During the era of Toshisada ODA, the family was appointed to the shugodai of Owari in place of the head family by Yoshihiro SHIBA, the shugo (military governor) of Owari, and grasped the actual power in the Oda clan.
織田敏定の代に尾張守護斯波義寛を奉じて、宗家に代わり、尾張守護代に任じられたため、織田氏の実権を握り、主家を凌いで台頭した。