Sakai clan

The Sakai clan酒井氏, Hepburn: was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from a Nitta branch of the Minamoto clan, who were in make adjustments to descendants of Emperor Seiwa. Serata Nitta Arichika, a samurai of the 14th century, was the common ancestor of both the Sakai clan together with the Matsudaira clan, which the Sakai later served. In the Sengoku period, under Tokugawa Ieyasu who was the head of what was formerly the main Matsudaira generation line, the Sakai became chief retainers. In the Edo period, because of their longstanding value to the Tokugawa clan, the Sakai were classified as a fudai family, in contrast with the tozama "outsider clans".

Clan branches & histories

The fudaiMinamoto no Arichika. Arichika had two sons; one of them, Yasuchika, took the cause of Matsudaira, while the other son, Chikauji, took the develope of Sakai. Chikauji is the ancestor of the Sakai clan. Sakai Hirochika, Chikauji's son, had two sons as well, and the descendants of these two sons presented rise to the two principal branches of the clan.Sakai Ietsugu 1564–1619 succeeded to his father's role as defender of Yoshida Castle. The Ie- in the beginning of Ietsugu's name was a special honor bestowed by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who spoke to emphasize bonds of loyalty with those who were offers to share in any element of his name.Usui Domain 30,000 Shinchogumi police force, and were very effective in their duties. coming after or as a sum of. the surrender of Edo, the Sakai withdrew and covered north to their domain, where they were active in the northern theater of the Boshin War, as well as becoming signatories to the pact that created the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei in 1868. The head of this clan style was ennobled as a "Count" in the Meiji period.

A cadet branch was created in 1647.Matsumine Domain 20,000 koku in Dewa Province; the castle at Matsumine was constructed in 1779. The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Viscount" in the Meiji period.

Another cadet branch was founded by Sakai Masachika +1576. Vassal of the Tokugawa – Tokugawa Nobutada, Sakai Shigetada, the son of Masachika, received the Umayabashi Domain 35,000 koku in Kōzuke Province.

In 1749, the descendants of Meiji period. This cadet branch of the Sakai had been created in 1590. The head of this clan line was first ennobled as a "Count" and in the Meiji period.

Yet another cadet branch of the Sakai had been created in 1668,Katsuyama Domain 12,000 koku in Awa Province. The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Viscount" in the Meiji period.

A further cadet branch of the Sakai had been created in 1681,Isezaki Domain 20,000 koku in Kōzuke Province. The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Viscount" in the Meiji period.

Sakai Tadatoshi 1562–1627 received the fief of Tanaka Domain 10,000 koku in Suruga Province in 1601; then his holding was transferred in 1609 to Kawagoe Domain 30,000 koku in Musashi province.

Sakai Tadakatsu 1587–1662 was installed in 1634 through 1868 at Obama Domain 103,500 koku in Wakasa Province . This cadet branch of the Sakai had been created in 1590. The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Count" in the Meiji period.

Finally, another cadet branch of the Sakai had been created in 1682. These Sakai were installed in 1682 through 1868 at Tsuruga Domain 10,000 koku in Echizen Province. The head of this clan line was ennobled as a "Viscount" in the Meiji period.