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The Oda of [[Owari province]] were originally retainers of the [[Shiba clan|Shiba]] [[Shugo|shûgo]] family (starting from around 1400). When the Shiba's power dwindled in the early Sengoku Period, the Oda became lords of Owari, though nominal respect was shown the Shiba lord until the 1550's. Two main rival factions of the Oda, known as the Kiyosu and Iwakura branches, contended for decades, with the Kiyosu faction, eventually led by Oda Nobunaga, becoming dominant by [[1555]]. The Oda rose rapidly with Nobunaga's drive for national hegemony but lost most of its influence following his death. The Oda's roots are obscure and while Nobunaga claimed [[Taira clan|Taira]] descent, this was and is impossible to confirm. In fact, it is unclear just how the Iwakura and Kiyosu Oda had been related.

The Oda of [[Owari province]] were originally retainers of the [[Shiba clan|Shiba]] [[Shugo|shûgo]] family (starting from around 1400). When the Shiba's power dwindled in the early Sengoku Period, the Oda became lords of Owari, though nominal respect was shown the Shiba lord until the 1550's. Two main rival factions of the Oda, known as the Kiyosu and Iwakura branches, contended for decades, with the Kiyosu faction, eventually led by Oda Nobunaga, becoming dominant by [[1555]]. The Oda rose rapidly with Nobunaga's drive for national hegemony but lost most of its influence following his death. The Oda's roots are obscure and while Nobunaga claimed [[Taira clan|Taira]] descent, this was and is impossible to confirm. In fact, it is unclear just how the Iwakura and Kiyosu Oda had been related.

In the [[Edo period]], the Oda clan had divided into four houses. One of these, descended from Nobunaga's brother [[Oda Uraku]], and headed in [[1852]] by [[Oda Nobuakira]], became at that time the only one of the four houses to be granted "castle holder" (''shiro-nushi'') status.<ref>Ogawa Kyôichi 小川恭一, ''Shogun omemie sahô'' 将軍お目見え作法, Tokyojin 東京人 (1995/1), 84.</ref>

In the [[Edo period]], the Oda clan had divided into four houses. One of these, descended from Nobunaga's brother [[Oda Uraku]], became the only one of the four houses to be granted "castle holder" (''shiro-nushi'') status.<ref>Ogawa Kyôichi 小川恭一, ''Shogun omemie sahô'' 将軍お目見え作法, Tokyojin 東京人 (1995/1), 84.</ref>