Changes

* ''Died: [[1582]]''

* ''Died: [[1582]]''

Ukita Naoie’s origins were humble even for an upstart sengoku Daimyo. In [[1545]], the Ukita were vassals of [[Urakami Munekage]], a relatively powerful lord in [[Bizen Province|Bizen]] whose own family had secured independence from the Akamatsu through a revolt in [[1521]]. The Urakami, who ruled from the mountain castle Tenjinyama, shared Bizen with the Matsuda, who were powerful in the western half of the province.  

Ukita Naoie’s origins were humble even for an upstart sengoku Daimyo. In [[1545]], the Ukita were vassals of [[Urakami Munekage]], a relatively powerful lord in [[Bizen Province|Bizen]] whose own family had secured independence from the Akamatsu through a revolt in [[1521]]. The [[Urakami clan|Urakami]], who ruled from the mountain castle Tenjinyama, shared Bizen with the Matsuda, who were powerful in the western half of the province.  

Naoie’s father had displeased Munekage in some way and was executed. His young son Naoie was spared and in 1545 received a small fort on the shore of the Inland Sea, together with a 30-man garrison. The details of the next few years have been largely lost to history, but suffice it so say, the Ukita began an unlikely but inexorable climb to local power. Naoie expanded his lands through both conquest and alliance, all the while careful to maintain a veneer of loyalty to the Urakami. Thanks in good measure to the efforts of the Ukita, Urakami Munekage reached the height of his power in the [[1550]]’s.  

Naoie’s father had displeased Munekage in some way and was executed. His young son Naoie was spared and in 1545 received a small fort on the shore of the Inland Sea, together with a 30-man garrison. The details of the next few years have been largely lost to history, but suffice it so say, the Ukita began an unlikely but inexorable climb to local power. Naoie expanded his lands through both conquest and alliance, all the while careful to maintain a veneer of loyalty to the Urakami. Thanks in good measure to the efforts of the Ukita, Urakami Munekage reached the height of his power in the [[1550]]’s.  

By [[1568]] Naoie had destroyed the Matsuda, and now turned on his masters, albeit indirectly. Naoie was the most powerful of the Urakami’s vassals, many of whom were becoming openly rebellious or simply apathetic. Munekage had little choice but to turn to Naoie to check their activities, a role the Ukita fulfilled well, all the while steadily eroding the Urakami power base.  

By [[1568]] Naoie had destroyed the Matsuda, and now turned on his masters, albeit indirectly. Naoie was the most powerful of the Urakami’s vassals, many of whom were becoming openly rebellious or simply apathetic. Munekage had little choice but to turn to Naoie to check their activities, a role the Ukita fulfilled well, all the while steadily eroding the Urakami power base.