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Saito Dosan (斎藤 道三
1494-1556)
was the
epitome of the
daimyo that dramatically rose and also fell from power in
Sengoku period
Japan. Originally a wealthy merchant from Yamashiro province (Kyoto),
he used his power and influence to become a retainer of the daimyo
Toki Yorinari of
Mino province (Gifu
prefecture). Dosan eventually succeeded in becoming the magistrate of
Mino and settled in
Inabayama castle.
Exploiting his power and wealth, he drove Toki Yorinari out of Mino
province in a
Coup d'etat in
1542 and claimed the fief as his own, becoming a daimyo in his own
right. Afterwards, Toki Yorinari allied with
Oda Nobuhide of
Owari province just south of Mino to avenge Dosan, but their defeat at
the battle of Kanoguchi in
1547 solidified Dosan's domination of Mino and also made a name for
himself throughout
Japan. The defeated Oda Nobuhide made peace and arranged a political
marriage in
1549 between his son
Oda Nobunaga and Saito's daughter to end all hostilities.
Ironically, Saito Dosan fell in his own son
Saito Yoshitatsu's coup d'etat in
1556. Heavily outnumbered, he was defeated at the
Battle of Nagara River.
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