Ashikaga Tadayoshi

Died: 1352

Ashikaga Tadayoshi was the loyal brother of Ashikaga Takauji. In 1334, he was sent by Takauji to serve prince Norinaga (Governor of Kozuke Province) as a guardian. He helped Takauji gain power and worked heavily on civil administration, while Takauji worked on military strategy and personnel. This division of responsibility eventually caused a conflict of interest between the brothers - Takauji favoring the military men, and Tadayoshi favoring the Bakufu courts and capital elite. Takauji dismissed Tadayoshi in 1349, and in the winter of 1351-52, Tadayoshi was captured and killed, possibly by poisoning on Takauji's order.