* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Ashikaga Mochiuji
足利持氏
Fourth Kamakura Kubō of the Muromachi Shogunate, Who Survived the Uesugi Zenshū Rebellion but Clashed with Shogun Ashikaga Yoshinori and Died in the Eikyō Rebellion
- Era
- Muromachi
- Lifespan
- 1398-1439
Description
Ashikaga Mochiuji was the fourth Kamakura kubō of the Muromachi shogunate. He was born in 1398 (Ōei 5) and died on 24 March 1439 (Eikyō 11, 2nd month, 10th day). He held office from 1409 to 1439. His father was Ashikaga Mitsukane, the third Kamakura kubō.
Rank and overview
He came of age on the 22nd day of the 12th month of Ōei 17 (1410) and became Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade, and Sama no kami. In the 12th month of Ōei 27 (1420) he rose to Junior Third Rank and was transferred to Sahyōe no kami (Captain of the Left Military Guards). He took Buddhist vows in the 10th month of Eikyō 10 (1438).
The Uesugi Zenshū Rebellion
In 1416 (Ōei 23) Uesugi Zenshū (Ujinori) and Ashikaga Mitsutaka rose in arms, and Mochiuji was driven out of Kamakura and fled to Suruga. In 1417, Uesugi Fusakata, Imagawa Norimasa and others, acting on the shogunate's orders, suppressed the revolt, and Zenshū and his allies killed themselves. Mochiuji returned to Kamakura.
Conflict with Shogun Yoshinori
Mochiuji looked down on Ashikaga Yoshinori as the "shogun who had left the priesthood," and is said not to have sent an envoy to congratulate him on his accession. Even after the era name changed to Eikyō, he went on using the previous name, Shōchō. The Kantō kanrei Uesugi Norizane tried to reconcile the two but was rebuffed, and in 1437 he stopped issuing enforcement orders and resigned as kanrei.
The Eikyō Rebellion
In the 6th month of Eikyō 10 (1438), at the coming-of-age of his heir Kenōmaru, Mochiuji had him take the name Yoshihisa without receiving a character from the shogun. Norizane opposed this and stayed away from the ceremony. When Norizane left Kamakura in the 8th month, Mochiuji regarded it as treason and sent an army against him. The shogunate sent a large force to Norizane's aid, and Mochiuji was declared an enemy of the court. In the 9th month his army was defeated and he was isolated by the betrayal of Miura Tokitaka and others. He took vows at Shōmyōji and was confined at Eian-ji.
His end
On 24 March 1439 (Eikyō 11, 2nd month, 10th day), Norizane's troops attacked Eian-ji and Mochiuji killed himself. Yoshihisa and Ashikaga Mitsusada, the Inamura kubō, also took their own lives.