Akita clan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Akita clan (秋田氏 Akita-shi) is a Japanese clans of daimyō.
The Ando (Their old name) is a clan of medieval Japan which was installed in the Tsugaru of the Mutsu Province to trade with Ainu. They had administrated of Ezo as the penal colony as Hōjō clan's vassal at the beginning of the 13th century. The clan claims to go down from Abe no Sadato.
In Sengoku period Ando clan was driven out by Nanbu clan, and migrated to neighbor province Dewa.
Chikasue changed clan's name from his government post name into Akita.
It was Akita Sanesue who was the first Akita daimyo during the Edo period. However, Sanesue lost his land and was sent to Shishido in Hitachi in 1602 by Tokugawa by performing very poorly during the Sekigahara Campaign.
The Akita survived as daimyo during the Edo period, becoming lords of Miharu han (Mutsu Province, 50,000 koku).
The Akita were signatories to the pact that formed the Ouetsu Reppan Domei in 1868.
After Meiji Restoration the system of han and daimyo was abolished. The Akita was titled as Viscount.
