- Saitō Toshinaga
was a "
daimyo " duringJapan 'sMuromachi period . He was the son ofSaitō Sōen (斎藤宗円), "shugo " ofMino Province , and the older brother ofSaitō Myōchin , making him the uncle of the warlordSaitō Dōsan . By his first wife, he was the father ofSaitō Toshifuji (斎藤利藤) andSaitō Noriaki (斎藤典明). His second wife, who was born into theAkamatsu clan , birthedSaitō Myōjun (斎藤妙純),Saitō Toshiyasu (斎藤利安),Saitō Toshitsuna (斎藤利綱) andSaitō Toshitaka (斎藤利隆).History
In 1444, Sōen killed Mino Province's "
shugodai " from theTomishima clan (富島氏 "Tomishima-shi") and started a civil war within the province. To support his father, Toshinaga built Izumii Castle [http://www.city.gifu.gifu.jp/kankou/rekishi_02.html Gifu City Sightseeing Guide: Castle History] . ja icon City of Gifu. AccessedJune 12 ,2008 .] to serve as the base for theSaitō 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.References
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