Born at Hirashima in Awa as a son of Ashikaga Yoshitsuna. His mother is said to have been Yoshioki's daughter. His father was of the Sakai kubo line of shogunal claimants; Yoshihide grew up in Awa. Some say 1540.
At Hirashima estate in Awa he spent childhood as shogunal blood living in the provinces, hearing of Miyoshi Nagayoshi's rise and waiting for a chance to enter Kyoto.
He grew up under Miyoshi power, far from the main shogunal line in the Kinai, seeking a future as a Hirashima kubo heir. He is also said to have relied for a time on the Ouchi.
In Nagayoshi's last years Yoshihide was still far from the shogunate. Kinai politics lay with Nagayoshi and his retainers; the Awa Ashikaga remained a piece in reserve.
He returned from Suo and elsewhere to Awa and renewed ties with the Miyoshi. In Yoshiteru's time he kept a presence as an alternate shogunal line based in Awa and Awaji.
After Yoshiteru died in the Eiroku Incident, the Miyoshi Triumvirate backed him as shogunal heir. He changed his name from Yoshichika to Yoshihide and advanced into Settsu.
He moved to Fumon-ji at Tonda in Settsu (near Takatsuki) but conflict with Matsunaga Hisahide delayed entry to Kyoto. Talks seeking formal appointment as shogun continued.
He worked on the court and was named to posts such as sama no kami. He neared formal appointment, but war with Hisahide blocked entry to Kyoto, leaving a gap between title and reality.
When Oda Nobunaga entered Kyoto backing Ashikaga Yoshiaki, Miyoshi power collapsed and Yoshihide is said to have died of illness at Tonda or elsewhere. Place and date are debated. He was thirty-one.
He was finally named seii taishogun as 14th shogun, but never fully governed from Kyoto; his tenure lasted only about seven months.
Ōuchi YoshiokiMatsunaga HisahideMiyoshi NagayoshiOda NobunagaAshikaga Yoshiaki
Toyotomi HideyoshiAshikaga YoshiakiMaeda ToshiieHōjō UjimasaImagawa UjizaneNabeshima NaoshigeHonda MasanobuChōsokabe Motochika
People of the Sengoku/Azuchi-Momoyama period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.