The Saji Sea Forces (3)

     However, after the death of Nobunaga and his first son, Nobutada (1557-1582), in 1582, Nobunaga’s second son, Nobuo (1558-1630), Nobunaga’s third son, Nobutaka (1558-1583), and Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), one of Nobunaga’s vassals, struggled for the leadership.  As Nobuo was based in Owari Province, Saji Kazunari almost naturally joined Nobuo’s camp, which sealed the family’s fate though.  Hideyoshi triumphed in the struggle, and unified the whole country.  Kazunari was forced to get divorced from Oeyo, forfeited his domain, Chita County, and retreated to Ise Province, which was in the opposite side of Ise Bay.  There, he later became a vassal of Oda Nobukane (1543-1614), Nobunaga’s younger brother.  Nobukane was ordered to move to Tamba Province, an inland province, in 1598, and Kazunari followed him.  It means the Saji Family was separated from the sea.  Kazunari died in Kyoto with a disease.  He died in peace, but the family could never make a major daimyo-lord comeback.