Nakagawa Kiyohide

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Nakagawa Kiyohide (中川 清秀; 1556 – June 6, 1583) was a daimyo in Azuchi-Momoyama period. His childhood name was Nakagawa Toranosuke (中川 虎之助). His common name was Nakagawa Sebe (中川 瀬兵衛). His father was Nakagawa Shgekiyo. Nakagawa Hidemasa and Nakagawa Hidenari were his sons. Huruta Oribe's wife was Kiyohide's young sister.

At first, Kiyohide served Ikeda Katsumasa, who was from a powerful clan at Settsu Province. he went independent with Araki Murashige and Takayama Ukon at Settsu Province afterward. When Oda Nobunaga marched his armies into Kyoto, Kiyohide served him. In 1572, he and Murashige killed Wada Koremasa.

In 1578, Murashige rebelled against Nobunaga, Kiyohide rebelled acting in concert, too. However, when Nobunaga came to attack leading a large army, Kiyohide surrendered and attacked Murashige other way round. After that, he took part in various battles under Niwa Nagashige and Ikeda Tsuneoki.

In 1582, he served Hashiba Hideyoshi after Nobunaga died, and was active in the Battle of Yamazaki.

In 1583, he was in the second van of Hideyoshi's force at the Battle of Shizugatake, and held Oiwayama-fort (Oiwayama-toride, 大岩山砦) with Takayama Ukon and Miyoshi Hidetsugu. Then Sakuma Morimasa, who was a brave military commander of Shibata Katsuie attacked hard, and Kiyohide died in the battle at 42.

His grave is at Bairin-ji (梅林寺), Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture.

His second son, Hidenari became the first leader of Oka clan at Bungo Province afterwards. Oka clan continued until Meiji Period.