Amago clan

Amago 尼子
The emblem (mon) of the Amago clan
Home province	Izumo
Parent house	Sasaki clan
Titles	Various
Founder	Sasaki Takahisa
Final ruler	Amago Yoshihisa
Founding year	14th century
Ruled until	1566, Fall of Gassantoda Castle

The Amago clan (尼子氏, Amago-shi), descended from the Emperor Uda (868–897) by the Kyogoku clan, descending from the Sasaki clan (Uda Genji).

Kyogoku Takahisa in the 14th century, lived in Amako-go (Izumo Province), and took the name 'Amago'.^[1] The family crest is also the one of the Kyogoku clan.

They were Shugodai (vice-Governors) of Izumo and Oki provinces for generations, for the Kyogoku Shugo branch , and their seat was Gassan Toda castle.

In 1484, Amago Tsunehisa (1458–1541), was deprived of the position of Shugodai by Kyogoku Masatsune, who was the Shugo, because he did not obey the request of tax from the Muromachi bakufu, and was expelled from Gassan Toda castle. Although Enya Kamonnosuke was dispatched to Gassan Toda castle as the new Shugodai, Tsunehisa recaptured Gassan Toda castle by a surprise attack in 1486, took control of Izumo, and developed the Amago clan into a Sengoku Daimyo clan.

The Amago fought the Ōuchi clan or the Mōri clan (who had been among their vassals), during Japan's Sengoku period.^[1]

For much of the next hundred years, the clan battled with the Ōuchi and Mōri, who controlled neighboring provinces, and fell into decline when Gassantoda Castle fell to the Mōri in 1566.^[1]

Amago Katsuhisa tried to regain prestige for the clan by joining the forces of Oda Nobunaga, invaded Tajima and Inaba provinces, but was defeated and died in the siege of Kōzuki by the Mōri in 1578.