They treated the vassals and Kokujin ryoshu, who had no blood relations, as equals to family members by conferring them the title of 'ikka' or 'ichimon' in an attempt to maintain their leading position in the organization.
また非血縁関係の家臣・国人領主たちに「一家」・「一門」などの称号を与えて自己の一族扱いをしてゆく事によって組織における指導的地位を確保しようとした。