Elites among Nobunaga's horse guards and pages were chosen as his personal bodyguards known as "red guards" and "black guards" and many of these bodyguards were promoted to the position of troop commander.
信長の馬廻・小姓の精鋭は赤・黒二色の母衣衆に抜擢され、そこから部隊の指揮官に昇進した例も多い。