| Saitō | |
 | |
| Located at: | Echizen District, Mino Province |
|---|---|
| Crest(s)/Banner(s): | two-crested wave (pictured) |
| Talent(s): | Warrior clan |
| Major Figure(s): | Saitō Dōsan, Saito Toshimitsu, Saitō Yoshitatsu, Saitō Tatsuoki |
The Saitō clan or sometimes referred to as the Mino Saitō clan (斎藤氏, Saitō-shi or Saitō-uji) was a clan which existed during the Warring States period. In the Samurai Warriors franchise, the officers of this clan wear green and light purple under Saitō Dōsan and black under Saitō Yoshitatsu.
The original Saitō clan in Mino came from the Echizen Saitō clan back during the Muromachi period, serving the Toki clan. This clan rose to outrank the Toki, but internal conflicts around the Onin War ended much of their authority and presence. Their own cadet clan, the Nagai, took their place as deputies to the Toki in the 1520s. The force behind this change was Nagai Norihide (better known as Saitō Dōsan), who also usurped Toki Yorinari to become the true ruler of Mino around 1537, officially taking the name Saitō for himself as well.
Dōsan is said to have designed the new Saitō family crest himself. Formally the Saitō had used the Nadeshiko flower for their crest, but Dōsan chose instead to use a two-crested wave, despite being land locked. The Viper of Mino reasoned that water, especially waves, captured the tumultuous nature of life and conflict, which he wished to embody.
Clan Heads
Only the clan heads after Dōsan's takeover of the clan are included.
Other Figures
- Nagai Michitoshi - Dōsan's younger brother.
- Saitō Toshiaki - Dōsan's second son.
- Saitō Magoshiro - Dōsan's third son, also known as Saitō Tatsumoto or Saitō Tatsushige.
- Saitō Kiheiji - Dōsan's fourth son, also known as Saitō Tatsuyuki or Saitō Tatsusada.
- Saitō Toshiharu - Dōsan's fifth son, survived Yoshitatsu's purge and sought refuge with Oda Nobunaga.
- Inoue Michikatsu - Yoshitatsu's cousin and Nagai Michitoshi's son.
Ladies
- Omi no kata - Dōsan's wife, the aunt of Akechi Mitsuhide.
- Fukayoshino - Dōsan's concubine and Yoshitatsu's mother. As she gave birth to him seven months after leaving Toki Yorinari, there is some doubt as to the biological fatherhood of Yoshitatsu, a doubt believed to have existed even in Dōsan's time.
- Nohime - Dōsan's daughter and wife of Oda Nobunaga. Also known as Kichō.
- Fujin Saito - Dōsan's daughter and wife of Hatakeyama Akiradaka.
- Omi - Yoshitatsu's wife and Azai Hisamasa's adopted daughter.
Major Vassals
Mino Triumvirate
Other Vassals
- Akechi Hidemitsu
- Akechi Mitsuhide
- Akechi Mitsuhisa
- Akechi Mitsuyasu
- Endō Yoshitaka
- Fujita Dengo
- Fuwa Mitsuharu
- Hachiya Yoritaka
- Hasegawa Shigenari
- Hayashi Mondo
- Hineno Hironari
- Ibi Mitsuchika
- Iinuma Nagatsugu
- Kishi Nobuchika
- Kani Saizō
- Katō Mitsuyasu
- Komaki Genta
- Marumo Mitsukane
- Miyake Nibunosuke
- Nagaya Jin'emon
- Nonomura Masanari
- Ōsawa Masahide
- Saitō Toshimitsu
- Satō Tadayoshi
- Sengoku Mataichi
- Shibata Kakunai
- Takei Yūan
- Takenaka Hanbei
- Takenaka Shigenori
- Takenokoshi Dōchin
- Takenokoshi Naomitsu
Etymology
- The surname Saitō means "religious purification/purification, Buddhist food, room, worship, avoid, alike" (斎) (sai) and "wisteria" (藤) (tō).