Changes

Yoshikage was the eldest son of [[Ashikaga Takakage]]. He succeeded his father in [[1546]] and defeated the ikko-ikki of [[Kaga province|Kaga]] on two occasions (9/[[1555]], [[1564]]) and lent nominal support to the [[Saito clan|Saitô]] during their war with [[Oda Nobunaga]] ([[1561]]-[[1567|67]]). He sheltered [[Ashikaga Yoshiaki]] after the latter had fled the [[Kyoto]] area in [[1565]]. Yoshikage was unable to give Yoshiaki the assistance he needed to claim the title of shôgun and Yoshiaki at length departed. Yoshikage moved into neighboring [[Wakasa province|Wakasa]] and absorbed that province during the later 1560's at the expense of the Wakasa - Takeda. The fortunes of his house began to change when he refused a 'request' by [[Oda Nobunaga|Nobunaga]] to come to Kyoto in [[1570]], and as a result found himself at war with the [[Oda clan|Oda]]. Yoshikage is said to have resented Nobunaga's presumption, as both of their families had once served the [[Shiba clan|Shiba]] family. The [[Asakura clan|Asakura]] domain was quickly invaded but Nobunaga was forced to retreat when Yoshikage was joined by his ally [[Asai Nagamasa]]. Yoshikage sent his army to assist the Asai on a number of occasions, including the [[Battle of Anegawa]] (which he was not present at) and the stand-off at [[Mt. Hiei]] in 1570. He was content to let his relatives [[Asakura Kageakira]] and [[Asakura Kagetaka|Kagetaka]] command his army after the death of [[Asakura Norikage]] in [[1555]], as he had a weak constitution and was not well-suited for campaigning. In [[1573]] Nobunaga again threatened the Asai's [[Odani castle]]. Yoshikage duly dispatched his army but before even reaching Odani it lost heart and broke. Nobunaga chased it into Echizen and Yoshikage fled from Ichijo no dani. His whereabouts were betrayed by Asakura Kageakira and he took his life on 8/20/1573 at the Rokubô Kenshôji. His weak character had by then disenchanted a number of his senior men and this greatly contributed to his downfall.

Yoshikage was the eldest son of [[Asakura Takakage]]. He succeeded his father in [[1546]] and defeated the ikko-ikki of [[Kaga province|Kaga]] on two occasions (9/[[1555]], [[1564]]) and lent nominal support to the [[Saito clan|Saitô]] during their war with [[Oda Nobunaga]] ([[1561]]-[[1567|67]]). He sheltered [[Ashikaga Yoshiaki]] after the latter had fled the [[Kyoto]] area in [[1565]]. Yoshikage was unable to give Yoshiaki the assistance he needed to claim the title of shôgun and Yoshiaki at length departed. Yoshikage moved into neighboring [[Wakasa province|Wakasa]] and absorbed that province during the later 1560's at the expense of the Wakasa - Takeda. The fortunes of his house began to change when he refused a 'request' by [[Oda Nobunaga|Nobunaga]] to come to Kyoto in [[1570]], and as a result found himself at war with the [[Oda clan|Oda]]. Yoshikage is said to have resented Nobunaga's presumption, as both of their families had once served the [[Shiba clan|Shiba]] family. The [[Asakura clan|Asakura]] domain was quickly invaded but Nobunaga was forced to retreat when Yoshikage was joined by his ally [[Asai Nagamasa]]. Yoshikage sent his army to assist the Asai on a number of occasions, including the [[Battle of Anegawa]] (which he was not present at) and the stand-off at [[Mt. Hiei]] in 1570. He was content to let his relatives [[Asakura Kageakira]] and [[Asakura Kagetaka|Kagetaka]] command his army after the death of [[Asakura Norikage]] in [[1555]], as he had a weak constitution and was not well-suited for campaigning. In [[1573]] Nobunaga again threatened the Asai's [[Odani castle]]. Yoshikage duly dispatched his army but before even reaching Odani it lost heart and broke. Nobunaga chased it into Echizen and Yoshikage fled from Ichijo no dani. His whereabouts were betrayed by Asakura Kageakira and he took his life on 8/20/1573 at the Rokubô Kenshôji. His weak character had by then disenchanted a number of his senior men and this greatly contributed to his downfall.

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Sengoku Period]]

[[Category:Sengoku Period]]