Azai Clan

Azai Clan

The Azai clan (浅井氏 Azai-shi) was a samurai clan of medieval Japan descended from the Fujiwara clan.

Active in the province of Ōmi they were initially servants of the Kyōgoku clan but later became independent. During the Sengoku period they opposed Oda Nobunaga in alliance with the Asakura clan.

They were badly defeated in the battle of Anegawa after which began their decline which ended in 1573 with the siege of Odani and the death of their last daimyō Azai Nagamasa.

Important members of the Azai Clan

  • Azai Naotane
  • Azai Naomasa
  • Azai Sukemasa 1495?-1546
  • Azai Hisamasa 1524?-1573
  • Azai Masahiro
  • Azai Nagamasa 1545-1573
  • Azai Masamoto
  • Azai Inori - relative of Nagamasa died in the siege of Odani in 1573
  • Azai Manpukumaru - son and heir of Nagamasa was executed at a young age by Oda Nobunaga in 1573 after the fall of Odani

Important servants of the Azai Clan

  • Tōdō Takatora
  • Anemori Yayoi
  • Atsuji Sadahide
  • Endō Naotsune
  • Higuchi Naofusa
  • Ishida Masatsugu
  • Isono Kazumasa
  • Kaihō Tsunachika
  • Miyabe Tsugimasu
  • Nomura Naotaka
  • Shinjō Naoyori
  • Akao Kiyotsuna

Important battles of Azai Clan

  • Battle of Norada (1560)
  • Battle of Kanegasaki (1570)
  • Battle of Anegawa (1570)
  • Siege of Odani (1573)
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