Hideyoshi was born into a peasant family during the tumultuous Sengoku, or "Warring States" Period in Japan. Despite his lowly birth and his skinny, somewhat rat-like appearance, Hideyoshi rose from the rank of sandal-bearer to general in Oda Nobunaga's army. (In fact, Nobunaga called him "Monkey" because of his build.) The ambitious young commoner one day would reunite and rule the entire country...
Note: Approach the dates listed here with some caution. Different sources use lunar calendar or Gregorian (western) calendar dates without distinguishing them, so the particular dates given may be a mixture of the two.
1537-1570 - Hideyoshi's Early Life and Rise to Generalship
Library of Congress Prints and Photos Collection
Hideyoshi born as "Hiyoshimaru"; Young Hideyoshi sent to study at temple; Returns home as "Kinoshita Tokichiro" and enters Oda service; Bit part in Battle of Okehazama; Hideyoshi marries Nene; Hideyoshi captures, repairs Sunomata Castle; Hideyoshi brings Mino clan over to Oda side; Hideyoshi captures Inabayama Castle, becomes general; Takes name "Hashiba Hideyoshi"; Teams up with Tokugawa Ieyasu at Battle of Anegawa
1573-1583 - Hideyoshi Becomes a Daimyo and Consolidates His Power
Library of Congress Prints and Photos
Nobunaga awards Hideyoshi daimyo status over three districts; Hideyoshi makes friends with tea-master Sen no Rikyu; Hideyoshi moves to conquer western Japan, Kurodas give him Himeji Castle; Himeji Castle is Hideyoshi's new base of operations; Hideyoshi besieges Takamatsu Castle; Akechi Mitsuhide forces Oda Nobunaga to commit suicide; Hideyoshi takes Takamatsu Castle; Hideyoshi returns to Kyoto, defeats and beheads Akechi Mitsuhide; Battle of Shizugatake, Hideyoshi destroys fellow Oda general Shibata Katsuie
1583-1587 - Hideyoshi Rises to Highest Power in Japan
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Hideyoshi destroys Ishiyama Honganji temple, builds Osaka Castle on site; Battles of Komaki and Nagakute against Tokugawa Ieyasu; Truce with Tokugawa Ieyasu; Hideyoshi defeats warrior monks of Kii; Hideyoshi becomes kampaku, regent for the Emperor; Adopted by Konoe Sakihisa, royal family member; Hideyoshi hosts Grand Kitano Tea Ceremony; Changes surname to Toyotomi ("Generous Minister"); Buildes Jurakudai residence in Kyoto; Conquers Kii Province, and Shikoku and Kyushu Islands
1587-1592 - Japan is Unified and the Sengoku Period Ends
Library of Congress Prints and Photos
Hideyoshi bans Christian missionaries; The common-born kampaku entertains Emperor Go-Yozei; Hideyoshi begins sword hunt - non-samurai cannot have weapons; Siege of Odawara, Hideyoshi conquers northern Japan and unifies country; Edict on Changing Status, Hideyoshi ends social mobility; Hideyoshi orders tea master Sen no Rikyu to commit seppuku; Hideyoshi's only son dies; His half-brother Hidenaga dies; Hideyoshi adopts nephew Hidetsugu as heir; Hidetsugu becomes kampaku, Hideyoshi "retires" to be taiko
1592-1597 - Hideyoshi Dreams of Empire, Invades Korea
Via Wikipedia. Public domain due to age.
Hideyoshi launches first invasion of Korea; Seoul falls to Japanese, but King Seonjo escapes; Battle of Hansan-do, Admiral Yi Sun Shin destroys Japan's fleet; Japanese capture Pyongyang; Ming China's Wanli Emperor sends troops to Korea; Japanese driven back, then retreat to Japan; Hideyoshi has new son, Hideyori; Hideyoshi performs in noh plays; Hideyoshi orders nephew/heir Hidetsugu to commit suicide; Hideyoshi orders second invasion of Korea
1597-1615 - Second Invasion Fails, Death of Hideyoshi and Toyotomis Fall
Library of Congress Prints and Photos
"Miracle at Myongyang," Admiral Yi Sun Shin defeats huge Japanese fleet; Hideyoshi recognizes defeat of second invasion; Death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi; Ruling Council orders withdrawal from Korea; Admiral Yi dies in final naval battle; Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu defeats Toyotomi clan; Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes shogun; Siege of Osaka Castle, Hideyori commits suicide and Toyotomi clan bloodline ends
One-page Condensed Timeline of Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Life
Library of Congress Prints and Photos
See Hideyoshi's rise from peasant boy to taiko of all Japan, in one handy page.
