Born a son of the 12th shogun Ashikaga Yoshiharu. Childhood name Kikuwakamaru. From his father's time shogunal power was weak, swayed by Hosokawa and Miyoshi strongmen in the Kinai.
His father passed him the shogunate as 13th shogun. Still young, real politics were swayed by Miyoshi Nagayoshi, yet he aimed to restore shogunal authority.
When Miyoshi Nagayoshi replaced the Hosokawa in the Kinai, Yoshiteru kept the shogunal seat while coordinating with him, returning often to Kyoto to seek bakufu revival.
He sent letters to daimyo calling for recovery of nationwide order. Amid Sengoku division he sought mediation in the shogun's name, but lacked real force.
He is said to have studied warfare under Tsukahara Bokuden and was called the sword shogun. Trying to back authority with arms set him apart among Sengoku shoguns.
Tension with Miyoshi power rose to open conflict, then peace. The balance of shogun and Kinai hegemon stayed fragile; Yoshiteru's independent moves always carried risk.
When Oda Nobunaga defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto, Yoshiteru continued shogunal activity in Kyoto. Eastern shifts were still distant; dealings with the Miyoshi in the Kinai were the immediate task.
He refurbished the Nijo palace to show shogunal dignity. Surrounding warlords grew wary of his moves, and tension climbed toward armed clash.
When Nagayoshi died, the Miyoshi Triumvirate and Matsunaga Hisahide fought for power. Yoshiteru saw a chance for personal rule and new alliances, deepening conflict with the Miyoshi again.
Miyoshi Yoshitsugu and the Triumvirate attacked the Nijo palace; Yoshiteru fought with his sword and lost his life—the Eiroku Incident. A shogun killed in his Kyoto residence shocked the realm.
Matsunaga HisahideImagawa YoshimotoMiyoshi NagayoshiAsakura YoshikageHosokawa TadaokiOda NobunagaHosokawa Yūsai (Fujitaka)
Oda NobunagaHosokawa Yūsai (Fujitaka)Shimazu YoshihiroNiwa NagahideToyotomi HideyoshiAshikaga YoshiakiMaeda ToshiieHōjō Ujimasa
People of the Sengoku/Azuchi-Momoyama period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.