Shimanto City (formerly Nakamura) flourished as a 'Little Kyoto of Tosa' under the Ichijo clan, Kyoto aristocrats who had fled the Onin War. In 1575, Chosokabe Motochika expelled the clan's lord, Ichijo Kanesada, to Iyo Province, seizing the city. Kanesada later attempted to retake it with the help of the Saionji clan of Iyo, but was defeated at the Battle of Watarida in 1576 and fled once more. The end of Ichijo rule in Tosa enabled Motochika to unify the entire province and opened the path toward his dream of ruling all of Shikoku.