Sakai clan
After Tokugawa Ieyasu took control over the Kantō region in 1590, he assigned Hiraiwa Chikayoshi , one of his most trusted generals, as castellan. However, in 1601, Sakai Shigetada was installed as "daimyō" of Maebashi, initially with a "kokudaka" of 33,000 "koku". The Sakai clan ruled over the next seven generations, completely rebuilding Maebashi Castle on higher ground with multiple baileys and a three-story "tenshu". During the Sakai tenure, the revenues of the domain increased to 150,000 "koku", prior to their transfer in 1749 to Himeji Domain.