Page 62 - History of War - Issue 05-14

SHOGUN WARRIORS

ASHIKAGA TAKAUJI ASHIKAGA YOSHIAKI

JAPAN’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL HISTORICAL FIGURE FROM MONK TO SHOGUN
1537-1597
1305-1358 Yoshiaki was the 15th and final shogun of the Ashikaga
Y

oshiaki w
as the 15th and final shogun of the Ashikaga
According to Zen master Mus¯o Soseski, the founder and first
shogunate, reigning from 1568 to 1573. After the murder
shogunate, reigning from 1568 to 1573. After the murder
shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate had three major qualities:
of his elder brother, he duly left his role as Abbott of the
of his elder brother, he duly left his role as Abbott of the
he always kept his cool in battle and was not afraid of death;
monastery in Nara, and replaced the two-year-old, Ashikaga
he was merciful and tolerant; and he was extremely generous with monastery in Nara, and replaced the two-year-old, Ashikaga
Yoshihide, who had been installed as a puppet. In his position
Yoshihide, who had been installed as a puppet. In his position
those stationed below him. However, the general of the Kamakura as shogun, Yoshiaki faced a growing threat from warlord Oda
as shogun, Yoshiaki faced a growing threat from warlord Oda
shogunate was also a highly controversial figure. The Ashikaga were Nobunaga, who was making his way towards Kyoto with the
Nobunaga, who was making his way towards Kyoto with the
one of the main branch families of the Minamoto clan who faithfully intention of overthrowing Yoshiaki and declaring
intention of overthrowing Yoshiaki and declaring
served the H¯oj¯o regents. But due to a mixture of ambition and an himself shogun. Between 1570 and 1573,
himself shogun. Between 1570 and 1573,
increasing dislike for his masters, Takauji rebelled, bringing down the Yoshiaki conspired against the warlord,
Yoshiaki conspired against the warlord,
H¯oj¯o Shikken (the regent for the shogun) and restoring exiled enlisting the help of Takeda Shingen, who
enlisting the help of Takeda Shingen, who
Emperor Go-Daigo to the throne. However, he would later force the defeated Nobunaga and his troops in
defeated Nobunaga and his troops in
duplicitous Go-Daigo from Kyoto, only for him to set up a rival court in 1752, only to die a few months later. As
1752, only to die a few months later. As
Yoshino to the south. The new Emperor, K¯omy¯o, fulfilled Takauji’s a result of his enemy’s death, Nobunaga
a result of his enemy’s death, Nobunaga
ambitions by making moved quickly and caught Yoshiaki
moved quickly and caught Yoshiaki
him shogun in 1338. off-guard, surrounding the capital of
off-guard, surrounding the capital of
But through his Kyoto and
actions, Takauji had forcing him to
made the dream of negotiate. A
Imperial Restoration truce was
a reality, only then to reached in
destroy this dream which Yoshiaki’s
which Yoshiaki’s
in a war between the life would be
Northern and spared, but he was
spared, but he was
Southern Courts never to take part in
never to take part in
that would last for politics again. He was
politics again. He was
nearly 60 years. exiled to the island of
exiled to the island of
Shikoku and for years afterwards
DID YOU KNOW? pleaded with the various daimyos, or local
In 1934, a Japanese territorial lords, to restore the Ashikaga DID YOU KNOW?
cabinet minister who shogunate, but to no avail. Although he Despite being ousted from his
published an article never formally relinquished his role at the position as shogun in 1573,
portraying Takauji in a time, historians consider 1573 to be the Yoshiaki did not officially
favourable light, was year that the Ashikaga shogunate ended. resign until 1588, and a new
forced to resign. shogunate was not formed
until 1603.
1300 1350 1400 1450 1500 1550 1600
1300 1325 1350 1375 1400 1425 1450 1475 1500 1525 1550 1575 1600
TOKUGAWA IEYASU
WARRIOR, STATESMAN, UNITER OF FEUDAL JAPAN
1543-1616

As the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate,
Ieyasu has become one of the most significant figures in
Japanese history as the first leader of the final shogunate. At
the time of his birth, Japan was engrossed in a civil war with violent
feuds that rumbled on for nearly a century. For his own safety he was
given away as a hostage to a neighbouring clan, where he received
military and political training. Over the next 15 years, he campaigned
with the warlords Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, during which
time he gained a considerable military reputation. With Nobunaga’s
assistance he also expanded his wealth and influence. By the time of
Hideyoshi’s death in 1598, Ieyasu had organised the largest and most
effective army in Japan, enabling him to triumph in the Battle of
Sekigahara in 1600, where he defeated the clans of western Japan. This
paved the way for a new shogunate, and saw DID YOU KNOW?
Ieyasu emerge as the most powerful feudal Ieyasu worked hard to
lord in the country. He was appointed shogun encourage foreign trade
in 1603 and his rule was marked by a period and exchanged gifts with
of relative peace and stability. James I of England and
other European rulers.
62 HISTORY WAR
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