The Shimabara Domain (島原藩), located in Hizen Province, was a ruling domain that held authority over the surrounding area of Shimabara. Originally known as the Hinoe Domain, its administrative center was initially established at Hinoe Castle in Minamishimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture. However, it was later relocated to Shimabara Castle in Shimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture. The domain was governed by various clans, including the Koriki clan of the Tokugawa clan, the Fudaira clan, and the Fukamizo-Matsudaira clan of Juhachi Matsudaira. Additionally, the director of Nagasaki, who held the position of tenryo, and the Ogura Domain, a fudai, also played significant roles as the chief of the tozama daimyo in Kyushu.^[1][2][3][4]

This section does not cite any sources. (February 2024)

Shimabara was under the rule of the Arima clan in the tumultuous Sengoku period. Arima Harunobu, a daimyo who followed the Christian faith, aligned himself with the eastern army during the Battle of Sekigahara, resulting in the loss of his own domain. However, following the Okamoto Daihachi Incident in 1612, he was imprisoned in Tsuru, Kai Province, and ordered to commit seppuku. Despite this, his son Arima Naozumi distanced himself from his father and had a close relationship with the shogunate. Consequently, he inherited his father's estate after the failed incident. In 1614, Naozumi was appointed to the Hyūga Province Prefectural Domain (Nobeoka Domain) and was subsequently transferred. Subsequently, the territory came under the control of the shogunate for a period of time. However, in 1616, Matsukura Shigemasa took over the domain from the Gojo domain of Yamato Province for 40,000 koku. The Matsukura clan had previously served as vassals of Tustsui Junkei during the Sengoku period. Matsukura Shigemasa, unlike his father Matsukura Shigenobu, who was a respected general, was known for his oppressive policies towards his subjects and harsh treatment of Christians. Additionally, Shimabara Castle was constructed during his reign, and the government office was relocated from Hinoe Castle to Shimabara. Katsuie, who succeeded Shigemasa, implemented even more severe policies than his father and cracked down on Christians. As a testament to Katsuie's brutality, there was a method of execution called "Mino Odori," where individuals who couldn't pay the yearly tax were dressed in a cloak and burned alive. Shimabara was described as a true hell, as the children of those unable to pay the tax were captured and executed. Additionally, the reported collection of 40,000 koku was inflated to 100,000 koku in order to gain favor with the shogunate.

The people's anger towards Katsuie's oppressive policies eventually erupted, leading to the infamous Shimabara Rebellion in 1637, with Shiro Amakusa as the commander-in-chief. The fury of the fief's inhabitants was so intense that some members of Matsukura's army defected to the people's side, rendering Matsukura's forces insufficient to suppress the rebellion. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Edo shogunate dispatched a pacification force led by Shigemasa Itakura. However, Shigemasa proved ineffective and perished in battle. Replacing him as the commander-in-chief was Matsudaira Nobutsuna, a renowned roju known for his "chie Izu." Nobutsuna rallied approximately 120,000 feudal lords from Kyushu to besiege Hara Castle with provisions, including the seasoned warrior Tachibana Muneshige. The rebel army was no match for the well-supplied attack, resulting in the rebellion's suppression three months later. The rebels, including Shiro, were mercilessly slaughtered. Conversely, the feudal lord Katsuie Matsukura faced severe scrutiny for his role in inciting the revolt through his oppressive policies. After the rebellion was quelled, he was beheaded, despite being a daimyo. This denial of the honorable punishment of seppuku and his execution by beheading as a common criminal exemplified the shogunate's grave view of Katsuie's crimes.

The Fukuchiyama Domain in Tanba Province was represented by Matsudaira Tadafusa from the Fukamizo-Matsudaira clan, who brought with him a substantial amount of 65,000 koku. The Matsudaira clan had previously governed Shimabara for five generations, but in 1747, Toda Tadamitsu from the Utsunomiya Domain in Shimotsuke Province arrived with an even larger amount of 77,000 koku. As a result, the Matsudaira clan was relocated to Utsunomiya. However, after two generations, Matsudaira clan, who had been transferred to Utsunomiya in 1774, returned with 65,000 koku. Interestingly, The Toda clan also returned to Utsunomiya during this transition. Following these events, the Matsudaira clan continued to rule for eight generations until 1871 when it transformed into Shimabara Prefecture. Eventually, it was incorporated into Nagasaki Prefecture.

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