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In [[1335]] [[Hojo Tokiyuki]], a son of Takatoki, rose up and attacked Kamakura. The event created a considerable panic, and Go-Daigo's administrators Kamakura was abandoned and in the course of the chaotic flight, Tadayoshi saw to it that Morinaga was murdered. A better back-room dealer than a warrior, Tadayoshi was quite unable to contain Tokiyuki, and the event looked to the first real crisis of Go-Daigo's restoration.

In [[1335]] [[Hojo Tokiyuki]], a son of Takatoki, rose up and attacked Kamakura. The event created a considerable panic, and Go-Daigo's administrators Kamakura was abandoned and in the course of the chaotic flight, Tadayoshi saw to it that Morinaga was murdered. A better back-room dealer than a warrior, Tadayoshi was quite unable to contain Tokiyuki, and the event looked to the first real crisis of Go-Daigo's restoration.

Takauji hastily gathered an army, apparently without the consent of the emperor, and marched along the Tokaido Road, absorbing Tadayoshi's forces into his own. Takauji briskly defeated Tokiyuki in a number of engagements in Totomi and Suruga and on 8 September [[1335]] retook Kamakura. Tokiyuki was killed and order restored to the Kanto-albeit, no doubt, in such a way as to provoke the consternation of Go-Daigo and Nitta Yoshisada. Declaring that he felt more secure in Kamakura than in Kyoto, Takauji had himself a headquarters at [[Eifukuji]] temple. Go-Daigo made some effort to recall him, but to no avail. Almost as provocatively, Takauji began rewarding those warriors who supported him with lands, securing their personal loyalty and throwing the Court's lackluster rewards record in sharp contrast.

Takauji hastily gathered an army, apparently without the consent of the emperor, and marched along the Tokaido Road, absorbing Tadayoshi's forces into his own. Takauji briskly defeated Tokiyuki in a number of engagements in Totomi and Suruga and on 8 September 1335 retook Kamakura. Tokiyuki was killed and order restored to the Kanto-albeit, no doubt, in such a way as to provoke the consternation of Go-Daigo and Nitta Yoshisada. Declaring that he felt more secure in Kamakura than in Kyoto, Takauji had himself a headquarters at [[Eifukuji]] temple. Go-Daigo made some effort to recall him, but to no avail. Almost as provocatively, Takauji began rewarding those warriors who supported him with lands, securing their personal loyalty and throwing the Court's lackluster rewards record in sharp contrast.

It may be that Takauji attempted to lure Nitta Yoshisada away from the Court during this period, for he was the most powerful warrior in Go-Daigo's service and losing him to Takauji would leave the emperor isolated. At the same time, a war with Yoshisada that resulted in the destruction of the Nitta could only benefit the Ashikaga in the long run, so Takauji was essentially in a win-win situation as far as that went. When it became obvious that Yoshisada had no intention of abandoning Go-Daigo, Takauji issued what amounted to an act of war: he announced that Kozuke, Nitta's home province, was now under the governorship of the Uesugi.

It may be that Takauji attempted to lure Nitta Yoshisada away from the Court during this period, for he was the most powerful warrior in Go-Daigo's service and losing him to Takauji would leave the emperor isolated. At the same time, a war with Yoshisada that resulted in the destruction of the Nitta could only benefit the Ashikaga in the long run, so Takauji was essentially in a win-win situation as far as that went. When it became obvious that Yoshisada had no intention of abandoning Go-Daigo, Takauji issued what amounted to an act of war: he announced that Kozuke, Nitta's home province, was now under the governorship of the Uesugi.

Go-Daigo, after some waffling, made the decision to brand Takauji a traitor and called for his destruction. Takauji, meanwhile, was careful to avoid involving the emperor in his own call to arms and directed his hostilities towards Nitta Yoshisada. He received a certain amount of legitimacy from the signature of retired emperor Kogon-in (whom the Hojo had appointed emperor after Go-Daigo's first bid for power in 1331).

Go-Daigo, after some waffling, made the decision to brand Takauji a traitor and called for his destruction. Takauji, meanwhile, was careful to avoid involving the emperor in his own call to arms and directed his hostilities towards Nitta Yoshisada. He received a certain amount of legitimacy from the signature of retired emperor Kogon-in (whom the Hojo had appointed emperor after Go-Daigo's first bid for power in 1331).

In December [[1335]] a punitive expedition led by the Emperor's son Takanaga and Nitta Yoshisada marched out from Kyoto and defeated an advance force commanded by Tadayoshi in Mikawa province. The Imperialists pressed eastward, only to be mauled by Takauji himself in the Ashigara pass of the Hakone Mountains. A following battle in Suruga sent Go-Daigo's army fleeing westward, pursued by the Ashikaga. On 23 February Takauji's army fought its way into Kyoto but failed to capture Go-Daigo, who had taken up with the warrior monks of the Enryakuji. Takauji himself arrived two days later and began what would prove to be an extremely short-lived occupation of Kyoto. At the same time, the loyalist general Kitabatake Akiie had gathered an army and drove on the capital, gratefully accepting the full assistance of the Enryakuji. Within days of entering the capital, Takauji found himself forced to defend it against Kitabatake, and after four days retreated to Settsu. Takauji eventually made his way to Kyushu, on the way making various promises and appointments to drum up a considerable amount of support from the western families. Once on Kyushu, a brief campaign was required to defeat the sole source of notable opposition to the Ashikaga on the island, the Kikuchi. The Kikuchi were defeated at the [[Battle of Tadara no hama]] on 14 April [[1336]], and Takauji now had a secure base of operations and the support of the Kyushu warrior families, including the Shimazu, [[Matsuura clan|Matsuura]], [[Otomo clan|Otomo]], and [[Shoni clan|Shoni]]. Adding these clans to those already in the Ashikaga camp (the [[Hosokawa clan|Hosokawa]], [[Akamatsu clan|Akamatsu]], [[Imagawa clan|Imagawa]], [[Isshiki clan|Isshiki]], Nikki, Uesugi, [[Ko clan|Ko]], and [[Ouchi clan|Ouchi]]) rounded out a formidable coalition that was far more formidable then the army Takauji had marched to Kyoto with. Nonetheless, Takauji could not afford to dally on Kyushu for long: at other points throughout the country Go-Daigo's forces were pressing those Ashikaga bastions left behind, including those in the Kanto and the eastern Chugoku provinces. In June Takauji headed back towards Kyoto, setting part of his army on the march through western Honshu and the other slowly advancing via ship.

In December 1335 a punitive expedition led by the Emperor's son Takanaga and Nitta Yoshisada marched out from Kyoto and defeated an advance force commanded by Tadayoshi in Mikawa province. The Imperialists pressed eastward, only to be mauled by Takauji himself in the Ashigara pass of the Hakone Mountains. A following battle in Suruga sent Go-Daigo's army fleeing westward, pursued by the Ashikaga. On 23 February Takauji's army fought its way into Kyoto but failed to capture Go-Daigo, who had taken up with the warrior monks of the Enryakuji. Takauji himself arrived two days later and began what would prove to be an extremely short-lived occupation of Kyoto. At the same time, the loyalist general Kitabatake Akiie had gathered an army and drove on the capital, gratefully accepting the full assistance of the Enryakuji. Within days of entering the capital, Takauji found himself forced to defend it against Kitabatake, and after four days retreated to Settsu. Takauji eventually made his way to Kyushu, on the way making various promises and appointments to drum up a considerable amount of support from the western families. Once on Kyushu, a brief campaign was required to defeat the sole source of notable opposition to the Ashikaga on the island, the Kikuchi. The Kikuchi were defeated at the [[Battle of Tadara no hama]] on 14 April [[1336]], and Takauji now had a secure base of operations and the support of the Kyushu warrior families, including the Shimazu, [[Matsuura clan|Matsuura]], [[Otomo clan|Otomo]], and [[Shoni clan|Shoni]]. Adding these clans to those already in the Ashikaga camp (the [[Hosokawa clan|Hosokawa]], [[Akamatsu clan|Akamatsu]], [[Imagawa clan|Imagawa]], [[Isshiki clan|Isshiki]], Nikki, Uesugi, [[Ko clan|Ko]], and [[Ouchi clan|Ouchi]]) rounded out a formidable coalition that was far more formidable then the army Takauji had marched to Kyoto with. Nonetheless, Takauji could not afford to dally on Kyushu for long: at other points throughout the country Go-Daigo's forces were pressing those Ashikaga bastions left behind, including those in the Kanto and the eastern Chugoku provinces. In June Takauji headed back towards Kyoto, setting part of his army on the march through western Honshu and the other slowly advancing via ship.

Faced with Takauji's inexorable movement towards Kyoto, Go-Daigo was pressed by Nitta and the court for immediate action, with Nitta advocating an all-out battle with Takauji's army to end the war decisively. [[Kusunoki Masashige]] was against a direct approach due to the disparity in numbers but in the end Go-Daigo decided to fight. Often presented as foolishness on his part (especially to highlight the tragedy of Masashige's resulting death), Go-Daigo's decision may simply have been realistic. Taking to the hills again (as Kusunoki suggested) would probably have only delayed the inevitable. Most of the country's important samurai families were either already on Takauji's side or leaning that way-Go-Daigo's [[Kemmu Restoration]] was in fact already over.

Faced with Takauji's inexorable movement towards Kyoto, Go-Daigo was pressed by Nitta and the court for immediate action, with Nitta advocating an all-out battle with Takauji's army to end the war decisively. [[Kusunoki Masashige]] was against a direct approach due to the disparity in numbers but in the end Go-Daigo decided to fight. Often presented as foolishness on his part (especially to highlight the tragedy of Masashige's resulting death), Go-Daigo's decision may simply have been realistic. Taking to the hills again (as Kusunoki suggested) would probably have only delayed the inevitable. Most of the country's important samurai families were either already on Takauji's side or leaning that way-Go-Daigo's [[Kemmu Restoration]] was in fact already over.

Takauji responded to this new threat by bearing down on Nitta Yoshisada. Repeated attacks were launched against Nitta's stronghold of Kanagasaki in Echizen and in April [[1337]] it was brought down. Yoshisada himself escaped, but his son and Prince Takanaga were forced to commit suicide. The next year Ashikaga forces engaged Nitta in the [[Battle of Fujishima]] (August [[1338]]) and in the course of the fighting Yoshisada was killed. Two months previously, another notable supporter of Go-Daigo, [[Kitabatake Akiie]], was killed at the [[Battle of Ishizu]] ([[Izumi province|Izumi]]).

Takauji responded to this new threat by bearing down on Nitta Yoshisada. Repeated attacks were launched against Nitta's stronghold of Kanagasaki in Echizen and in April [[1337]] it was brought down. Yoshisada himself escaped, but his son and Prince Takanaga were forced to commit suicide. The next year Ashikaga forces engaged Nitta in the [[Battle of Fujishima]] (August [[1338]]) and in the course of the fighting Yoshisada was killed. Two months previously, another notable supporter of Go-Daigo, [[Kitabatake Akiie]], was killed at the [[Battle of Ishizu]] ([[Izumi province|Izumi]]).

The Southern Court not withstanding, the deaths of Nitta and Kitabatake effectively sealed Takauji's hold on the country. In [[1338]] emperor Komyo gave Takauji the title he had long sought: Shôgun.

The Southern Court not withstanding, the deaths of Nitta and Kitabatake effectively sealed Takauji's hold on the country. In 1338 emperor Komyo gave Takauji the title he had long sought: Shôgun.

The government Takauji established was very much influenced by the political situation of the time. The threat the Southern Court posed his fledgling government compelled Takauji to place especially loyal retainers in the provinces he controlled, and in this virtual wartime environment the authority of the Shugo was much enhanced. Rather then essentially acting as go-betweens with the jito and other landowners and the Bakufu, the Shugo became military governors, of whom those with a history of loyalty to the Ashikaga (the Hosokawa and Akamatsu, for instance) became the strongest. Takauji kept his headquarters in Kyoto to stay close to Yoshino and in a centralized position, though he did maintain a political institution in Kamakura.

The government Takauji established was very much influenced by the political situation of the time. The threat the Southern Court posed his fledgling government compelled Takauji to place especially loyal retainers in the provinces he controlled, and in this virtual wartime environment the authority of the Shugo was much enhanced. Rather then essentially acting as go-betweens with the jito and other landowners and the Bakufu, the Shugo became military governors, of whom those with a history of loyalty to the Ashikaga (the Hosokawa and Akamatsu, for instance) became the strongest. Takauji kept his headquarters in Kyoto to stay close to Yoshino and in a centralized position, though he did maintain a political institution in Kamakura.

With the feud with Southern Court on going, Takauji had been content to hand over most political tasks to his brother Tadayoshi. By [[1349]], however, conflict had arisen between the two and Takauji dismissed Tadayoshi on the suspicion of treachery.1 Takauji's son Tadafuyu, whom Tadayoshi had adopted, protested the move and in [[1350]] came to blows with his natural father. The realm seemed to teeter on the brink of a three way civil war between Takauji, Tadayoshi, and the Southern Court, with the latter gaining support as a result of the rift between the brothers. Takayoshi was captured by Takauji's men in [[1352]] in Izu and poisoned, presumably on Takauji's orders. Tadafuyu responded by joining the Southern Court, whose cause was alive in the Kanto as the Nitta family joined with Tadayoshi's surviving followers and took to the field against Takauji. Takauji managed to defeat this group but learned of startling developments back in the capital. The new emperor of the Southern Court Go-Murakami (Prince Norinaga, whose father Go-Daigo had died in [[1338]]) had taken advantage of Takauji's distraction to recapture Kyoto on 5 April [[1352]]. The operation had been finely executed and hard fighting and considerable blood was required to dislodge Go-Murakami's adherents. Heavy fighting continued in the Kinai for the next three years, culminating in the January [[1355]] recapture of Kyoto by Go-Murakami's army. Takauji rallied his forces in Omi province and launched a counterattack that produced a string of fiercely contested struggles in March and a fight for the capital itself that occupied the better part of April.

With the feud with Southern Court on going, Takauji had been content to hand over most political tasks to his brother Tadayoshi. By [[1349]], however, conflict had arisen between the two and Takauji dismissed Tadayoshi on the suspicion of treachery.1 Takauji's son Tadafuyu, whom Tadayoshi had adopted, protested the move and in [[1350]] came to blows with his natural father. The realm seemed to teeter on the brink of a three way civil war between Takauji, Tadayoshi, and the Southern Court, with the latter gaining support as a result of the rift between the brothers. Takayoshi was captured by Takauji's men in [[1352]] in Izu and poisoned, presumably on Takauji's orders. Tadafuyu responded by joining the Southern Court, whose cause was alive in the Kanto as the Nitta family joined with Tadayoshi's surviving followers and took to the field against Takauji. Takauji managed to defeat this group but learned of startling developments back in the capital. The new emperor of the Southern Court Go-Murakami (Prince Norinaga, whose father Go-Daigo had died in 1338) had taken advantage of Takauji's distraction to recapture Kyoto on 5 April [[1352]]. The operation had been finely executed and hard fighting and considerable blood was required to dislodge Go-Murakami's adherents. Heavy fighting continued in the Kinai for the next three years, culminating in the January [[1355]] recapture of Kyoto by Go-Murakami's army. Takauji rallied his forces in Omi province and launched a counterattack that produced a string of fiercely contested struggles in March and a fight for the capital itself that occupied the better part of April.

[[Ashikaga Tadafuyu]], present on the Southern side, fought tenaciously but by 25 April was driven out. Takauji's forces had been badly blooded in the last weeks of the fighting, and the future Ashikaga deputy Shôgun [[Hosokawa Yoriyuki]] was wounded, but Kyoto was secured. The Southern Court had expended its greatest efforts in the previous three years, and would never again pose so great a threat to the Ashikaga.

[[Ashikaga Tadafuyu]], present on the Southern side, fought tenaciously but by 25 April was driven out. Takauji's forces had been badly blooded in the last weeks of the fighting, and the future Ashikaga deputy Shôgun [[Hosokawa Yoriyuki]] was wounded, but Kyoto was secured. The Southern Court had expended its greatest efforts in the previous three years, and would never again pose so great a threat to the Ashikaga.