Date clan

The Date kamon.

In 1189 Isa (Fujiwara) Tomomune was awarded the Date district of Mutsu province by Minamoto no Yoritomo for loyal service and adopted the name of his new home. In the Nanboku-chô period in the 14th and 15th centuries the Date initially fought for the Southern Court but eventually submitted to the Ashikaga clan. They expanded their influence during the Sengoku Period and reached their height under Date Masamune (1566-1636). The Date ruled Sendai han throughout the Edo period, while a branch family, also maintaining the name Date, ruled the smaller Uwajima han in Iyo province on Shikoku.

References

• Initial text from Sengoku Biographical Dictionary (Samurai-Archives.com) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005