Matsuura Hisanobu

Who was Matsuura Hisanobu?

Matsura Hisanobu was a Japanese daimyo of the late Azuchi-Momoyama period through early Edo period, who ruled the Hirado Domain of Hizen Province. His wife, Sono, was the daughter of the famous Christian daimyo, Ōmura Sumitada.

Hisanobu and his father both served under Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Korean campaigns. At the time of the Battle of Sekigahara, Hisanobu fought on the Toyotomi side, although his father defected to the Tokugawa side, and burned down his castle in Hirado as a gesture of loyalty to the new Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Following the Battle of Sekigahara, Hisanobu was summoned to an audience with Tokugawa Ieyasu in Kyoto and died shortly afterwards; there are indications that he was ordered to commit seppuku, and was followed in succession by his son Matsura Takanobu.