Changes

* ''Died: [[1441]]''

* ''Died: [[1441]]''

The Akamatsu were a powerful family in the [[Muromachi period|Muromachi Period]] and owed their success to the actions of [[Akamatsu Norimura]]. At first a supporter of [[Emperor Go-Daigo]] in the [[Kemmu Restoration]], Norimura had later switched to the [[Ashikaga clan|Ashikaga]] side. In [[1336]] he was awarded the governorship of [[Harima province|Harima]]; by the time of the 3rd Ashikaga Shogun, [[Ashikaga Yoshimitsu]], the Akamatsu were [[shugo]] for Harima, [[Bizen province|Bizen]], and [[Mimasaka province|Mimasaka]] as well as one of the four families that provided members of the Bakufu’s ''samurai-dokoro'' (Board of retainers). Mimasaka had been added to the Akamatsu’s holdings at the expense of the [[Yamana clan|Yamana]] in [[1391]] and their service in that campaign earned them both rewards from the shôgun and hatred from the Yamana.

The Akamatsu were a powerful family in the [[Muromachi period|Muromachi Period]] and owed their success to the actions of [[Akamatsu Norimura]]. At first a supporter of [[Emperor Go-Daigo]] in the [[Kemmu Restoration]], Norimura had later switched to the [[Ashikaga clan|Ashikaga]] side. In [[1336]] he was awarded the governorship of [[Harima province|Harima]]; by the time of the 3rd Ashikaga Shogun, [[Ashikaga Yoshimitsu]], the Akamatsu were [[shugo]] for Harima, [[Bizen province|Bizen]], and [[Mimasaka province|Mimasaka]] as well as one of the four families that provided members of the Bakufu’s ''samurai-dokoro'' (Board of retainers). Mimasaka had been added to the Akamatsu’s holdings at the expense of the [[Yamana clan|Yamana]] in [[1391]] and their service in that campaign earned them both rewards from the shôgun and hatred from the Yamana.

The assassination of Yoshinori caused considerable shock and uncertainty in Kyoto. After three days a coalition of warriors drawn from the other important shugo families - Yamana, Hosokawa, and Hatakeyama - set out, only to hesitate at the borders of the Akamatsu’s lands. The one leader who did charge on ahead was [[Yamana Sozen]] ([[1404]]-[[1474]]), and this fiery character defeated the Akamatsu and forced Mitsusuke to commit suicide. For his efforts he was awarded most of the Akamatsu’s lands (including, no doubt as he had intended, Mimasaka), thereby greatly enhancing the power of the Yamana and helping set the stage for the later [[Onin War]]. Yoshinori’s assassination, though rarely mentioned in the west outside of strictly academic circles, was a notable contributor to the weakening of Ashikaga authority, although it could just as easily be argued that the event was a sign of just how weak the foundations of Ashikaga rule already were.

The assassination of Yoshinori caused considerable shock and uncertainty in Kyoto. After three days a coalition of warriors drawn from the other important shugo families - Yamana, Hosokawa, and Hatakeyama - set out, only to hesitate at the borders of the Akamatsu’s lands. The one leader who did charge on ahead was [[Yamana Sozen]] ([[1404]]-[[1474]]), and this fiery character defeated the Akamatsu and forced Mitsusuke to commit suicide. For his efforts he was awarded most of the Akamatsu’s lands (including, no doubt as he had intended, Mimasaka), thereby greatly enhancing the power of the Yamana and helping set the stage for the later [[Onin War]]. Yoshinori’s assassination, though rarely mentioned in the west outside of strictly academic circles, was a notable contributor to the weakening of Ashikaga authority, although it could just as easily be argued that the event was a sign of just how weak the foundations of Ashikaga rule already were.

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Muromachi Period]]

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Muromachi Period]]