Ashikaga Mochiuji

Tomb attributed to Ashikaga Mochiuji

Ashikaga Mochiuji ( Japanese 足 利 持 氏 ; born 1398 ; died March 24, 1439 ) was a high Japanese official (4th Kamakura Kanryō, so administrator of the area of ​​Kamakura) during the Muromachi period .

Live and act

Ashikaga Mochiuchi, son of Ashikaga Mitsukane (足 利 満 兼; 1376-1409), was only eleven years old when he succeeded his father as the 4th Kanryō. At the beginning, Uesugi Norisada (上杉 徳 貞), Shitsuji, ruled in his place. After his death in 1411 Norisada's son Ujinori (上杉 氏 憲; † 1417) took over this task. Five years later, Ujinori organized a plot to replace Mochiuji with his brother Mochinaka (持 仲; † 1417). Mochiuji immediately turned to Uesugi Morimoto (上杉 憲 基; 1388-1418) and asked him for help. He first sought refuge in the province of Ise , then in Suruga , until Imagawa Noritada (今 川 範 忠; 1408–1461) finally brought him to Kyoto . Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimochi ordered all daimyo to be in the kanto-Area to support Mochiuji. In the meantime, Morimoto, who was able to raise troops in Echigo Province , came back from there and was able to beat Ujinori. Mochiuji returned to Kamakura, where Mochinaka had since killed himself.

After Yoshimochi's death in 1428, Mochiuji tried in vain to succeed him as Shogun. When Yoshinori took office, Mochiuji swore vengeance. Convinced that Uesugi Norizane (上杉 憲 実; 1410–1466) was the reason for his failure, Mochiuji decided to get rid of him. But since Norizane possessed both power and was popular in Kantō, it was not easy. Mochiuji discussed measures with Isshiki Naokane and Uesugi Norinao, but that was discovered: Mochiuji had to apologize to Norizane and send his two allies into exile. When Mochiuji made further attempts, Norizane retired to his Hirai Castle in Kōzuke Province and notified the Shōgun of the incidents. He ordered Mochiuji to be eliminated. Mochiuji was made in 1439 in the temple Eian-ji (永安寺) in the province of Musashi and committed suicide . His uncle Mitsusada and his eldest son Yoshihisa (足 利 義 久) also committed suicide in the Hōkoku-ji (報 国寺) temple in Kamakura. This ended after 90 years the office of Kanryo in the Ashikaga family.

However, the three younger sons of Mochiujis fled to Nikko . 1440 brought Yūki Ujitomo (氏 朝; 1398-1441), daimyo at Koga Castle in Shimousa Province , the sons and stood up for their cause. But his castle was conquered and he lost his life in the process. Two of his protégés, Haruō-maru (春 王 丸) and Yasuō-maru (安 王 丸), were caught and executed while fleeing in the province of Mino , the older one was 13 years old and the younger only 11.

Remarks

1. ↑ Am Betsugan-ji (別 願 寺), Kamakura.
2. ↑ Shitsuji (執事) was vice president of the administration of the shogunate.

literature

• Edmond Papinot: Ashikaga Mochiuji. In: Historical and Geographical Dictionary of Japan. Reprinted by Tuttle, 1972 edition of 1910 edition. ISBN 0-8048-0996-8 .

Japanese name: As is common in Japan, the family name comes before the first name in this article . Thus Ashikaga is the family name, Mochiuji the first name.