoshi Kazumichi

• Yūki Hideyasu (1574–1607), Tokugawa Ieyasu's second son

• Ikeda Nagayoshi, third son of Ikeda Nobuteru

• Kobayakawa Hideaki (1577–1602), Hideyoshi's nephew from his wife Nenes family

• Prince Hachijō Toshihito (1579–1629), sixth son of Prince Masahito

Adopted daughters

• Gohime (1574–1634), daughter of Maeda Toshiie, married to Ukita Hideie

• O-hime (1585–1591), daughter of Oda Nobukatsu, married to Tokugawa Hidetada

• Oeyo (1573–1626), daughter of Azai Nagamasa, married to Saji Kazunari, Toyotomi Hidekatsu, Tokugawa Hidetada

• Konoe Sakiko (1575–1630), daughter of Konoe Sakihisa, married to Emperor Go-Yōzei

• Chikurin-in (1579/80–1649), daughter of Ōtani Yoshitsugu. She was also known as Akihime and Riyohime. She was married to Sanada Yukimura. They had two sons, Sanada Daisuke and Sanada Daihachi, and some daughters

• Toyotomi Sadako (1592–1658), daughter of Toyotomi Hidekatsu with Oeyo, later became the adopted daughter of Tokugawa Hidetada and married to Kujō Yukiie

• Daizen-in, daughter of Toyotomi Hidenaga, married to Mōri Hidemoto

• Kikuhime, daughter of Toyotomi Hidenaga, married to Toyotomi Hideyasu

• Maeda Kikuhime (1578–1584), daughter of Maeda Toshiie

Grandchildren

• Toyotomi Kunimatsu (1608–1615)

• (1609–1645)

Cultural legacy

Toyotomi Hideyoshi changed Japanese society in many ways. These include the imposition of a rigid class structure, restrictions on travel, and surveys of land and production.

Class reforms affected commoners and warriors. During the Sengoku period, it had become common for peasants to become warriors, or for samurai to farm due to the constant uncertainty caused by the lack of centralised government and always tentative peace. Upon taking control, Hideyoshi decreed that all peasants be disarmed completely. Conversely, he required samurai to leave the land and take up residence in the castle towns. This solidified the social class system for the next 300 years.

Furthermore, he ordered comprehensive surveys and a complete census of Japan. Once this was done and all citizens were registered, he required all Japanese to stay in their respective han (fiefs) unless they obtained official permission to go elsewhere. This ensured order in a period when bandits still roamed the countryside and peace was still new. The land surveys formed the basis for systematic taxation.

In 1590, Hideyoshi completed construction of the Osaka Castle, the largest and most formidable in all Japan, to guard the western approaches to Kyoto. In that same year, Hideyoshi banned "unfree labour" or slavery in Japan, but forms of contract and indentured labour persisted alongside the period penal codes' forced labour.

Hideyoshi also influenced the material culture of Japan. He lavished time and money on the Japanese tea ceremony, collecting implements, sponsoring lavish social events, and patronizing acclaimed masters. As interest in the tea ceremony rose among the ruling class, so too did the demand for fine ceramic implements, and during the course of the Korean campaigns, not only were large quantities of prized ceramic ware confiscated but many Korean artisans were forcibly relocated to Japan. Hideyoshi also had a long relationship with tea master Sen no Rikyū, which eventually soured leading to Hideyoshi ordering Sen no Rikyū to commit suicide. The exact reason is disputed.

Inspired by the dazzling Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, he had the Golden Tea Room constructed, which was covered with gold leaf and lined inside with red gossamer. Using this mobile innovation, he was able to practice the tea ceremony wherever he went, displaying his power and status at all times.

Politically, he set up a governmental system that balanced out the most powerful Japanese warlords (or daimyō). A council was created to include the most influential lords. At the same time, a regent was designated to be in command.

Just before his death, Hideyoshi hoped to set up a system stable enough to survive until his son grew old enough to become the next leader. A was formed, consisting of the five most powerful daimyō. Following the death of Maeda Toshiie, however, Tokugawa Ieyasu began to secure alliances, including political marriages (which had been forbidden by Hideyoshi). Eventually, the pro-Toyotomi forces fought against the Tokugawa in the Battle of Sekigahara. Ieyasu won and received the title of Seii-Tai Shōgun two years later.

Hideyoshi is commemorated at several Toyokuni Shrines scattered over Japan.

Ieyasu left in place the majority of Hideyoshi's decrees and built his shogunate upon them. This ensured that Hideyoshi's cultural legacy remained. In a letter to his wife, Hideyoshi wrote:

The area of Taikō in Nagoya is named after him. The main street is Taikō-dōri, which is served by the subway Taiko-dori Station.

Names

Hideyoshi was born to a low status family and from there he rose through Japan's social ranks to receive the highest title of the imperial nobility, that of Imperial Regent. Hideyoshi's climb upwards through the ranks of Japanese society resulted in his bearing several names throughout his life. At birth, he was given the name . At genpuku, he took the name . Later, he was given the surname Hashiba and the honorary court office Chikuzen no Kami; as a result, he was styled . His surname remained Hashiba even as he was granted the new Uji or sei ( or , clan name) Toyotomi by the Emperor.

The Toyotomi Uji was simultaneously granted to a number of Hideyoshi's chosen allies, who adopted the new Uji "" (Toyotomi no ason, courtier of Toyotomi).

His full name was in formal documents.

The Catholic sources of the time referred to him as (from and the honorific -dono) and "emperor " (from taikō, a retired kampaku (see Sesshō and Kampaku), and the honorific -sama).

Toyotomi Hideyoshi had been given the nickname Kozaru (小猿), meaning "little monkey", from his lord Oda Nobunaga, because his facial features and skinny form resembled those of a monkey.

In popular culture

Films

In the 1949 Mexican hagiographic film Philip of Jesus, Luis Aceves Castañeda plays a character corresponding to Hideyoshi but named "Emperor Iroyoshi Taikosama".

In the 2009 Japanese historical fantasy film Goemon, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (played by Eiji Okuda) features as the principal antagonist to the film's protagonist, Ishikawa Goemon. This is based on the tradition that Goemon was executed for his failed attempt to assassinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1594, but the film otherwise bears little resemblance to either historical events or the received tradition. In the film, Goemon murders Hideyoshi's stand-in, avoids his execution by boiling (being replaced by an associate), succeeds in murdering Hideyoshi on a later occasion, and survives to intervene in the Battle of Sekigahara. Goemon is portrayed as the faithful retainer and avenger of Oda Nobunaga, unhistorically depicted as the victim of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. All of this is counter to historical facts; tradition credits Goemon with serving Nobunaga's enemies the Miyoshi clan and his murderer, Akechi Mitsuhide, as well as with failed murder attempts on both Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Hideyoshi is portrayed by actor/director Takeshi Kitano in his 2023 film Kubi.

Anime

In the Netflix anime series Great Pretender (2020), Hideyoshi is referenced many times by Laurent Thierry, one of the central protagonists of the series.

Documentary

In the Netflix documentary series Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan (2021), Hideyoshi is portrayed by Masami Kosaka. The show depicts his life and rise to power.

Television

Actor Naoto Takenaka portrays Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the 1996 NHK drama Hideyoshi, which shows his life from his time under Oda Nobunaga to his rise as a leader himself who helped to unify Japan. It earned an average TV rating of 30.5% running from January 7 – December 22, 1996. Additionally, actor Yukijirō Hotaru plays The Taikō (Nakamura Hidetoshi), a character based on Toyotomi Hideyoshi, in the 2024 miniseries Shōgun.

Honours

• Senior First Rank (August 18, 1915; posthumous)

經歷

青年時期

天文六年二月初六日（1537年3月17日） 豐臣秀吉出生於尾張國愛知郡中村（今愛知縣名古屋市中村區），父為貧困農戶木下彌右衛門，母親是仲（)。幼年時期取名為日吉丸（），仕於織田信長成為武士之後改名木下藤吉郎（）。

由於秀吉的出身並非顯貴，有關於他早期的文獻記載十分有限，僅大概知道他少年時曾在尾張、三河、駿河等地方活動，父親曾在尾張地方國人眾蜂須賀氏（蜂須賀正利）麾下當雇傭性質的雜兵，修理、鍛造兵器。秀吉七歲父親死亡，八歲母親改嫁，只好出家，入光明寺當小沙彌，曾經在遠江國支城成為松下之綱的部下，《太閤記》記載秀吉元服時由松下之綱為烏帽子親並命名中村（的）秀吉，但離開原因不明。後從遠房姨媽伊都父親清兵衛的鍛冶屋拿針販賣。

信長家臣時期

1554年（天文二十三年）以小者的身分成為了織田信長的家僕，，被信長喚為猿或禿鼠（），地位在足輕與「中間」之下，作為小者中的「草履取」的等級，若隨信長上陣，「中間」可以持脅差或木刀，小者只能幫主公提武具或充當「人夫」。後來因幫信長拿草鞋時將草鞋放進懷裡暖鞋獲得信長的歡心。1555年（弘治元年）陪同信長側室生駒吉乃回娘家小折城的生駒屋敷，經吉乃介紹認識生駒氏親戚蜂須賀正勝與川並衆。1561年（永祿四年）與淺野長勝的養女（淺野長政的義妹）寧寧結婚，更名為木下秀吉。

1568年信長擁立足利義昭上洛。

1570年信長準備進攻朝倉義景的中途，在金崎遭到盟友淺井長政攻擊從後包抄，此戰秀吉為殿後軍一員，保護信長安全撤離（金崎之戰）。

元龜元年（1570年）在姉川之戰後，秀吉擔任此役奪取的近江國橫山城城代，並以此領地可動員的兵力一千人及在地情報，陸續在箕浦之戰、橫山城之戰跟虎御前山之戰中擊敗淺井軍，天正元年（1573年）在小谷城之戰從防禦土壘最矮（約一米五）的中段京極丸，切斷淺井父子倆的防守區域，因此信長擊敗了淺井長政，長政自盡，淺井的舊屬歸織田家所有，以此功秀吉支配（領有一小部分600貫約2400石~3000石）北近江三郡十二萬石成為城主，將根據地移至近江國今濱城，利用小谷城的土石建材增建今濱城後易名為長濱城。後賜苗字「羽柴」（）成為羽柴秀吉。他同時也招募家臣，在封為城主前他底下的家臣就是蜂須賀正勝（與力）、竹中重治、前野長康（小六若黨），尚未元服的福島正則、加藤清正，一門眾的淺野長政、羽柴秀長。而大谷吉繼、石田三成等家臣，皆是出身於近江地侍小姓，增田長盛則出身尾張國中島郡増田村，原為信長家臣後改寄騎羽柴秀吉。

1577年（天正五年）支援北陸柴田勝家對抗上杉軍，但秀吉因為和勝家戰略上意見不一而擅自撤離，致使勝家在手取川之戰中大敗，使勝家和信長有所不滿。在織田信忠的指揮下，秀吉與佐久間信盛、明智光秀、丹羽長秀共同參與攻擊松永久秀的戰鬥。

赤松則房、別所長治、小寺政職臣從信長之下，秀吉受命攻略中國地方，任播磨國國主，並從播磨國進攻但馬國，在岩洲城攻略時，成功降伏於竹田城籠城據守的太田垣輝延，此時根據地為小寺孝高（黑田孝高）讓出的姬路城（中國征伐），受命後不久別所長治及荒木村重背叛織田信長，秀吉前往討伐，致使中國征伐暫時停頓。1579年使備前國及美作國的大名宇喜多直家完全臣服於織田氏，同年迎立信長的四男於次丸（羽柴秀勝）為養子。1580年別所長治和荒木村重戰敗，別所長治切腹自盡（三木合戰）；荒木逃離，全家被信長誅殺，但這期間，包括竹中重治及古田重則等家臣陣亡。

秀吉開始與毛利氏及山名氏交戰，攻陷山名祐豐籠城據守的有子山城，嫡男山名氏政於落城前歸降羽柴家，秀吉自此專致於播磨的經營，任命弟弟羽柴秀長擔任有子山城主，負責統治但馬國。此外，收購鳥取周邊的兵糧，用斷糧戰術攻下了鳥取城（鳥取城之戰），毛利一族的吉川經家戰敗自殺，隨後進軍備中國，用水攻戰術逼迫高松城開城（備中高松城之戰），城主清水宗治自殺。

本能寺之變

1582年明智光秀於支援秀吉出兵毛利氏途中，發動背叛兵變，攻佔京都並夜襲投宿在本能寺的織田信長，是為本能寺之變，信長於本能寺焚死，屍骨無獲，其長子織田信忠於二條御所戰敗後切腹自盡。當時羽柴秀吉正親自率兵包圍備中國的高松城。由於黑田官兵衛用計水攻高松城，而使光秀向毛利氏報信的信使隔天在被水包圍的城下被羽柴軍所抓，所以秀吉在事變隔天便得知消息，黑田官兵衛建議向毛利氏隱瞞信長身亡的消息，並和毛利輝元議和，透過毛利家外交僧安國寺惠瓊與城主清水宗治斡旋。之後，在毛利氏大老小早川隆景主導下，他迅速與毛利氏議和，並率兵在五日內「強行軍」約200公里返京，並隨即與明智軍展開決戰，這次行軍史稱「中國大返還（）」，行動之迅速大大震撼了京都的明智軍。回師之時，秀吉以「為信長公報仇」之名為號召，成功收攏各地的信長舊屬，包括光秀的寄騎中川清秀及高山右近，於山崎之戰擊敗準備不及、兵力處於劣勢的明智光秀，最終明智光秀逃走時被獵殺落難武士的村民殺死，秀吉乘機控制京都一帶，不過無法阻止織田氏內部出現派系分裂。主要分裂為柴田勝家、織田信雄、織田信孝以及羽柴秀吉等派系。

信長後繼者

6月27日，織田舊臣在清洲城召開會議，討論信長的後繼者及遺領分配的會議（清洲會議）。織田家重臣柴田勝家擁戴信長的三男織田信孝（神戶信孝，庶子），然而秀吉推舉織田信忠僅三歲的嫡長子三法師（即織田秀信）。勝家雖然表示反對，但池田恆興及丹羽長秀都支持秀吉，最後雙方以信孝擔任年幼的三法師的後見人等折衷方案，才獲得勝家的首肯，但也因此得罪了柴田勝家，導致其擁立信長三子織田信孝對抗秀吉。

領地分配方面，織田信雄獲得尾張國、織田信孝獲得美濃國、織田信包獲得北伊勢及伊賀國、光秀的寄騎細川藤孝獲得丹後國、筒井順慶獲得大和國、高山右近及中川清秀的本領獲得安堵、丹羽長秀獲得近江國滋賀郡、高島郡15萬石、池田恆興獲得攝津國尼崎及大阪15萬石、堀秀政獲得近江國佐和山。勝家獲得原為秀吉領地的長濱12萬石。秀吉自身則獲得明智光秀的舊領丹波國及山城國、河內國28萬石。

秀吉於山崎建築寶寺城，並在山崎及丹波國實施檢地，私底下也與織田家的諸大名締結聯誼、盟友，引起柴田勝家的不滿，致使雙方愈顯對立。天正10年（1582年）10月，勝家與瀧川一益、織田信孝共同向諸大名發出彈劾秀吉的書狀，指責秀吉違反清洲會議並私自建築寶寺城。秀吉則在10月15日以養子羽柴秀勝（信長的四男）為喪主，在京都舉辦大規模的信長葬儀，由於未通知勝家，更引起勝家不滿。柴田勝家派出的佐佐成政壓制越中，上杉家魚津城守將只好與成政議和，退出魚津城和小出城後，經海路退回越後，此外，勝家也與中國的毛利輝元聯絡，打算夾擊秀吉；秀吉眼見與柴田勝家一戰勢所難免，於是聯絡越後的上杉景勝與美濃的稻葉一鐵，並在中國地區的山陰配置宮部繼潤、山陽配置蜂須賀正勝，以防範毛利氏攻擊。

12月，秀吉趁越前國勝家受阻於風雪無法動兵，以信孝挾持三法師不讓其返回安土為藉口，舉兵進攻信孝。12月9日，秀吉向池田恆興等諸大名發出動員令，自己也集結5萬大軍自寶寺城出陣，12月11日抵達堀秀政的佐和山城，進而包圍柴田勝家養子柴田勝豐的長濱城，後來秀吉透過調略使其降伏，因而獲得長濱城。12月16日進攻美濃國，降服稻葉一鐵，並與織田信雄軍合流，乘勢進攻信孝的家老防守的加治木城並順利攻陷。於岐阜城孤立的信孝，不得已將三法師交給秀吉，並由生母阪氏及女兒擔任人質，雙方議和。

天正11年（1583年）1月，反秀吉派的瀧川一益，擊敗秀吉方伊勢國的、關城及的關盛信。秀吉於是在2月10日進攻北伊勢，2月12日攻擊瀧川的居城桑名城，但由於桑名城十分堅固且瀧川英勇抵抗，秀吉軍撤退三里駐紮。之後，秀吉組織別働隊進攻長島城及中井城，但仍由於瀧川的抵抗而敗退。但伊勢龜山城在蒲生氏鄉、細川忠興及山內一豐的攻擊下，於3月3日降伏，此後，伊勢戰線秀吉方居於優勢。

2月28日，勝家待融雪後，派前田利長擔任先鋒出陣，自己於3月9日率3萬大軍。秀吉則將北伊勢交給蒲生氏鄉後返回近江國，3月11日與柴田勢對峙。但對峙期間，4月13日秀吉成功策反柴田勝豐的家臣山路正國，掌握了柴田軍的布陣情形。織田信孝眼見機不可失，再度於岐阜舉兵進攻稻葉一鐵，此時勝家方取得優勢。秀吉再度轉向進攻信孝。

4月20日早上，勝家的重臣佐久間盛政趁著秀吉進攻織田信孝（美濃國）時發動奇襲，進攻大岩山砦的中川清秀，中川清秀敗死，岩崎山砦的高山重友則大敗而走。但之後盛政違抗勝家不得久留的命令，持續在城砦與秀吉軍對峙，秀吉於4月21日回軍進攻柴田方，柴田軍由於前田利家的背叛而大敗，柴田勝家撤回越前。

賤岳之戰最終由秀吉取得勝利，勝家與妻子阿市於4月24日自殺，秀吉順勢平定加賀國、能登國，瀧川一益也降伏而蟄居，織田信孝不久被迫自殺，留下詛咒秀吉之辭世句。自此秀吉徹底掌握舊主信長的江山。

晉升公卿、惣無事令

天正11年，秀吉在石山本願寺的舊址上建大阪城，當時到訪的大友宗麟將它稱為「戰國無雙的城」，但城堡在防禦上亦有缺點，在大阪冬之陣中，真田信繁進行了修築加強防禦。

12年（1584年）原先與秀吉合作的信長次男織田信雄聯合信長的盟友德川家康反對秀吉，羽柴軍便與兩人展開史稱小牧·長久手之戰的戰事。此戰之初擁有兵力優勢的羽柴軍直撲德川領地，但途中卻遭到德川軍伏擊，有「鬼武藏」之稱的大將森長可與池田恆興二人，被德川四天王的井伊直政所率領的重裝精銳赤備騎馬隊所討殺，秀吉其後撤兵，改為攻擊美濃的織田信雄，信雄投降，迫使雙方談和，德川軍與羽柴軍達成和戰協議。

與此同時，秀吉開始親近朝廷。天正12年十月二日首度敘位，由筑前守（推估為天正2年取得）升到從五位下・左近衛権少將，但詔書日期刻意寫成兩年前（天正10年十月三日）。其後又升為從四位下‧參議，詔書日期同樣改為一年前（天正11年5月5日），兩個改期都是為了合理化十一月十二日的正式敘任，成為従三位・権大納言。

13年（1585年），秀吉派遣其弟秀長、與毛利元就三男小早川隆景等將領攻打剛統一四國的長宗我部氏，落後的四國與羽柴軍實力差距過大慘敗歸降並減封至只剩土佐一國。此外秀吉派遣藤堂高虎為首的部隊，平定了雜賀眾，首領鈴木重意被斬首處死。此外，秀吉派重兵攻打越中國佐佐成政，大軍包圍下，成政不戰而降。

同年二月，二條昭實當上關白，三月辭去左大臣之位，由內大臣近衛信尹遞補，因此三月十日秀吉升任了正二位‧內大臣宣下。五月發生關白相論事件，近衛信尹提出想兼任關白，遭到二條昭實拒絕，於是找秀吉調停。秀吉原本覬覦征夷大將軍一職，但沒有源氏籍就無法成為將軍，而流浪的幕府第十五代將軍足利義昭拒絕收養秀吉為猶子，於是秀吉藉此機會將目標轉向公家。他提出由自己出任關白，而因為關白需為攝家，秀吉讓近衛信尹之父，前關白近衛前久認自己為猶子（以本家藤原氏為姓），於七月時成功迫使二條昭實讓出關白之位，由秀吉敘位從一位・關白兼內大臣。

同年，九州的大名大友宗麟受島津義久壓迫而向秀吉請求支援，秀吉以朝廷名義於十月二日向島津家與大友家發布九州停戰令，禁止九州私闘，明定若有國界糾紛由天皇（或說實質的掌權者關白秀吉）裁決。後世學者將此文書列為第一份惣無事令。

十一月，德川家重臣石川數正投奔秀吉，德川家震驚。

受封相國、統一日本

天正14年（1586年）三月，島津義久接受停戰令，由鎌田政近出使解釋出兵是為了防範大友家，秀吉則提出分國方式，要求將肥後半國、豊前半國、筑後還給大友，肥前給予毛利家，筑前則歸於秀吉。島津義久無法接受，於六月再次出兵入侵筑後與筑前。七月，秀吉以違反九州停戰令為由對島津發出征討令。十二月派遣仙石秀久為軍監，率四國兵力前往討伐島津義久但慘敗（戶次川之戰）。

同年五月。為了攏絡德川家康使其成為自己的助力，秀吉將其妹旭姬（四十二歲）嫁與德川家康（四十三歲）為正室，九月甚至將自己母親大政所送至家康身邊成為人質。德川家康終於在十月臣服秀吉。

同年九月，秀吉受天皇賜姓豐臣併兼任太政大臣（平民出身者第一人），確立了天下人地位。

天正15年（1587年），秀吉親自率領大軍攻擊島津氏的支城，於四月平定九州，島津家投降。但因義久先前已有表示歸順之意，島津家得以保存。六月進行九州分國，島津氏仍被分配到薩摩、大隅、日向三國。

六月十八至十九，發布伴天連追放令禁止基督教。

九月遷入聚樂第，十月於北野天滿宮舉辦北野大茶會，邀請農民與公卿貴族，據說兒時玩伴石川五右衛門也有參加。

16年（1588年），秀吉開始實行刀狩令與海賊停止令，加強了兵農分離的政策。

17年（1589年），北條氏的家臣豬俁邦憲奪取了真田昌幸管轄下名胡桃城，導致秀吉下令全日本大名討伐北條氏，不服從者將會受到沒收領地的處分。次年3月1日秀吉率大軍向北條氏攻擊，攻陷北條各個支城下逐漸向小田原城包圍，7月後北條氏第四代家督北條氏政、第五代家督氏直父子開城投降。氏政、氏照兩兄弟切腹自盡，氏直被流放到高野山，至此由初代家督北條早雲所建立起來的百年榮華北條家宣布滅亡，戰後秀吉為各大名分封新的領土。

19年（1591年），奧州大名「獨眼龍」伊達政宗自動來請降，日本三島（本州、四國、九州）短暫統一。

文祿元年（1592年），將關白及豐臣家家督之位讓給外甥豐臣秀次，以太閤自居。1592年秀吉進行他人生中最後一場日本國內戰爭，派遣了蒲生氏鄉、淺野長政及石田三成聯同東北地方大名平定九戶政實之亂。同年，秀吉命令茶人千利休切腹自盡，詳細原因不明。一說是利休於寺廟擺設自己的雕像激怒到秀吉；另有一說是由於利休過於向秀吉進諫（例如反對秀吉意欲向明朝出兵）以致，但是迫名聲很高的千利休自盡，讓秀吉威望大為下降。

侵略朝鮮、鎩羽而歸

豐臣秀吉有稱霸亞洲的野心。早在九州之役結束以後，他便定下入侵大明國的計劃：先派兵佔領朝鮮；自己渡海去明國，居留寧波市；隨後佔領天竺；再派豐臣秀次佔領大明的首都北京，並奉正親町天皇遷都北京。

在統一日本之後，豐臣秀吉開始著手實現稱霸亞洲的事業。他先後派遣使者前往朝鮮王朝、琉球、呂宋（今菲律賓，時為伊比利亞聯邦殖民地）、高山國（台灣大肚王國）、暹羅阿瑜陀耶王朝、瀾滄王國、大越、廣南、占城、莫臥兒帝國、葡屬印度（時為伊比利亞聯邦殖民地，今印度果阿）及葡屬澳門 (時為伊比利亞聯邦殖民地)等國家和地區，要求他們向日本稱臣並協助日本攻打大明。

不過，沒有一個國家理會他，日本更因為在四國發生的聖費利佩事件、和西班牙菲律賓都督府談判破裂，害怕招惹到西班牙武裝幹涉。琉球王尚寧派人向大明報告了此事，建議明朝提前防備。暹羅王納黎萱則計劃派兵幫助大明，不過最終沒有實行。

日本和當時的航海帝國伊比利亞聯邦（西班牙-葡萄牙聯邦）發生一段軼事，即。一艘西班牙船隻在四國附近失事，事後該船船長及船員上岸後被以為西班牙人是海盜的增田長盛要求交出所有財產、貨品。此時船長拿出了世界地圖，指出了西班牙帝國的廣闊、而日本不及西班牙大。增田問該名西班牙船長「西班牙和葡萄牙之間是什麼關係？」船長答他我們是兩個帝國但由同一名國王統治(共主邦聯)（即當時的西班牙國王腓力二世）。增田其後又問：「為什麼西班牙能控制那麼多地方？」船長回答：「西班牙國王會派出傳教士去令當地改信基督教然後將他們征服」。此話一出豐臣秀吉立刻下令迫害日本境內的基督徒和傳教士（日本二十六聖人），以為外國傳教士要顛覆他的政權。豐臣秀吉在聖費利佩事件（San Felipe incident）後仍然害怕西班牙會出兵入侵日本，因為始終以日本當時的力量不足以對抗西班牙帝國。

1592年（文祿元年），豐臣秀吉決定實施其稱霸亞洲計劃的第一步，派兵20萬侵略朝鮮，史稱文祿之役（朝鮮方面稱為壬辰倭亂，明朝方面稱為萬曆朝鮮之役）。兵員以西日本諸大名為主。戰爭初期，久經沙場的日軍攻勢猛烈、勢如破竹，以極快的速度先後攻佔朝鮮王京漢城與陪都平壤，並迅速攻佔朝鮮境內大量主要城市，直驅明朝邊境。朝鮮宣祖向明朝求救。豐臣秀吉於5月攻佔漢城後便研議要遷都北京，將北京周圍10「國」之地獻為御用，賜公卿以俸祿，賜其部下以10倍於原有的領地，甚至命豐臣秀次為大唐（中國）關白，日本關白由羽柴秀秋或宇喜多秀家擔任，朝鮮則交給羽柴秀勝或宇喜多秀家統治。明神宗派遣遼東總兵李如松率兵入援朝鮮。在明軍（約5萬）和朝鮮三道水師提督李舜臣等的反擊下，日軍攻勢遇阻。終於在1593年（文祿二年）日軍因遭逢損失，豐臣秀吉遂被迫與明朝和談。

其實日方代表小西行長出身商人家庭，精於商業開發，偽造秀吉降表與明朝議和，而明方使者沈惟敬本是市井無賴，就稱秀吉的目的是要求恢復雙邊貿易。雙方於是締結和約，日軍就此暫退釜山。

1595年（文祿四年），秀吉打算以年幼的親子豐臣秀賴作為家中的繼承人，只是養子的豐臣秀次馬上被疏遠並流放到高野山，迫令剃髮出家，不到七日，又將秀次賜死，其過程嚴酷出乎人們意料，秀次一家連同婢女和孩子39人都被砍頭，曝屍幾小時之後，尸首被丟到一個洞裡，掩埋後用秀次的頭在上面做成首塚。此外下令支持秀次者切腹，包括木村重茲、前野長康等人，而平安無事的最上義光、伊達政宗等人，平時與秀次交好，如今秀次被殺而憤恨豐臣政權。

文祿五年（1596年）九月，秀吉歡喜地迎接明朝使者，明議和使來日，秀吉宴饗之。然宣讀國書，始知議和實為冊封，大明欲封秀吉為日本國王。秀吉方覺受騙，大怒，道：「吾掌握日本，欲王則王，何待髯虜之封！且吾而為王。如天朝何。」並欲殺明朝使節，為旁人勸止，於是下令驅逐明朝使節。慶長二年（1597年）正月，秀吉再次派兵入侵朝鮮，史稱「慶長之役」（朝鮮稱為「丁酉再亂」）。日軍盤據釜山，再進逼漢陽。然而明朝援軍（約8萬）加入戰鬥行列後，日軍攻勢再度受阻，被迫死守於海岸各倭城。

逝世

慶長三年八月十八日（1598年9月18日），豐臣秀吉病逝於京都伏見城內，享壽六十一歲。隔年，慶長四年（1599年），遵照遺囑將靈柩安葬於京都方廣寺阿彌陀峰山頂上，並在山上建造神社（今豐國神社）供奉豐臣秀吉的牌位。追贈正一位，並由後陽成天皇賜予神號豐國大明神（後來遭到禠奪）。死前他託付以德川家康及前田利家為首的五大老輔佐豐臣秀賴。而入侵朝鮮半島的豐臣軍在接獲五大老命令及以石田三成為首的五奉行安排下，向明朝隱瞞了秀吉的死訊，隨後逐漸從朝鮮撤軍。可是這場戰役豐臣氏為首的軍隊損失巨大，大名元氣大傷；秀吉生前做出許多傷天害理的政治手段也大失人心（處死茶人千利休及養子秀次無辜的家眷等），成為德川家康有機會問鼎稱霸天下的重要伏因。而日本與朝鮮的關係，到1607年才恢復正常。

豐臣秀吉法名為國泰祐松院殿靈山俊龍大居士，自他死後至今日本各地仍存在不同的豐國神社，包括在滋賀縣長濱市、大阪府大阪市、愛知縣名古屋市等。在德川家康於1614年發動大阪冬之陣與1615年發動大阪夏之陣後，為了以求斬草除根逼迫其子豐臣秀賴切腹自盡，並將其孫豐臣國松斬首,豐臣秀吉的男性子孫斷絕。

政績

豐臣秀吉的經貿政策多承傳自織田信長，發展南蠻貿易，以樂市和朱印船貿易等振興商業；並利用控制都市及鑄造貨幣等辦法規範經濟；以太閤檢地、刀狩、人掃令（身份統制令）等政策來確立稅制，徹底執行兵農分離；並要求各地大名的妻子到大阪城、聚樂第、伏見城的屋敷來集中居住，是為江戶時代參勤交代的雛形，也為其後的幕藩體制打下了穩定的基礎。但另一方面他亦對日本國內的基督教傳教士進行迫害，以聖費利佩事件為契機豐臣秀吉大規模殺害了日本境內的基督徒和傳教士（參見日本二十六聖人）。

人物特色及軼事

• 相傳豐臣秀吉曾被人稱作「猿面冠者」，也就是形容他像穿載衣冠的猿猴。傳教士弗洛伊斯記載秀吉「身材矮小，容貌醜陋，右手有六隻手指」。朝鮮通信使黃允吉形容秀吉「容貌矮陋，面色皺黑，如猱玃狀；深目星眸，閃閃射人」。秀吉也承認自己「相貌醜陋、五體貧弱」。

• 在前田利家及弗洛伊斯的記載相關書籍，秀吉的右手有六隻手指，拇指有多一隻手指，但後來秀吉不欲醜聞發生，故意隱藏六隻手指的事情。

• 晚年不復年輕時的出色判斷力，也是豐臣氏沒落的原因，將知名茶人千利休及養子家督豐臣秀次一族賜死，以及發動侵略朝鮮半島的文祿·慶長之役是他最大的爭議。有人認為他晚年做出許多荒謬暴戾的事情，且西方人也有此評價，許多來日基督教傳教士們在記載中不斷讚揚家督秀次而貶低太閤秀吉，在這些外國人眼中太閤秀吉是一個只顧滿足個人私慾的貪暴之君。

• 根據傳教士佛洛伊斯於1593年的報告書中介紹秀吉的夜生活如下：「太閤（秀吉）極為好色而不知廉恥，經常沉迷於動物性的肉慾中，在他的宮廷內，擁有二百名以上的女人。這不幸的暴君年齡已經超過六十歲（外表看起來比實際年齡還老），但是他還派人出外搜尋美女，不管是商人或是工人的女兒，也不管是未婚或是寡婦，只要是容貌美麗，都被他召進城內。而且他都只留一二天，就讓那些婦女回家，只有讓他滿意的，才長久留在城內。」

• 秀吉的死因至今仍是個謎，官方對其死因保密。此外亦有不同說法，比如腦梅毒、痢病（赤痢、疫痢之類）、尿毒症、腳氣等。秀吉在晚年因為衰老，曾出現無意識的狀況。此外，也有秀吉被明朝使者沈惟敬謀害的傳聞，不過現已被駁斥。

• 有不少日本學者認為秀吉本人無法生育，乃因秀吉個性好色是出了名的，自年輕到老寵幸過的女子非常多，但是全都沒有生育，而且豐臣家滅亡後秀吉的妻妾們改嫁他人後還紛紛懷孕生子，因此秀賴跟3歲早夭的鶴松是茶茶外遇偷生的說法不絕於耳。

• 茶聖千利休被秀吉下令切腹的真實原因不明，但轉折點是從金毛閣建成之後， 國師春屋宗園應利休之請所寫的山門供養中，千門萬戶一時開此句激怒了秀吉，進而因為作為資助大德寺三門重造的千利休在山門金毛閣上放置自己的木雕像，秀吉與天皇都曾在其下方通過。二年後被石田三成等人彈劾，千利休曾找細川忠興、古田織部、德川家康與前田利家向秀吉說情，但沒有結果，被秀吉敕令回堺閉門思過（蟄居，自我幽禁），尚未返回堺市，即被豐臣秀吉召回京都，木像被處以腰斬，利休居士被則被命令切腹。

• 秀吉對明韓使者發怒的詳細記載，見於江戶時期末年賴山陽所著的日本外史。首次交戰後兩年即1595年（文祿四年），明國與朝鮮使者(黃慎、樸弘長)造訪伏見，欲拜見豐臣秀吉，秀吉拒見，並使斥責朝鮮使者：「我已收兵，而朝鮮未有獻上三道，如今又不使王子前來謝再造之恩，只差遣些低微之人來羞辱我，我不許你入來見面！」及後，豐臣秀吉使毛利氏列兵仗，邀明國使者（正使、副使沈惟敬）入城，各將帥坐下。秀吉掀開帳而出，侍衛呼叱，兩名使者畏服，不敢抬頭看，捧著金印冕服跪地用膝蓋向前移動，在小西行長幫助下完成禮儀及儀式。待款待使者結束後，秀吉戴上冠冕，被上裶色官服，使德川家康以下七人被上其各自章服，並召僧侶讀明國的冊書。小西行長私下囑咐承兌，如果冊文內容與沈惟敬所說的有不合之處，應該要有所避諱，但承兌不敢聽。於是，承兌入見，於秀吉身旁讀冊，稱明國冊封豐臣秀吉為「日本國王」。秀吉聽後臉色轉變，立刻脫下冕服拋到地上，並取下冊書將其扯裂，痛罵：「我掌握日本，想當王就當王，何需待髯虜冊封！而且我要當王的話，就當你們天朝的王如何！」於是召小西行長，譴責：「你竟敢欺罔我，把此事成為我邦之辱？我將把你與明國使者全部一併誅殺！」行長恐懼發抖，諉罪於三奉行，承兌亦嘗試解救，事情才得以停止。秀吉憤怒未能平息，於是命人驅逐明韓使者，命其傳達：「我將再遣兵屠而國也！」

墳墓、靈廟、神社

死後葬在京都東山區阿彌陀峰山山頂（現在的豐國廟），被賜予神號豐國大明神後，修建豐國神社予以祭祀。豐臣家滅亡後，德川家康剝奪了大明神封號，但是並沒有拆毀神社。在秀吉正室高台院的懇求下，外苑部分被拆毀，然而保留內苑和本殿。部分建築物被片桐且元等人移往寶嚴寺和都久夫須麻神社。德川第三代將軍德川家光的時候沒收了神社，神社本殿完全被毀壞，豐國神社成了荒地。明治時，在德川家康的日光東照宮相殿祭祀秀吉，豐國神社被重新建造。祭祀秀吉的神社除京都豐國神社以外還有大阪豐國神社、長濱豐國神社、名古屋豐國神社等。大阪和長濱是秀吉的領地，名古屋是秀吉的故鄉。

• 戒名：國泰裕松院殿靈山俊龍大居士

辭世之句

系譜

實線：親子關係；點線：婚姻關係。

;父母

• 父親：木下彌右衛門

• 母親：大政所

;妻妾

• 正室：高台院（有一段期間稱北政所，本名則有彌寧（）、寧寧（）、彌（）、寧、寧子等寫法）

• 側室：南殿

• 側室：淀殿（茶茶，淺井長政長女）

• 側室：德子（川副正俊女）

• 側室：南之局（山名豐國女）

• 側室：松之丸殿（龍子，京極高吉女）

• 側室：加賀殿（摩阿，前田利家三女）

• 側室：甲斐姬（成田氏長女）

• 側室：三之丸殿（織田信長女）

• 側室：三條殿（虎，蒲生賢秀女）

• 側室：姬路殿（織田信包女）

• 側室：廣澤局（名護屋經勝女）

• 側室：月桂院（嶋子，足利賴純女）

• 側室：安樂院（阿種之方，香之前，地侍女）

;兄弟姊妹

• 姐：瑞龍院（三好吉房室）

• 妹：旭姬

• 弟：豐臣秀長

• 義弟：淺野長政

;兒子

• 長子：羽柴秀勝（石松丸）（母為側室南殿，早夭）

• 次子：豐臣鶴松（母為澱殿，早夭）

• 三子：豐臣秀賴（母為澱殿）

;養子

• 羽柴秀勝（織田信長四子）

• 豐臣秀次（秀吉之姊瑞龍院與三好吉房之長子）

• 豐臣秀勝（秀吉之姊瑞龍院與三好吉房之子，豐臣秀次之親弟；女兒豐臣完子的第九世孫女九條節子是昭和天皇—裕仁的生母）

• 結城秀康（德川家康次子）

• 小早川秀秋（秀吉正室高台院之甥）

;養女

• 豪姫（前田利家女，宇喜多秀家正室）

• 加賀殿（前田利家三女，豐臣秀吉側室）

• 菊姫（前田利家庶女，早逝）

• 小姫（織田信雄女，徳川秀忠正室，早逝）

• 大善院（豐臣秀長女，毛利秀元室）

• 澱殿（淺井長政長女，豐臣秀吉側室）

• 常高院（淺井長政次女，京極高次正室）

• 督姬（於江與，淺井長政三女，徳川秀忠正室）

• 宇喜多直家女（吉川廣家正室）

• 蜂須賀正勝女（黑田長政正室）

;猶子

• 池田長吉（池田恆興第三子）

• 宇喜多秀家（宇喜多直家嫡子）

• 智仁親王（誠仁親王第六皇子）

• 伊達秀宗（伊達政宗庶長子）

• 近衛前子（近衛前久女，後陽成天皇女御）

;甥侄

• 甥：豐臣秀次

• 甥：豐臣秀勝

;兒孫

• 嫡孫：豐臣國松

• 孫：奈阿姬

家臣

早期家臣

蜂須賀正勝（小六）、竹中重治（半兵衛）、山內一豐、福島正則、加藤清正、堀尾吉晴（茂助）、增田長盛、仙石秀久、小西行長、中村一氏、前野長康、黑田孝高（官兵衛）

秀吉四天王

宮田光次、神子田正治、戶田勝隆、尾藤知宣

賤岳七本槍

福島正則、加藤清正、加藤嘉明、脇阪安治、平野長泰、糟屋武則、片桐且元

五奉行

石田三成、淺野長政、前田玄以、長束正家、增田長盛

三中老

中村一氏、生駒親正、堀尾吉晴

五大老

一開始是六大老，小早川隆景 死後退席，小早川家督由小早川秀秋接任。秀吉生前並無五大老之名，秀吉死後五大老之名才固定下來：

德川家康、前田利家(後其子前田利長接任)、毛利輝元、宇喜多秀家、上杉景勝。

十人衆

富田一白、寺西正勝、毛利吉成、堀田一繼、佐佐行政、石田正澄、片桐貞隆、石川光元、山中長俊、木下延重

信長舊臣

前田利家、堀秀政、丹羽長秀、森長可、細川藤孝、細川忠興、蜂屋賴隆、京極高次、長谷川秀一、長谷川與次、日根野弘就、日根野盛就、長谷川宗仁、矢部家定、建部壽德、稻葉一鐵、市橋長利、伊東長久、九鬼嘉隆、古田重然、堀內氏善、丸毛兼利、毛利秀賴、豬子一時、蒲生氏鄉

黃母衣眾

青木一重、伊木遠雄、石尾治一、伊東長実、井上道勝、井上賴次、小野木公鄉、郡宗保、津田信任、友松盛保、中島氏種、中西守之、長原雲沢軒、野野村雅春、戶田勝隆、蜂須賀家政、服部一忠、速水守久、神子田正治、箕浦元正、三好房一、毛利吉成、森可政、一柳直末、分部光嘉

七手組

速水守久、青木一重、伊東長実、堀田盛重（盛高）、中島氏種、真野助宗、野野村雅春、真野頼包（助宗死後）、郡宗保

與力眾

宮部繼潤、一柳直末、田中吉政、木村定重、小出吉政、龜井茲矩、谷衛友、寺澤廣高、新莊直賴、齋村政廣、別所重宗

接受秀吉偏諱的人物

在古代日本，主君往往將自己名字中的一字授予家臣或從屬的大名，以示恩惠。這個字被稱為偏諱。

• 「秀」字

　• 宇喜多秀家

　• 織田秀信

　• 織田秀雄

　• 蒲生秀行

　• 小早川秀秋

　• 小早川秀包

　• 伊達秀宗

　• 德川秀忠

　• 羽柴秀勝

　• 堀秀治

　• 毛利秀元

　• 毛利秀就

　• 結城秀康

• 「吉」字

　• 大谷吉繼

　• 大友吉統

登場作品

;史料

• 太閤記（著）

;小說

• 新史太閤記（新潮社、司馬遼太郎著）

• 豐臣一族（中央公論新社、司馬遼太郎著）

• 新太閤記（角川書店、海音寺潮五郎著）

• 新書太閤記（新潮社、吉川英治著）

• 秀吉：超越夢想的男人（文藝春秋、堺屋太一著）

• 異本太閤記（講談社、山岡莊八著）

• 妖說太閤記（講談社、山田風太郎著）

• 夢中夢（文藝春秋、著）

• 秀吉與利休（新潮社、野上彌生子著）

• 秀吉之枷（文藝春秋、著）

;影視劇

• 出世太閤記（1938年、日活、演：）

• （1953年、大映、演：）

• 太閤記（1957年、NTV、演：大川太郎）

• 太閤記（1958年、松竹、演：）

• （1959年、大映、演：月田昌也）

• （1959年、東映、演：）

• （1959年、MBS、演：東宮秀樹）

• 獨眼龍政宗（1959年、東映、演：）

• 敵在本能寺（1960年、松竹、演：河津清三郎）

• （1961年、東映、演：）

• （1962年、ABC、演：藤間勘二郎）

• 忍者（1962年、大映、演：）

• 梟之城（1963年、東映、演：）

• （1964年、東寶、演：）

• 德川家康（1964年、NET、演：）

• （1965年、NHK大河劇、演：緒形拳）

• （1965年、東映、演：山本圭）

• 功名十字路（1966年、NET、演：）

• 戰國太平記 真田幸村（1966年、TBS、演：）

• （1969年、ABC、演：）

• （1969年、ABC、演：三國連太郎）

• 天與地（1969年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• （1970年、NTV、演：）

• （1970年、KTV、演：）

• （1971年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• （1971年、KTV、演：）

• （1973年、NHK大河劇、演：火野正平）

• 出雲的阿國（1973年、NET、演：）

• （1973年、NET、演：）

• 阿吟樣（1978年、東寶、演：三船敏郎）

• （1978年、NHK大河劇、演：緒形拳）

• （1980年、東映、演：）

• 女太閤記（1981年、NHK大河劇、演：西田敏行）

• （1981年、TBS、演：）

• （1983年、YTV、演：三國連太郎）

• 德川家康（1983年、NHK大河劇、演：武田鐵矢）

• （1985年、NHK、演：長門裕之）

• （1987年、TBS、演：）

• 獨眼龍政宗（1987年、NHK大河劇、演：勝新太郎）

• 阿市御寮人（1989年、NTV、演：布施明）

• 春日局（1989年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• （1989年、TBS、演：）

• （1989年、東寶、演：）

• （1989年、松竹、演：山崎努）

• （1990年、MBS、演：江守徹）

• （1991年、TBS、演：柳澤慎吾）

• （1992年、松竹、演：）

• 信長KING OF ZIPANGU（1992年、NHK大河劇、演：仲村亨）

• 德川家康 戰國最後的勝利者（1992年、ANB、演：風間杜夫）

• （1993年、TVA、演：）

• （1993年、TBS、演：柳葉敏郎）

• 獨眼龍的野望 伊達政宗（1993年、ANB、演：津川雅彥）

• 琉球之風（1993年、NHK大河劇、演：仲村亨）

• （1994年、TX、演：）

• 愛與野望的獨眼龍 伊達政宗（1995年、TBS、演：）

• （1995年、TX、演：中村勘九郎）

• 影武者織田信長（1996年、ANB、演：片岡鶴太郎）

• 秀吉（1996年、NHK大河劇、演：竹中直人）

• （1998年、TX、演：）

• （1999年、KTV、演：）

• （1999年、NHK、演：）

• 梟之城（1999年、東寶、演：岩松信）

• 利家與松（2002年、NHK大河劇、演：香川照之）

• （2003年、CX、演：草彅剛）

• （2004年、NHK、演：片岡鶴太郎）

• （2005年、TX、演：岡田義德）

• 戰國自衛隊1549（2005年、東寶、演：）

• （2006年、EX、演：）

• 功名十字路（2006年、NHK大河劇、演：柄本明）

• （2006年、EX、演：中村梅雀）

• 茶茶 天涯的貴妃（2007年、東映、演：渡部篤郎）

• （2007年、CX、演：柳葉敏郎）

• 敵在本能寺（2007年、EX、演：竹中直人）

• 大盜石川五右衛門（2009年、松竹、演：奧田瑛二）

• （2009年、東映、演：）

• 寧寧：女太閤記（2009年、TX、演：）

• 天地人（2009年、NHK大河劇、演：）

• （2011年、TX、演：西田敏行）

• 江~公主們的戰國~（2011年、NHK大河劇、演：岸谷五朗）

• （2012年、東寶、演：市村正親）

• 信長的主廚（2013年、EX、演：）

• 女信長（2013年、CX、演：伊勢谷友介）

• （2013年、EX、演：）

• （2013年、東寶、演：大泉洋）

• （2013年、東映、演：大森南朋）

• 火之女神井兒（2013年、MBC月火劇、演：安奭奐）

• 軍師官兵衛 （2014年、NHK大河劇、演：竹中直人）

• 信長協奏曲（2014年、CX、演：山田孝之）

• 懲毖錄（2015年、KBS 大河劇、演：金圭哲）

• （2016年、TX、演：）

• 真田丸（2016年、NHK大河劇、演：小日向文世）

• 石川五右衛門（2016年、TX、演：國村隼）

• 本能寺酒店（2017年、東寶、演：）

• （2017年、東寶、演：瀧藤賢一）

• 處世質實剛健（2017年、Mable、演：）

• 電影刀劍亂舞（2019年、東寶、演：）

• MAGI ～天正遣歐少年使節～（2019年、Prime Video、演：緒形直人）

• 麒麟來了（2020年、NHK大河劇、演：佐佐木藏之介）

• （2021年、CX、演：中尾明慶）

• （2022年、KTV、演：）

• 新・信長公記～同班同學是戰國武將～（2022、NTV、演：西畑大吾）

• 怎麼辦家康（2023年、NHK大河劇、演：室剛）

• THE LEGEND & BUTTERFLY（2023年、東映、演：）

;廣告

• 豐田汽車ReBORN系列廣告（演：北野武）

;遊戲

• 仁王2（2020年、光榮、演：竹中直人）

• 太閤立志傳系列（光榮）

• 信長之野望系列（光榮）

• 戰國無雙系列*無雙大蛇系列（光榮、配音：石川英郎）

• 戰國BASARA系列（Capcom、配音：置鯰龍太郎）

• 鬼武者系列（Capcom）

• 戰國蘭斯

• 世紀帝國2

• 美男戰國：穿越時空之戀（配音：鳥海浩輔）

• 神魔之塔

• 閃電十一人GO

• 戰刻夜想曲

;模型玩具

• 真空路守 NO.8 秀吉張斬

• Doyusha童友社1/3名刀二刀豐臣秀吉

• Doyusha童友社 1/360 和歌山城

• Doyusha童友社 samurai armet 豐臣秀吉

• bb戰士 NO.354 SD戰國傳 武神降臨篇 豐臣秀吉頑駄無