Changes

* ''Born: [[1305]]''

* ''Born: [[1305]]''

* ''Died: [[1358]]''

* ''Died: [[1358]]''

[[Image:Ashikaga_takauji.jpg||thumb|right|Ashikaga Takauji.]]

[[Image:Ashikaga_takauji.jpg||thumb|right|Ashikaga Takauji.]]

Few figures in Japanese history are as controversial as Ashikaga Takauji, a man whose actions brought down the [[Hojo clan|Hojo]] Shikken, made the dream of Imperial restoration a reality and then tore down that dream in a war that would leave the Court divided and the country in the hands of a new warrior government.

Few figures in Japanese history are as controversial as Ashikaga Takauji, a man whose actions brought down the [[Hojo clan|Hojo]] Shikken, made the dream of Imperial restoration a reality and then tore down that dream in a war that would leave the Court divided and the country in the hands of a new warrior government.

In [[1331]], as [[Emperor Go-Daigo]] was preparing to throw off the yoke of Kamakura rule, Takauji was a powerful landholder in the Kanto region. His clan, the [[Ashikaga clan|Ashikaga]], was of Seiwa Genji stock, the same branch of the [[Minamoto clan|Minamoto]] family that had produced [[Minamoto Yoritomo|Yoritomo]]. [[Minamoto Yoriyasu]] (? – [[1157]]), grandson of [[Minamoto Yoshiie]], had settled in [[Shimotsuke province|Shimotsuke]] and taken the name of his holding: Ashikaga-no-sho. Yoshiyasu's son [[Ashikaga Yoshikane]] (? – [[1199]]) had joined Minamoto Yoritomo in [[1180]] and served him in the [[Gempei War]]. Yoshikane also happened to be married to a daughter of [[Hojo Tokimasa]], and so the Ashikaga thrived in the years following Yoritomo's death in [[1199]]. In fact, five of the next seven generations of Ashikaga leaders would marry Hojo ladies, to include Takauji (Takauji, however, was not of Hojo blood-his mother had happened to be of the [[Uesugi clan|Uesugi]] house). By [[1331]] the Ashikaga had grown and branched out, with Ashikaga lines to be found in [[Mutsu province|Mutsu]], Shimotsuke, [[Kozuke province|Kozuke]], [[Sagami province|Sagami]], [[Mikawa province|Mikawa]], [[Mimasaka province|Mimasaka]], and the Kinai region, under such later familiar names as [[Imagawa clan|Imagawa]], [[Hosokawa clan|Hosokawa]], [[Hatakeyama clan|Hatakeyama]], and [[Shiba clan|Shiba]].

In [[1331]], as [[Emperor Go-Daigo]] was preparing to throw off the yoke of Kamakura rule, Takauji was a powerful landholder in the Kanto region. His clan, the [[Ashikaga clan|Ashikaga]], was of Seiwa Genji stock, the same branch of the [[Minamoto clan|Minamoto]] family that had produced [[Minamoto Yoritomo|Yoritomo]]. [[Minamoto Yoriyasu]] (? – [[1157]]), grandson of [[Minamoto Yoshiie]], had settled in [[Shimotsuke province|Shimotsuke]] and taken the name of his holding: Ashikaga-no-sho. Yoshiyasu's son [[Ashikaga Yoshikane]] (? – [[1199]]) had joined Minamoto Yoritomo in [[1180]] and served him in the [[Gempei War]]. Yoshikane also happened to be married to a daughter of [[Hojo Tokimasa]], and so the Ashikaga thrived in the years following Yoritomo's death in [[1199]]. In fact, five of the next seven generations of Ashikaga leaders would marry Hojo ladies, to include Takauji (Takauji, however, was not of Hojo blood-his mother had happened to be of the [[Uesugi clan|Uesugi]] house). By [[1331]] the Ashikaga had grown and branched out, with Ashikaga lines to be found in [[Mutsu province|Mutsu]], Shimotsuke, [[Kozuke province|Kozuke]], [[Sagami province|Sagami]], [[Mikawa province|Mikawa]], [[Mimasaka province|Mimasaka]], and the Kinai region, under such later familiar names as [[Imagawa clan|Imagawa]], [[Hosokawa clan|Hosokawa]], [[Hatakeyama clan|Hatakeyama]], and [[Shiba clan|Shiba]].

In all probability, Takauji had planned on changing sides as soon as he received his orders to march west, in part due to perceived slights by the Hojo. His army was largely composed of warriors whose chiefs had familial ties to the Ashikaga and his decision to march straight to Tamba first was no doubt significant. The reasons Takauji had for rebellion ranged from personal ambition to a growing dislike of the Hojo: he came from a family with stronger blood then the Hojo and resented being treated like a vassal.

In all probability, Takauji had planned on changing sides as soon as he received his orders to march west, in part due to perceived slights by the Hojo. His army was largely composed of warriors whose chiefs had familial ties to the Ashikaga and his decision to march straight to Tamba first was no doubt significant. The reasons Takauji had for rebellion ranged from personal ambition to a growing dislike of the Hojo: he came from a family with stronger blood then the Hojo and resented being treated like a vassal.

Even before he had reached Tamba, Takauji had received a letter from Go-Daigo expressing the hope that the Ashikaga would turn on the Hojo. This letter, in effect, legitimized any treasonous thoughts Takauji may have had, coming as it did from an Imperial hand. Takauji had therefore bypassed Kyoto and sent out secret messages to his allies alerting them to his intentions.

Even before he had reached Tamba, Takauji had received a letter from Go-Daigo expressing the hope that the Ashikaga would turn on the Hojo. This letter, in effect, legitimized any treasonous thoughts Takauji may have had, coming as it did from an Imperial hand. Takauji had therefore bypassed Kyoto and sent out secret messages to his allies alerting them to his intentions.

Go-Daigo, however, owed his success to the efforts of those military men who had supported him. At the same time, the Court demanded it's share of the spoils and this led to a precarious balancing act that revealed the weaknesses of Go-Daigo's new government. Chief among these failings was an apparent naiveté as regards the samurai class, that even though they had been supreme in Japan for centuries, they might be expected to take back seat to the nobility. While the average samurai revered the emperor (a fact generally ignored in western histories), this sense of obligation and filial respect by no means translated to include the rest of the court.

Go-Daigo, however, owed his success to the efforts of those military men who had supported him. At the same time, the Court demanded it's share of the spoils and this led to a precarious balancing act that revealed the weaknesses of Go-Daigo's new government. Chief among these failings was an apparent naiveté as regards the samurai class, that even though they had been supreme in Japan for centuries, they might be expected to take back seat to the nobility. While the average samurai revered the emperor (a fact generally ignored in western histories), this sense of obligation and filial respect by no means translated to include the rest of the court.

Following the destruction of the Hojo's political institutions in Kyoto, Takauji created an office in the capital, the Bugyo-sho (or, roughly, Commissioner's Office). The Bugyo-sho was responsible for the governing of the city, and through it's offices Takauji assumed the right to dole out rewards and appointments to his men. Go-Daigo must have chafed at Takauji's noticeable presence in Kyoto, but initially the two men worked together with some modicum of mutual respect. Takauji was in fact amply rewarded by the emperor for his services, and was named the shugo of Musashi and given considerable influence in two other provinces, was granted the courtly title of the Fourth Rank, Junior Grade, and the position Chinjufu Shôgun. The last, which translates as 'general of the northern pacification command' was actually a consolation prize-Takauji had asked for the title of Shôgun, in effect an official acknowledgment that he was the realm's foremost soldier. Go-Daigo might have been wise to give him what he wanted, but this he did not do, perhaps fearing (not without cause) that Takauji would become a new [[Taira Kiyomori]]. In addition, there can be no doubt that Go-Daigo's other prominent general, Nitta Yoshisada, made very effort to hinder Takauji's ambitions. The [[Nitta clan|Nitta]], a hither-to relatively obscure family that had suffered by not joining [[Minamoto Yoritomo]] in the Gempei War, were now famous throughout the realm. Yoshisada, already a rival of Takauji, had no intention of coming under the Ashikaga's thumb.

Following the destruction of the Hojo's political institutions in Kyoto, Takauji created an office in the capital, the Bugyo-sho (or, roughly, Commissioner's Office). The Bugyo-sho was responsible for the governing of the city, and through it's offices Takauji assumed the right to dole out rewards and appointments to his men. Go-Daigo must have chafed at Takauji's noticeable presence in Kyoto, but initially the two men worked together with some modicum of mutual respect. Takauji was in fact amply rewarded by the emperor for his services, and was named the shugo of Musashi and given considerable influence in two other provinces, was granted the courtly title of the Fourth Rank, Junior Grade, and the position Chinjufu Shôgun. The last, which translates as 'general of the northern pacification command' was actually a consolation prize-Takauji had asked for the title of Shôgun, in effect an official acknowledgment that he was the realm's foremost soldier. Go-Daigo might have been wise to give him what he wanted, but this he did not do, perhaps fearing (not without cause) that Takauji would become a new [[Taira Kiyomori]]. In addition, there can be no doubt that Go-Daigo's other prominent general, Nitta Yoshisada, made very effort to hinder Takauji's ambitions. The [[Nitta clan|Nitta]], a hither-to relatively obscure family that had suffered by not joining [[Minamoto Yoritomo]] in the Gempei War, were now famous throughout the realm. Yoshisada, already a rival of Takauji, had no intention of coming under the Ashikaga's thumb.

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.

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.

A great soldier and a charismatic leader, the first of the Ashikaga Shôguns etched out a place in Japanese history by giving free rein to his own ambitions and those of the warrior class. Perhaps, given how unwilling the samurai were to relinquish political authority, Takauji was an inevitable figure, and he is often seen as a traitor, opportunist, and even (usually when connected to [[Kusunoki Masashige]]) a villain. Like so many of Japan's great samurai figures, just who Ashikaga Takauji was is really a matter of perspective.

A great soldier and a charismatic leader, the first of the Ashikaga Shôguns etched out a place in Japanese history by giving free rein to his own ambitions and those of the warrior class. Perhaps, given how unwilling the samurai were to relinquish political authority, Takauji was an inevitable figure, and he is often seen as a traitor, opportunist, and even (usually when connected to [[Kusunoki Masashige]]) a villain. Like so many of Japan's great samurai figures, just who Ashikaga Takauji was is really a matter of perspective.

==Notes to the Text==

==Notes to the Text==