User:Mimiesouris/Hikoshiro Saito

Saito Hikoshiro (birth and death years unknown) was a military commander during the Sengoku period. He served as the Mino Shugodai (Deputy Governor of Mino). He was the third son of Saito Myojun, who was the second head of the Saito family. His elder brothers were Toshichika and Matajiro, and he had sisters who married into the families of Asakura Sadakage and Kyogoku Takakiyo.

When his elder brother Matajiro passed away in Meio 8 (1499), he became the 5th head of the Saito family. In Eisho 3 (1506), he received a letter from the 11th shogun, Ashikaga Yoshizumi, addressed to "Saito Hikoshiro to no he," confirming his position as the Mino Shugodai (Deputy Governor of Mino).

In the 9th year of Eisho (1512), Hikoshiro had a conflict with the Shugo Tōki Masafusa and temporarily fled to Owari. With the support of the Oda clan, he returned to Mino and took refuge in the Sumōtaki Castle. However, he was defeated by the forces of Masafusa and his nephew Daikokumaru (Matashiro's beraved child) and around August 23-24, he fled back to Owari again.

In the 14th year of Eisho (1517), a conflict erupted in Mino over the successor to Masafusa. On December 27th, it finally escalated into a battle. Hikoshiro's nephew, Saito Toshinaga (the child of his eldest brother Toshichika), supported the eldest son, Yoritake, in the battle, while Masafusa and the Koshugodai, Nagai Nagahiro, backed the second son, Yorinari. The Yoritake faction emerged victorious in this battle. After the conflict, Hikoshiro secretly contacted the Yorinari faction, and on August 10th in the 15th year of Eisho (1518), another battle erupted. As a result of this second battle, Hikoshiro emerged victorious and returned to Mino, while Yoritake and Saito Toshinaga sought refuge with the Asakura clan in Echizen.

In the 16th year of Eisho (1519) on June 16th, after Masafusa's passing, the position of Mino's Shugo became vacant. At that time, Asakura Takakage (also known as Sojun) instructed his brother, Asakura Kagetaka, to lead an expedition to Mino. Accompanied by Yoritake and Toshinagawith an army of 3,000 soldiers, Kagetaka invaded Mino and achieved consecutive victories, ultimately securing Yoritake's appointment as the Shugo. During this period, it is believed that Hikoshiro either fell out of favor or perished in battle.

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