Ashikaga Yoshiaki

Ashikaga Yoshiaki (足利 義昭, 1537 – 1597) was the 15th and final shōgun of the Ashikaga shogunate, ruling Japan from 1568 to 1573.

History

In 1565, Yoshiaki's older brother and reigning shōgun Yoshiteru was assassinated and replaced with their cousin Yoshihide, who was the Miyoshi clan's puppet. This prompted Yoshiaki to travel around the provinces seeking a benefactor to back his own claim to the title. In 1568, Yoshiaki visited the daimyō Oda Nobunaga, who had just established himself at Gifu Castle, and presented his case. Surprisingly, Nobunaga agreed to support him and the two marched on Kyoto, but Yoshiaki was unaware that Nobunaga was only using the shogunate's usurpation as a pretext for military action. That November, Nobunaga entered Kyoto with his army and installed Yoshiaki as shōgun; Yoshiaki offered him the position of deputy shōgun, but Nobunaga declined.

Though he attempted to rule, Yoshiaki noticed that his power relied on Nobunaga's aid. By 1572, there was tension between the two, with Nobunaga issuing several admonishments causing Yoshiaki to take offense. Yoshiaki began plotting against him, trying to convince other daimyō like Takeda Shingen to turn against Nobunaga and "rescue" Yoshiaki in Kyoto. In 1573, Yoshiaki rebelled, leading to Nobunaga's forces marching on Kyoto and expelling him. He escaped with his life and took up residence with the Mōri clan in Western Japan, from where he continued attempting to undermine Nobunaga, even raising troops against him for the Ishiyama Hongan-ji War, but he never managed to overthrow his enemy nor to reinstall himself as shōgun.

Appearances

• Echoes of History – Shadows (mentioned only)