In the [[Sengoku period]], the family expanded its shrine lands (''shinryô'', lit. "[[kami]] territories"), maintained a band of warriors known as ''shinpei'' ("soldiers of the ''kami''" or "divine soldiers"), and built at least one notable fortification. They further secured their power through strategic marriages with the [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo clan]]. One such marriage was between the powerful [[Christianity|Christian]] ''daimyô'' [[Otomo Sorin|Ôtomo Sôrin]] and a daughter of [[Nata Akimoto]], known to us today only as "[[Otomo Nata Jezebel|Jezebel]]" (d. [[1587]]), an epithet given to her by the [[Jesuits]] for her active opposition to the spread of Christianity. Several members of the family at that time (including Akimoto's son [[Tawara Chikakata|Chikakata]]) were adopted into the [[Tawara clan|Tawara family]], another vassal family of the Ôtomo. | In the [[Sengoku period]], the family expanded its shrine lands (''shinryô'', lit. "[[kami]] territories"), maintained a band of warriors known as ''shinpei'' ("soldiers of the ''kami''" or "divine soldiers"), and built at least one notable fortification. They further secured their power through strategic marriages with the [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo clan]]. One such marriage was between the powerful [[Christianity|Christian]] ''daimyô'' [[Otomo Sorin|Ôtomo Sôrin]] and a daughter of [[Nata Akimoto]], known to us today only as "[[Otomo Nata Jezebel|Jezebel]]" (d. [[1587]]), an epithet given to her by the [[Jesuits]] for her active opposition to the spread of Christianity. Several members of the family at that time (including Akimoto's son [[Tawara Chikakata|Chikakata]]) were adopted into the [[Tawara clan|Tawara family]], another vassal family of the Ôtomo. |