The Hatakeyama were descended from Taira Takamochi. As early supporters of the Ashikaga, they became very powerful as shûgo during the Muromachi Period. In the aftermath of the Ônin War, the Hatakeyama were much diminished and now represented by a number of scattered branches, the most notable of which resided in Kwatchi, Noto, and Mutsu. The Kwatchi-Hatakeyama were represented at the start of the 16th Century by two main branches issuing from Hatakeyama Mochikuni (d.1455). The more powerful of the two derived from Masanaga (d.1493). Masanaga had been adopted by Mochikuni when the latter had despaired of having any natural sons. When Mochikuni did in fact a sire a son (Yoshinari), he sought to disinherit Masanaga. A civil war ensued and the two branches were often at odds thereafter.