Andō Morinari

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Andō Morinari (安藤守就, Andō Morinari^?, 1503 – June 27, 1582) was renowned for being part of the "Mino Triumvirate" (along with Inaba Ittetsu and Ujie Bokuzen) under the Saitō clan during the Sengoku period of Feudal Japan. He served as a head retainer under Saitō Dōsan after Dōsan overthrew Toki Yorinari (the original ruler of Mino) and became daimyō of Mino Province.

[edit] History

Morinari began his many recorded feats under Dōsan's illegitamate son, Saitō Yoshitatsu, under whom he attained a great reputation for his loyalty to the Saitō clan. Before Yoshitatsu died in 1561, he restricted Oda Nobunaga from any form of access into Mino despite their contracted alliance. When the young Saitō Tatsuoki came to power, he was too incompetent to prevent any additional form of detriment to the Saitō. Morinari, seeing that the cooperation of Mino Province was falling into chaos as the result of its leader and that it would better his reputation and position to be recognized as a retainer under a man as politically able as that of Nobunaga, defected to the forces of Oda that same year with the other two members of the triumvirate.

Recognized by Nobunaga as a trustworthy retainer, Morinari notably served under his new lord during the Battle of Anegawa in 1570, and in each battle leading up to the seizure of Ishiyama Hongan-ji in 1580. As Nobunaga finally subdued the Hongan-ji stronghold of Ishiyama that same year, Morinari resigned from his position for reasons unknown, resulting in his evidential retirement from the forces under Oda. His actions in life following this period is not recorded to any extent, but Morinari died during 1582, as a wandering ronin.