Invasion of Ryukyu by Satsuma
- When
- 1609
- Where
- Ryukyu Kingdom
- Episodes
- 2
In 1609, the Shimazu clan of Satsuma invaded the Ryukyu Kingdom, establishing vassalage while Ryukyu maintained tributary ties to China. The campaign marked the beginning of the Ryukyu Kingdom's status as a vassal state under the Satsuma domain.
Episodes
- Establishment of Dual Subordination
Ryukyu maintained tributary ties to both Japan and China while becoming a Satsuma vassal.
- Satsuma Invasion of Ryukyu
Satsuma forces invaded Ryukyu from March to May 1609, overcoming resistance and establishing vassalage.
Background and detail
The Invasion Campaign. The invasion occurred from March to May 1609. Ryukyuan forces offered stiff resistance on most islands, though one island saw less opposition. The campaign was referred to by the Ryukyu Kingdom as the Japanese Disturbance of Kiyū. The Satsuma forces ultimately established the Ryukyu Kingdom as a vassal state under the Satsuma domain.
Political Aftermath. Following the invasion, Ryukyu entered a period of dual subordination, maintaining tributary relations with both the Tokugawa shogunate and the Chinese court. In 1611, Satsuma annexed the Amami and Tokara Islands. The Ryukyuan king became a vassal of the Satsuma daimyō, while Satsuma gained prestige as the only domain to claim an entire foreign kingdom as a vassal.
People involved
- Shimazu clan · Invading feudal lords of Satsuma Domain
- Ryukyu Kingdom · Invaded kingdom and subsequent vassal state
- Tokugawa shogunate · Authorizing political authority
Sources
- Invasion of Ryukyu Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-22
- Ryukyu Kingdom Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-20
- Satsuma Domain Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-20
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.