The Kitabatake (北畠家 Kitabatake-ka) family or Kitabatake (北畠氏 Kitabatake-shi) clan of Ise province were descendants of Emperor Murakami (926 - 967).
They were fervent supporters of Emperor Go-Daigo during the early Nanboku-chō period led by the loyal imperial Kitabatake Chikafusa (北畠親房; 1293-1354) and remained allies of the Southern Court throughout that period.
This branch of the Kitabatake were descendants of a son of Chikafusa, Kitabatake Akiyoshi ( 北畠顕能; died 1383).
A different branch of the clan called Namioka or Kitabatake-Namioka was founded by another son of Chikafusa, Kitabatake Akiie (北畠顕家; 1318-1338), and ruled in northern Mutsu Province.
During the Sengoku period Kitabatake Tomonori (北畠具教; 1528-1576), son of Harutomo (北畠晴具; 1503-1563), had to face the revolt of many servants against him. Oda Nobunaga ran to his aid by leading an army into the province and captured the castles of Kambe and Kuwana.
As a condition for the intervention and pacification of the province forced Tomonori to adopt his second son Nobuo (1569) who married his daughter to become his heir. In 1576 Tomonori fell ill and was assassinated so Nobuo became the new head of the clan.
Tomonori's son, Nobuoki, was later imprisoned and exiled by Nobuo.