Changes

[[Image:Maeda_mon.jpg|left|thumb|The Maeda kamon.]]

[[File:Maeda-jinbaori.jpg|right|thumb|320px|An 18th or early 19th century ''[[jinbaori]]'' bearing the Maeda crest]]

* ''Japanese'': 前田 ''(Maeda)''

* ''Japanese'': [[前田]] 家 ''(Maeda ke)''

The origins of the Maeda clan is not known, though in Toshiie's time it was said they descended from [[Sugawara Michizane]], hence the plum-blossom family crest. However, historically they came from the village of Arako (now in Nagoya City) in [[Owari province]].

The origins of the Maeda clan is not known, though in Toshiie's time it was said they descended from [[Sugawara Michizane]], hence the plum-blossom family crest. However, historically they came from the village of Arako (now in Nagoya City) in [[Owari province]].

Maeda Toshiie served [[Oda Nobunaga]], fighting under Nobunaga's general [[Shibata Katsuie]] in the [[Hokuriku]], and was given land in [[Echizen province]], then in [[Noto province]]. After surrendering to [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Hideyoshi]] in [[1583]] he was given land in [[Kaga province]] that included Kanazawa. Kanazawa was to the the seat of the clan for almost 300 years. In 1585 he was also given land in [[Etchu province|Etchû province]].

Maeda Toshiie served [[Oda Nobunaga]], fighting under Nobunaga's general [[Shibata Katsuie]] in the [[Hokuriku]], and was given land in [[Echizen province]], then in [[Noto province]]. After surrendering to [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Hideyoshi]] in [[1583]] he was given land in [[Kaga province]] that included Kanazawa. Kanazawa was to the the seat of the clan for almost 300 years. In 1585 he was also given land in [[Etchu province|Etchû province]].

Toshiie's son Toshinaga sided with [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] during the [[Battle of Sekigahara|Sekigahara]] campaign and received the areas of Kaga that he did not have already. Thus, during the [[Edo period]] the Maeda clan ruled the three provinces of Kaga, Noto, and Etchû, which meant that their koku-daka was over one million koku (百万石), the largest among the daimyo. When Maeda Toshitsune retired he established branch houses through two of his younger sons and created sub-fiefs for them--Daishôji 大聖寺 (70,000 koku) in Kaga and Toyama 富山 (100,000 koku) in Etchû. These fiefs continued thus until the [[Meiji Restoration]].

Toshiie's son Toshinaga sided with [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] during the [[Battle of Sekigahara|Sekigahara]] campaign and received the areas of Kaga that he did not have already. Thus, during the [[Edo period]] the Maeda clan ruled the three provinces of Kaga, Noto, and Etchû, which meant that their ''[[kokudaka]]'' was over one million ''[[koku]]'' (百万石), the largest among the ''daimyô''. When Maeda Toshitsune retired he established branch houses through two of his younger sons and created sub-fiefs for them--[[Daishoji han|Daishôji]] 大聖寺 (70,000 ''koku'') in Kaga and [[Toyama han|Toyama]] 富山 (100,000 ''koku'') in Etchû. These fiefs continued thus until the [[Meiji Restoration]].

The Maeda clan was a [[tozama]] clan, but it was considered close to the shogunate, and the head was entitled to use the name "Matsudaira," the name of Tokugawa branch families, ceremonially.

The Maeda clan was a ''[[tozama]]'' clan, but it was considered close to the shogunate, and the head was entitled to use the name "[[Matsudaira clan|Matsudaira]]," the name of [[Matsudaira clan|Tokugawa branch families]], ceremonially.

==Clan Members==

==Selected Clan Members==

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*[[Maeda Toshiie]] 利家  (1538-1599) <br>

*[[Maeda Toshiie]] 利家  (1538-1599) <br>

The founder of the clan

The founder of the clan

*[[Maeda Matsu]] (Hôshun-in) 芳春院 （まつ) (1547-1617) <br>

*[[Maeda Matsu]] (Hôshun-in) 芳春院 （まつ) (1547-1617) <br>

Wife of Toshiie

Wife of Toshiie

*[[Maeda Toshimasa]] 利政 (1578-1633)<br>

*[[Maeda Toshimasa]] 利政 (1578-1633)<br>

Second son of Toshiie; sided against Ieyasu in 1600

Second son of Toshiie; sided against Ieyasu in 1600

*[[Maeda Toshitsune]]  利常(1593-1658)<br>

*[[Maeda Toshitsune]]  利常 (1593-1658)<br>

Son of Toshiie; adopted son and successor of Toshinaga

Son of Toshiie; adopted son and successor of Toshinaga

*[[Tama-hime]] 珠姫　(1599-1622) <br>

*[[Tama-hime]] 珠姫　(1599-1622) <br>

Daughter of [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]; married Toshitsune in [[1601]] (sic!).

Also known as Nene-hime 子々姫. Daughter of [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]; married Toshitsune in [[1601]].

*[[Maeda Mitsumasa]] (1613-1645)<br>

*[[Maeda Toshiharu (d. 1660)|Maeda Toshiharu]] 利治 (1618-1660) <br>

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