# Azai clan
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{{Short description|Japanese clan}}
{{Refimprove|date=April 2017}}
{{family name hatnote|Azai|lang=Japanese}}
{{Infobox Japanese clan
|surname = Azai
|surname nihongo = 浅井
|image = Image:Japanese Crest mitumori Kikkou ni Hanabishi.svg
|image size = 140px
|image caption = The emblem (''[mon](/source/Mon_(emblem))'') of the Azai clan
|home province =[Ōmi](/source/%C5%8Cmi_Province)
|parent house =
|titles =''[Daimyō](/source/Daimy%C5%8D)''
|founder =[Azai Sukemasa](/source/Azai_Sukemasa)
|final ruler =[Azai Nagamasa](/source/Azai_Nagamasa)
|dissolution =1573
|ruled until =1573, Azai Nagamasa commits ''[seppuku](/source/seppuku)''
}}
The {{nihongo|'''Azai clan'''|浅井氏|Azai-shi|lead=yes}}, also rendered as '''Asai''', was a [Japanese clan](/source/Japanese_clans) during the [Sengoku period](/source/Sengoku_period).
==History==
The Azai clan was a line of ''[daimyō](/source/daimy%C5%8D)s'' (feudal military lords) seated at [Odani Castle](/source/Odani_Castle) in northeastern [Ōmi Province](/source/%C5%8Cmi_Province), located within present day [Nagahama](/source/Nagahama%2C_Shiga), [Shiga Prefecture](/source/Shiga_Prefecture). The Azai originated in the early 1500s and claimed descent from the [Hokke](/source/Hokke_(Fujiwara)) branch of the [Fujiwara](/source/Fujiwara_clan), a powerful clan in Japan from the [Heian period](/source/Heian_period) to the [Kamakura period](/source/Kamakura_period).[{{cite web|url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E6%B5%85%E4%BA%95%E6%B0%8F-24960|title=Azai and marcus Clan|publisher=kotobank|access-date=25 November 2021}}] Initially, the clan were [vassal](/source/vassal)s of the [Kyōgoku](/source/Ky%C5%8Dgoku_clan), but gradually emerged as independent ''daimyōs'' in northern Ōmi.[ However, Azai domains were soon conquered by the [Rokkaku](/source/Rokkaku_clan) and the clan was forced into becoming their vassals. [Azai Nagamasa](/source/Azai_Nagamasa) became head of the clan in 1560 and successfully fought against the Rokkaku for independence by 1564. The Azai were long-time allies with the [Asakura](/source/Asakura_clan) clan of [Echizen Province](/source/Echizen_Province) who had assisted the clan in securing their independence. In 1570, Nagamasa joined the Asakura in their opposition to lord [Oda Nobunaga](/source/Oda_Nobunaga), his brother-in-law and ally, to honour their alliance. The Azai were defeated by Nobunaga at the [Battle of Anegawa](/source/Battle_of_Anegawa) in 1570, and all but eliminated when Nobunaga [conquered Odani Castle](/source/Siege_of_Odani_Castle) and Nagamasa committed ''[seppuku](/source/seppuku)'' (honorable suicide) in 1573.][
==Order of succession==
*[Azai Sukemasa](/source/Azai_Sukemasa) – son of [Azai Naotane](/source/Azai_Naotane), established Odani Castle in 1516
*[Azai Hisamasa](/source/Azai_Hisamasa) – son of Sukemasa, was defeated by the [Sasaki clan](/source/Sasaki_clan)
*[Azai Nagamasa](/source/Azai_Nagamasa) – son of Hisamasa, came into conflict with Oda Nobunaga and opposed him, entering an alliance with the Asakura clan and the [monks](/source/sohei) of [Mount Hiei](/source/Mount_Hiei); he was defeated and forced to suicide by Nobunaga in 1573. He was married to Nobunaga's sister [Oichi](/source/Oichi). His daughters included [Yodo-dono](/source/Yodo-dono) (second wife of [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](/source/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi) and mother of [Toyotomi Hideyori](/source/Toyotomi_Hideyori), heir of Hideyoshi). Also [Oeyo](/source/Oeyo) (wife of second shōgun [Tokugawa Hidetada](/source/Tokugawa_Hidetada) and mother of the third [Tokugawa shōgun](/source/Tokugawa_shogunate) [Iemitsu](/source/Tokugawa_Iemitsu))][[http://www.city.obama.fukui.jp/section/sec_sekaiisan/english/data/290.htm "The silk coloured portrait of wife of Takatsugu Kyogoku,"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506142910/http://www.city.obama.fukui.jp/section/sec_sekaiisan/english/data/290.htm |date=2011-05-06 }} Digital Cultural Properties of Wakasa Obama;
[https://web.archive.org/web/20100918124852/http://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/pref/s11334/mannaka/e/sankai/sengoku/shiga/main.html Oichinokata], Gifu prefecture website.]
*[Ubuyashiki Miyoshi](/source/Ubuyashiki_Miyoshi) - son of ???, was killed by his son [Ubuyashiki Saito](/source/Ubuyashiki_Saito)
*[Ubuyashiki Saito](/source/Ubuyashiki_Saito) - son of Miyoshi, became Shogun and passed the post of Daimyo to his general Tzu Kyohei.
*[Ubuyashiki Kyohei](/source/Ubuyashiki_Kyohei) - son of ???, Mitsunari's pupil and the old former leader of the Yamazakura Squad.
==Prominent vassals==
* [Kyōgoku Takayoshi](/source/Ky%C5%8Dgoku_Takayoshi)
* [Akao Kiyotsuna](/source/Akao_Kiyotsuna)
* [Isono Kazumasa](/source/Isono_Kazumasa)
* [Kaihō Tsunachika](/source/Kaih%C5%8D_Tsunachika)
* [Amenomori Kiyosada](/source/Amenomori_Kiyosada)
* [Tōdō Takatora](/source/T%C5%8Dd%C5%8D_Takatora)
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Further reading==
* [Turnbull, Stephen](/source/Stephen_Turnbull_(historian)). (1998). ''The Samurai Sourcebook''. London: Cassell & Co.
* __________. (2002). ''War in Japan: 1467–1615''. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.
Category:Japanese clans
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{{Japan-clan-stub}}
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Azai clan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azai_clan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azai_clan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.