Ogasawara Clan - Ogasawara Clan Branches

Ogasawara Clan Branches

The fudai Ogasawara clan originated in 12th century Shinano province. They claim descent from Takeda Yoshikiyo and the Seiwa-Genji. Broadly, there are two genaological lines of the Ogasawara, the Matsuo and the Fukashi, each of which identify places in Shinano. The Matsuo line gave rise to the Ogasawara of Echizen, and the Fukashi line is ultimately established at the Ogasawara of Bunzen.

The great grandson of Yoshikiyo, Nagakiyo, was the first to take the name Ogasawara. The area controlled by his descendants grew to encompass the entire province of Shinano.

Nagakiyo's grandson, Ogawawara Hidemasa (1569–1615), served Ieyasu; and in 1590, Hidemasa received Koga Domain (20,000 koku) in Shimōsa province. In 1601, Ieyasu transferred Hidemasa to Iida Domain (50,000 koku) in Shinano; then, in 1613, he was able to return to the home of his forebears, Fukashi Castle (80,000 koku), now known as Matsumoto Castle.

The branches of the fudai Ogasawara clan include the following:

• The senior branch of the Ogasawara from the beginning were daimyō at Fukashi; then, in 1617, the daimyō was transferred to Akashi Domain (120,000 koku) in Harima province. In the years spanning 1632 through 1868, the descendants of this branch of the Ogasawara were daimyō at Kokura Domain (150,000 koku) in Buzen province. The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Count" in 1884.

• A cadet branch of the Ogasawara were daimyō at Chizuka Domain (10,000 koku) in Buzen province up through the Meiji Restoration. The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Viscount" in the Meiji period.

• A cadet branch of the Ogasawara were daimyō in 1617 at Tatsuno Domain in Harima province; and in 1632, they were transferred as daimyō at Nakatsu Domain in Buzen province. In the period spanning the years 1716 through 1868, the descendants of this branch of the Ogasawara were daimyō at Anshi Domain (10,000 koku) in Harima province. The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Viscount" in the Meiji period.

• A cadet branch of the Ogasawara were daimyō in 1632 at Kizuki Domain in Bungo province; in 1645 at Yoshida Domain in Mikawa province; in 1697 at Iwatsuki Domain in Musashi province; in 1711 at Kakegawa Domain in Tōtōmi province; and in 1747 at Tanakura Domain in Mutsu province. Finally, in the years spanning 1817 through 1868, the descendants of this branch of the Ogasawara were daimyō at Karatsu Domain (60,000 koku) in Hizen province. The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Viscount" in the Meiji period.

• A cadet branch of the Ogasawara claim a line of descent from Takeda Yoshikiyo and also descent from Ogasawara Sadamune who had joined Nitta Yoshisada in overthrowing the Hōjō at Kamakura in the 14th century. This same Sadamune had been a general under Ashikaga Takauji. This branch of the Ogasawara were established in 1590 at Honjō Domain in Musashi province; in 1608 at Koga Domain in Shimōsa province; in 1619 at Sekiyado Domain in Shimōsa province; and in 1637 at Takasu Domain in Mino Province. In the years spanning 1691 through 1868, this branch of the Ogasawara were daimyō at Katsuyama (22,000 koku) in Echizen province. The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Viscount" in the Meiji period.