Saito Dosan

Saito Dosan was a wealthy oil merchant hailing from around Kyoto who managed to become a Governor of Mino. He was known as the Viper of Mino due to his ruthlessness both on the battlefield and in administrating his domain.

Dosan used his position as retainer of Toki Yorinari, Governor of Mino, to oust him and take control of his domain. The neighboring lords of Owari, the Oda clan, were allied with the Toki clan and they clashed with Dosan in the Battle of Kanoguchi in 1547. Dosan was victorious and the victory brought him recognition across the nation. Dosan made a truce with the Oda clan through marriage of his daughter with a member of the Oda clan.

Dosan was ousted by his own son Yoshitatsu in a coup d’etat 1556. The two of them clashed in the Battle of Nagaragawa where Dosan ended his life.