Changes

'''Daimyô''' (Japanese:　大名) literally means 'big name'.  It generally refers to regional military lords who were able to excercise de facto military and administrative control of an area.

'''Daimyô''' (Japanese:　大名) literally means 'big name'.  It generally refers to regional military lords who were able to exercise ''de facto'' military and administrative control of an area.

==Pre-Edo==

==Pre-Edo==

During the end of the [[Heian Period]] and in the [[Kamakura Period]] a daimyo was a person who possessed a large myôden (名田), a type of estate, as opposed to a shômyô　小名, who possessed a small estate.

During the end of the [[Heian Period]] and in the [[Kamakura Period]] a ''daimyô'' was a person who possessed a large ''myôden'' (名田), a type of estate, as opposed to a ''shômyô''　小名, who possessed a small estate.

During the [[Muromachi Period]], the breakdown of centralized authority left the [[shugo]] with little of their original power. This power vacuum was exploited by ambitious families, who took the reigns of power into their own hands. Conflict between the daimyo erupted in the late 15th century, with some of the bloodiest fighting during the [[Onin War|Ônin War]], ushering in the [[Sengoku Period]].

During the [[Muromachi Period]], the breakdown of centralized authority left the ''[[shugo]]'' with little of their original power. This power vacuum was exploited by ambitious families, who took the reigns of power into their own hands. Conflict between the ''daimyô'' erupted in the late 15th century, with some of the bloodiest fighting during the [[Onin War|Ônin War]], ushering in the [[Sengoku Period]].

In that period, a daimyo was a warlord who ruled over a large area.

In that period, a ''daimyô'' was a warlord who ruled over a large area. They claimed and maintained authority over their lands by defending them against invaders or competitors, uniting retainers under their authority, and through their ability to bring peace to their lands (安土, ''ando'', "peaceful land"), avoiding peasant uprisings. Many of these ''daimyô'' wielded fiscal independence, regulated or otherwise managed commercial activities within their domains, and conducted cadastral surveys.

Eventually, the role of the ''daimyô'' was solidified and incorporated into the official government structure as the lands once again came under a strong centralized authority in the [[Edo Period]].

Eventually, the role of the ''daimyô'' was solidified and incorporated into the official government structure as the lands once again came under a strong centralized authority in the [[Edo Period]].