[1][2] The clan reached its greatest influence under the rule of Takeda Shingen, one of the most famous rulers of the period.

[citation needed] In the 12th century, at the end of the Heian period, the Takeda family-controlled Kai Province.

Along with a number of other families, they supported their cousin Minamoto no Yoritomo against the Taira clan in the Genpei War (1180–85).

Takeda Nobumitsu (1162–1248), son of Nobuyoshi, fought against the Taira, against Kiso Yoshinaka (1184), distinguished himself in the Battle of Ichinotani (1184), and was appointed Shugo (Governor) of Kai province.

During the Jōkyū War, he helped the Hōjō, and led 50,000 soldiers as 'Daishogun of the Tosando' , and in reward received the governorship of Aki province (1221).

[citation needed] Immediately prior to the Sengoku period, the Takeda helped to suppress the Rebellion of Uesugi Zenshū (1416–1417).

[citation needed] Takeda Harunobu (1521 – 1573) succeeded his father Nobutora in 1540 and became shugo lord of Kai Province in present-day Yamanashi Prefecture.

He faced the Hōjō clan a number of times, and most of his expansion was to the north, where he fought his most famous battles against Uesugi Kenshin.

There was already a trend at this time towards larger infantry-based armies, including a large number of foot archers.

After Nagashino, the Takeda clan fell into sharp decline as it had lost many of its most notable samurai during the battle.

[1] The Kōshū Hatto, composed at some point in the 15th century, is the code of law of the Takeda family,[9] while the Kōyō Gunkan, composed largely by Kōsaka Masanobu in the mid-16th century, is an epic poem recording the family's history and Shingen's innovations in military tactics.

Takeda Shingen and his peasant doppelgänger are the main subjects of Kagemusha, directed by Akira Kurosawa.

The character Miku Nakano from the anime and manga series The Quintessential Quintuplets is shown to have an obsession with Takeda Shingen.

The Soldier in Team Fortress 2 has a weapon called the Concheror that includes the Takeda clan's Kamon.