Background
He was born to warrior monk Hōjō Tokiuji and a daughter of Adachi Kagemori.
北条時頼
He was born to warrior monk Hōjō Tokiuji and a daughter of Adachi Kagemori.
Immediately after the succession, he crushed a coup plot by former shogun Kujō Yoritsune and Tokiyori"s relative Nagoe Mitsutoki. In the next year, he let Adachi Kagemori destroy the powerful Miura clan in the Battle of Hochi. In 1252, he replaced Shogun Kujō Yoritsugu with Prince Munetaka, and so successfully solidified the power base.
Tokiyori has been praised for his good administration.
He worked on reforms mainly by writing various regulations. He reduced service of the vassals to guard Kyoto.
He worked toward resolving the increasing land disputes of his vassals. In 1249, he set up the legal system of Hikitsuke or High Court.
In 1252, he started to make policies at private meetings held at his residence instead of discussing at Hyōjō (評定), the council of the shogunate.
He continued to rule in fact but without any official position. This is considered the beginning of tokusō dictatorship. There are a number of legends that Tokiyori traveled incognito throughout Japan to inspect actual conditions and improve the lives of the people.
Tokiyori died in 1263 at the age of 36.