The family served as Mino no kuni Shugo (a provincial constable of Mino Province) from the Muromachi to the Sengoku (Warring states) Periods, and finally became Shugo daimyo (a provincial constable who became a feudal lord) of Mino, Owari, and Ise Provinces.
室町時代から戦国時代(日本)にかけて美濃国守護を務め、最盛期には美濃、尾張国、伊勢国の三ヶ国の守護大名となった。