The Akechi were related to the Toki family, whom they served until the latter fell to the Saitô; in the 1540's. The Akechi later served Oda Nobunaga and became well-known thanks to Akechi Mitsuhide, the capable Oda general who destroyed his master, Nobunaga, in June 1582. After Mitsuhide was defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Akechi largely disappeared from history.