The family heads of the grand master of the Date clan was granted the title of shosho (major general) for generations, a special treatment for tozama daimyo (nonhereditary feudal lord), and the family was among the few which were allowed to marry to a princess of the shogun family.
伊達宗家の当主は少将に任ぜられ、外様大名の中では別格の扱いを受け、将軍家から降嫁がある数少ない家のひとつとされた。