The Saji Sea Forces (2)

     The 7th head of the Isshiki Clan, Mitsunori (1368-1409), was additionally appointed as the guardian samurai of Chita County in 1392.  When Isshiki Yoshitsuna (1400-1440) was the head of the clan, the clan started its downfall.  Yoshinao (?-?), who belonged to one of the branch families, abandoned Mikawa Province, which was just east to Owari Province.  It is not clear what he did with Chita County.  Yoshihide (?-1498), the head of the clan at the time, had to commit suicide, facing the rebellion of samurais in Tango Province, the clan’s base province.  His younger brother, Yoshito (?-?), abandoned Chita County, and went back to Tango, to have his son, Yoshiari (1487-1512), succeed the head of the clan.

     In the confusion and the downfall of the Isshiki Clan, Saji Munesada (?-1532), who had been their vassal, took over Ono Castle in Chita County, controlled Ono Sea People, and, accordingly, held the hegemony over the sea transportation of Ise Bay.

     In 1560, Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) beat off the Imagawa Clan from Suruga Province.  Seeing Oda’s victory in the Battle of Okehazama, Saji Nobukata (1550-1571), who was the chief of the Saji Sea Forces at the time,  got married to Nobunaga’s younger sister, Oinu(?-1582).

     Nobukata took part in the First Siege of Nagashima in 1571, which Nobunaga mounted to lose, supposedly supporting Nobunaga’s troops from the sea, and was killed in the battle.  When Nobukata’s son, Kazunari (1569-1634), came of age, he got married to Nobunaga’s niece, Oeyo (1573-1626).  The family looked to have a bright future before them.