Saitō Yoshitatsu
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| Saitō Yoshitatsu | |
|---|---|
| July 8, 1527–June 23, 1561 |
Saitō Yoshitatsu (斎藤義龍? July 8, 1527 - June 23, 1561) was the second leader of the Saitō clan, following the rulership of "serpent daimyo" Saitō Dōsan during the latter half of the Sengoku period of Feudal Japan.
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[edit] History
The earlier life of Yoshitatsu is generally unknown, other than the supposition that he had originally been the son of Toki Yorinari—the former daimyo over Mino Province before Dōsan's coup d'état—until being taken in as Dōsan's eldest son. Knowing that Yoshitatsu was not his blood-related son and could potentially destroy the Saitō's prestige and power if he obtained power, Dōsan adopted other sons and began an election of heirship in 1555. Yoshitatsu, who heard of these affairs through sympathizers trusted by Dōsan, was greatly angered by the idea.
Detesting his father and brothers with great hatred at such an unexpected movement, he acquired many retainers and declared rebellion against his father in an attempt to obtain control. Decisively defeating his father at the Battle of Nagaragawa in 1556, Yoshitatsu wiped out any opposition within the clan and declared himself as Second Head of Saitō.
[edit] Aftermath
The time period following is unclear, but Yoshitatsu's victory over his father encouraged many other warlords, such as Oda Nobunaga, to fight after his forts were intentionally destroyed and passage into Mino was restricted. Yoshitatsu died in 1561, with the cause rumored to be leprosy, the young Saitō Tatsuoki succeeded as the Saitō clan's third head.
