The Chiba clan (千葉氏 Chiba-shi) was a branch family of the Taira clan descended from Chiba no Suke, son of Taira no Tadatsune. Historically, they controlled the city of Chiba, outside Tokyo, and also an area called Soma which included the Grand Shrine of Ise. In the Genpei Wars of the 12th century, the Chiba clan, along with the other Taira branch families Hōjō, Miura, and Doi, were allies of the Minamoto, opposing the greater 'core' Taira clan. However, while they were valued allies to Minamoto no Yoritomo, he did not always trust them.