Who was this person?
The 12th shōgun of the Muromachi bakufu in the late Muromachi period. Amid ties with the Hosokawa and Miyoshi he repeatedly entered and left Kyoto, then yielded the shogunate to his son Yoshiteru and died in Ōmi.
| Name | Ashikaga Yoshiharu (足利義晴) |
|---|---|
| Born–died | 1511 – 1550 |
| Period | Muromachi period |
| Birthplace | Ōmi Province |
| Main achievements |
|
His father was former shogun Ashikaga Yoshizumi. Born at Mizukuki Okayama Castle in Ōmi, his childhood name was Kameōmaru. After his father lost the shogunate, he was raised under the Akamatsu of Harima. From childhood he was protected as a future shogunal candidate amid war.
With support from Hosokawa Takakuni and others he entered Kyoto and became the 12th shogun at about eleven. Real power lay with the kanrei and major shugo; the young shogun mainly performed rites and mediation. Kyoto's security remained unstable.
Hosokawa internal strife and Miyoshi advances worsened the fighting, and Yoshiharu briefly left Kyoto. Sheltering in places such as Ōmi, he kept contact with allies. Shogunal authority easily swung with regional powers.
Aiming to return to Kyoto, he combined talks and arms from bases in Sakai and Ōmi. Ties with Hosokawa Takakuni also shifted, and the coalition behind the shogun kept reshaping. Brief calm and new clashes followed one another.
When conditions briefly settled, Yoshiharu entered Kyoto again. He arranged court rites and tried to keep the dignity of the bakufu. Yet whenever kanrei-house strife flared, his footing soon shook.
Conflict between the Hosokawa and Miyoshi Nagayoshi deepened, and the shogun's position grew harder. Yoshiharu repeated peace efforts and evacuations, unable to seize full political lead. In Sengoku Kyoto the shogun was becoming just one power among others.
He yielded the shogunate to his son Ashikaga Yoshifuji (later Yoshiteru) and tried to act as a retired guardian. Supporting the young new shogun, he watched conditions around Kyoto. The succession was a choice to keep the bakufu alive.
When war flared again, Yoshiharu and Yoshiteru withdrew to places such as Ōmi. With help from the Rokkaku and others they watched for a chance to reenter Kyoto. The shogunal house kept its thread of life while moving bases.
He kept negotiating peace with various powers, seeking terms to return to Kyoto. Temporary accords rarely lasted, and trust was fragile. Yoshiharu's politics were a chain of compromise and patience.
Miyoshi Nagayoshi's side gained strength, and conditions stayed unfavorable to the shogunal camp. Yoshiharu's health also failed, worn by long war. Rebuilding the bakufu center had to be left to the next generation.
He died of illness in Ōmi at thirty-nine. His son Yoshiteru continued as shogun, and the Muromachi bakufu's fate would shake further amid ties with the Miyoshi. His short life showed the hardship of Sengoku-period shoguns.
A. The 12th shōgun of the Muromachi bakufu in the late Muromachi period. Amid ties with the Hosokawa and Miyoshi he repeatedly entered and left Kyoto, then yielded the shogunate to his son Yoshiteru and died in Ōmi.
A. Period: Muromachi period. Born in 1511, died in 1550.
A. Ashikaga Yoshiharu was born in Ōmi Province.
A. Because Hosokawa strife and Miyoshi Nagayoshi's advance worsened the fighting, he repeatedly withdrew to places such as Ōmi. Powerful shugo constrained the shōgun's real power.
See also: Wikipedia (ja) / Wikipedia (en) / Wikipedia (fr) / Wikipedia (zh) / Wikidata
Follow this life (autoplay)Ashikaga YoshizumiHosokawa TakakuniMiyoshi NagayoshiAshikaga YoshitaneAsakura SōtekiHosokawa HarumotoTakeda ShingenAshikaga Yoshiteru
Ashikaga YoshihisaHosokawa MasamotoAshikaga YoshitaneKanō MotonobuŌuchi YoshiokiAshikaga YoshizumiHosokawa TakakuniHosokawa Sumimoto
People of the Muromachi period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.