Saito Toshinaga
Encyclopedia
was a daimyo
during Japan
's Muromachi period
. He was the son of Saitō Sōen (斎藤宗円), shugo
of Mino Province
, and the older brother of Saitō Myōchin
, making him the uncle of the warlord Saitō Dōsan
. By his first wife, he was the father of Saitō Toshifuji (斎藤利藤) and Saitō Noriaki (斎藤典明). His second wife, who was born into the Akamatsu clan
, birthed Saitō Myōjun (斎藤妙純), Saitō Toshiyasu (斎藤利安), Saitō Toshitsuna (斎藤利綱) and Saitō Toshitaka (斎藤利隆).
from the Tomishima clan (富島氏 Tomishima-shi) and started a civil war within the province. To support his father, Toshinaga built Izumii Castle
to serve as the base for the Saitō clan
. When Sōen was assassinated in 1450, Toshinaga assumed control of the clan and became the shugo of the province.
When the son of Toki Mochimasa (土岐持益) died in 1456, there was a dispute over who would become Mochimasa's successor. Mochimasa's grandson, who was only three years old at the time, was nominated to be the successor, but Toshinaga objected. Toki Shigeyori
was eventually selected as the successor. Toshinaga died a few years later in 1460 from complications related to paralysis. He was succeeded by his first son, Toshifuji.
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
during Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's Muromachi period
Muromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate, which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi shogun, Ashikaga Takauji, two years after the brief Kemmu restoration of imperial...
. He was the son of Saitō Sōen (斎藤宗円), shugo
Shugo
was a title, commonly translated as "Governor," given to certain officials in feudal Japan. They were each appointed by the shogun to oversee one or more of the provinces of Japan...
of Mino Province
Mino Province
, one of the old provinces of Japan, encompassed part of modern-day Gifu Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Mino Province bordered Echizen, Hida, Ise, Mikawa, Ōmi, Owari, and Shinano Provinces....
, and the older brother of Saitō Myōchin
Saito Myochin
was a daimyo and a monk during the Sengoku period in Japan. Myōchin was the son of Saitō Sōen , who served as the guardian of Mino Province, and the younger brother of Saitō Toshinaga. He began his training as a monk from a young age at Zene-ji...
, making him the uncle of the warlord Saitō Dōsan
Saito Dosan
was a daimyo who dramatically rose and also fell from power in Sengoku period Japan. He was also known as the for his ruthless tactics.-Life:Originally a wealthy merchant from Yamashiro Province , he entered the service of Nagai Nagahiro of Mino Province , assuming the name Nishimura Kankurô.He...
. By his first wife, he was the father of Saitō Toshifuji (斎藤利藤) and Saitō Noriaki (斎藤典明). His second wife, who was born into the Akamatsu clan
Akamatsu clan
The was a Japanese samurai family of direct descent from Minamoto no Morifusa. They were prominent shugo-daimyō in Harima during the Sengoku period.-Select members of the clan:* Akamatsu Norimura .* Akamatsu Norisuke ....
, birthed Saitō Myōjun (斎藤妙純), Saitō Toshiyasu (斎藤利安), Saitō Toshitsuna (斎藤利綱) and Saitō Toshitaka (斎藤利隆).
History
In 1444, Sōen killed Mino Province's shugodaiShugodai
were officials during feudal Japan.Shugodai were representatives of provincial shugo when the shugo could not exercise his power, being often away from his province. Unlike shugo, who were appointed from the central power, shugodai were locally appointed....
from the Tomishima clan (富島氏 Tomishima-shi) and started a civil war within the province. To support his father, Toshinaga built Izumii Castle
Kano Castle
was a castle that was built during peace time in the 15th and 16th centuries, but only its ruins, including the base of the donjon and walls, remain in the present-day city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
to serve as the base for the Saitō clan
Saito clan
The was a Japanese clan in Mino Province during the Sengoku period in the 16th century. According to records, the Saitō clan descended from the Fujiwara clan...
. When Sōen was assassinated in 1450, Toshinaga assumed control of the clan and became the shugo of the province.
When the son of Toki Mochimasa (土岐持益) died in 1456, there was a dispute over who would become Mochimasa's successor. Mochimasa's grandson, who was only three years old at the time, was nominated to be the successor, but Toshinaga objected. Toki Shigeyori
Toki Shigeyori
was a leading military commander during the Muromachi period in Mino Province , Japan. The characters for his name can also be read as Toki Nariyori. He became the eighth head of the Toki clan at the age of 15 and was the adopted son of Toki Mochimasu. His sons included Toki Masafusa and Toki...
was eventually selected as the successor. Toshinaga died a few years later in 1460 from complications related to paralysis. He was succeeded by his first son, Toshifuji.