Ashikaga Takauji

Ashikaga Takauji (1305–1358) was a prominent Japanese military leader and founder of the Ashikaga shogunate, which ruled Japan from 1336 to 1573. Originally a loyal supporter of the Imperial Court, he switched allegiance to the rival Kamakura shogunate and later rebelled against the ruling family, establishing his own military government in Kyoto. Takauji’s leadership marked the beginning of the Muromachi period, characterized by a divided Japan with regional clans vying for power. His actions significantly shaped Japanese history by transitioning political authority from the imperial court to a military government led by shoguns.