Saitō Yoshitatsu (斎藤 義龍, 8 July 1527 – 23 June 1561) or Toki Yoshitatsu was a Japanese samurai during the Sengoku period.^[1] He proved a capable commander and was able to defeat attempts by Oda Nobunaga to avenge Dôsan's death, but died of his illness in 1561.

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Quick Facts Head of, Preceded by ...

Saitō Yoshitatsu 斎藤 義龍
Portrait of Saitō Yoshitatsu
Head of Saitō clan
In office 1556–1561
Preceded by	Saitō Dōsan
Succeeded by	Saitō Tatsuoki
Personal details
Born	8 July 1527
Died	June 23, 1561(1561-06-23) (aged 33)
Relations	Saitō Dōsan (adopted father)
Children	Saitō Tatsuoki
Parent	Toki Yoshiyori (father)
Military service
Allegiance	Saitō clan
Battles/wars	Battle of Nagara-gawa (1556)

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Yoshitatsu was the son of Saitō Dōsan. However, rumors that Yoshitatsu was in fact not Dōsan's real son (that is, that he was actually the son of Toki Yorinari (Toki Yoshiyori), the shugo of Mino Province who Dōsan displaced in influence) persisted--with Dōsan apparently considering naming one of his other sons, Nagatatsu, as heir. Yoshitatsu had come to suspect his father's intentions. Though he actually did suffer from leprosy, Yoshitatsu feigned illness and murdered his two younger brothers in 1555, declaring war on Dōsan.

In May 1556, at the Battle of Nagara-gawa, Yoshitatsu led an army to the Nagara river, prompting Dōsan to take up a position on the opposite side of the river. Yoshitatsu's vanguard opened the attack by crossing the river and cutting deeply into Dosan's ranks. They nearly reached Dōsan's headquarters before being savaged by a counterattack. Yoshitatsu then led the bulk of his forces across the river. In the course of the fighting, Dōsan was killed.

Yoshitatsu thereafter assumed control of Mino until he died in 1561. Yoshitatsu's son, Saitō Tatsuoki, was defeated by Oda Nobunaga in 1567 at the Siege of Inabayama; and the clan disappeared.^[1]