Uesugi Sadazane

Uesugi Sadazane was the governor (shugo) of Echigo Province in the Sengoku period. He came from the Jōjō Uesugi family, and his father is said to have been Uesugi Fusazane (one theory names Uesugi Sadatoshi). His birth year is unknown; he died on the 26th day of the 2nd month of Tenbun 19 (1550). His Buddhist name was Gensei.

Becoming governor

He was a cousin of Uesugi Fusayoshi, and in 1503 he married Fusayoshi's daughter. In 1507 he was installed by Nagao Tamekage, who overthrew Fusayoshi, and became governor in 1508, but real power lay with Tamekage and his position was that of a figurehead.

Relations with Tamekage

When Uesugi Akisada invaded Echigo in 1509, he fled to Etchū with Tamekage, returned in 1510, and defeated Akisada at Naganomorihara. In 1513 he tried with Usami Fusatada and his son Sadamitsu, Jōjō Sadanori and others to oppose Tamekage, failed, and was briefly confined. In 1536 anti-Tamekage forces led by Jōjō Sadanori forced Tamekage into retirement, and because Tamekage's successor Nagao Harukage had weak authority, Sadazane's influence recovered somewhat.

The adoption question with the Date

Around 1538 Sadazane sought to adopt Tokimunemaru (later Date Sanemoto), son of Date Tanemune, and Tamekage supported this. In 1539 Date forces entered the Honjō domain and disputes arose among local lords. In 1542 Sadazane sent an oath to Harukage (some see this as coerced). Preparations were made for Tokimunemaru's entry into Echigo, but the plan was cancelled because of the Date family's Tenbun Disturbance.

After his death

Sadazane had no heir, and the main line of the Echigo governors ended with his death in 1550. Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru had Nagao Kagetora (later Uesugi Kenshin) act in the governor's stead. Katagiri Akihiko proposes that a successor could have come from another branch but was passed over to avoid renewed conflict between the Nagao and the Uesugi family.