Shimazu Katsuhisa, who presided over the Shimazu family, did not have a son and he was driven out by Shimazu Sanehisa, who was the head of another branch, the Sasshū (薩州家). Sanehisa then laid claim to be the head of the clan without being properly recognized by the rest of the families. Katsuhisa asked Shimazu Tadayoshi for help to regain his position, and Tadayoshi sent his son Shimazu Takahisa to be adopted by Katsuhisa as a condition for his help. In 1526, Katsuhisa handed over the position of the head of the family to Takahisa. However, it was not until 1539, at the Battle of Ichirai, when Tadayoshi defeated Katsuhisa (who would regain power later) that Takahisa came to be recognized by all members of the Shimazu clan as the head.