They joined the western army in the Onin War, protecting General Yoshikado SHIBA, the heir of the Shiba clan, from the Shibukawa clan, but at the suggestion of Katsumoto HOSOKAWA, who held the title of Kanrei (deputy to the shogun) and was leader of the eastern army, they were appointed successors to the Echizen Shugo as a reward for going over to the eastern army, thus becoming Shugo.
応仁の乱では西軍に加担し、渋川氏から斯波氏を相続した斯波義廉を大将に守り立てていたが、東軍の総帥、管領　細川勝元の誘引により、東軍寝返りの見返りに越前守護に補任され、守護となった。