Muneshige

Tachibana Muneshige was a samurai during the Sengoku Period.

In 1586, Shimazu Tadatane and Ijuin Tadamune invaded Chikuzen province. Muneshige, who was stationed within Ayama Castle and knew that his father was at Iwaya Castle, wanted to send reinforcements to him. He was stopped by Yoshida Sakyo, who faced death in Muneshige's stead. Shigetane and Sakyo died with the over 500 retainers at Iwaya Castle. Shimazu Yoshihisa then ordered his men to take Ayama Castle. Muneshige defended his position bravely by relying on surprise attacks to drive the Shimazu back. At one point, he led a surprise attack on the Shimazu main camp and decapitated several enemy soldiers. The Shimazu army suffered from fatigue and withdrew. Muneshige pursued them, capturing one of the Shimazu positions and retaking two of their castles.

After the Shimazu army retreated, the Toyotomi army of 20,000 appeared in Kyuushuu. Muneshige took an active role in the following campaign to suppress Kyuushuu, mainly involved with negotiating peace with their opposition. When the Shimazu surrendered in 1587, Muneshige was rewarded with Yanagawa Castle. With his new wealth, the Tachibana declared independence from their masters, the Ootomo clan. After serving in the Siege of Odawara, Toyotomi Hideyoshi praised him further and he earned the admiration of several daimyo present. The Taikō declared, "Just as how the east has Honda Tadakatsu as the greatest warrior of the land, the west surely has Muneshige for the same right."

Muneshige bravely served in Hideyoshi's campaign in Korea. After Hideyoshi's death, he reluctantly joined with Ishida Mitsunari out of loyalty to Hideyoshi. He gave his men the choice to depart for whichever side and only a single house elder left to join Ieyasu. To this end, he swore to them that they would fight for unconditional victory and marched his armies onward. However, he was unable to join Sekigahara due to being caught up in a castle siege along the way. Once news of Ieyasu's victory reached him, he abandoned the castle and withdrew. His home was soon attacked by other samurai. Though he and his unit fought bravely in resistance, he eventually surrendered and was stripped of his titles.

Although no longer a samurai, Muneshige was valued for his intelligence and benevolence. The men who attacked him put in a good word to the shogun, Ieyasu, who allowed him to be a daimyo again. Ieyasu made a reluctant Muneshige campaign a few more times but it ultimately earned his good graces once again.