Traditionally, the tozama were objects of Tokugawa mistrust, and though territorially strong, these lords could never hope to fudai colleagues. Nevertheless, even the tozama benefited from long-term changes. By 1700, it was no longer feasible for any group of daimyo to foment rebellion. Long periods of cohabitation in Edo, a city which was birthplace and childhood home of most of the domainal lords as well as the scene of their later compulsory residences, of outlook among them, and between them and ranking members of the Tokugawa lineage. Marriage and adoption, the later being freely used to ensure that no daimyo family should die out for lack of heirs, worked to the same end. Before long, many of the military lords were related to each other several times over, and similar links bound them to the Kyoto nobility and the Tokugawa house itself.
