Background
Yoshiakira was the son of the founder and first shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, Ashikaga Takauji. His mother was and Akahashi Tōshi, also known as and Hōjō Tōshi. His father Takauji joined forces with the banished Emperor Go-Daigo.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Ashikaga Yoshiakira
Edit Profile足利 義詮
Career
He spent his childhood in Kamakura as a hostage of the Hōjō clan. The Kamakura shogunate was overthrown, and Go-Daigo began the process which came to be known as the Kenmu Restoration. Yoshiakira assisted Nitta Yoshisada (1301–1338) in his attack on the Kamakura shogunate.
In 1349, an internal disturbance of the government caused Yoshiakira to be called back to Kyoto, where he found himself named as Takauji"s heir.
On 5 April 1352, Loyalist forces led by Kitabatake Akiyoshi, Kusunoki Masanori and Chigusa Akitsune occupied Kyoto for twenty days before Yoshiakira was able to retake the city. Loyalist forces led by Masanori and Yamana Tokiuji captured Kyoto again in July 1353, but were repulsed by Yoshiakira in August
In January 1355, Loyalist forces led by Momonoi, Tadafuyu, and Yamana captured Kyoto again.
However, Kyoto was recaptured on 25 April by Takauji"s and Yoshiakira"s combined forces. Yoshiakira succeeded his father Takauji as Seii Taishogun after his death in 1358.
Significant events shape the period during which Yoshiakira was shogun:
1358 – Takauji dies. Yoshiakira appointed shogun.
Dissention and defections in shogunate.
1362 – Hosokawa Kiyouji and Kusunoki Masanori attack Kyoto, Yoshiakira flees, but regains the capital in twenty days. 1365 – Emperor Go-Daigo"s son, Prince Kaneyoshi (also known as Kanenaga) gains control of Kyushu. Yoshiakira was posthumously named 宝篋院 (Hōkyōin), and his grave is at Tōji-in, Kyoto, at the same site as his father"s grave.
The years in which Yoshiakira was shogun are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.
Nanboku-chō southern court
Eras as reckoned by legitimate Court (as determined by Meiji rescript):
Shōhei (1346–1370)
Nanboku-chō northern Court
Eras as reckoned by pretender Court (as determined by Meiji rescript):
Enbun (1356–1361)
Kōan (1361–1362)
Jōji (1362–1368).
