Ashikaga Takauji

Reign: 1338 – 1358
Life: 1305–1358

He was known as Minamoto no Takauji was a Japanese samurai. His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromachi period of Japan, and ended with his death in 1358. He was a male-line descendant of the samurai of the (Minamoto) Seiwa Genji line (meaning they were descendants of Emperor Seiwa) who had settled in the Ashikaga area of Shimotsuke Province, in present-day Tochigi Prefecture. According to Zen master and intellectual Musō Soseki, who enjoyed his favor and collaborated with him, Takauji had three qualities: he kept his cool in battle and was not afraid of death, he was merciful and tolerant, and he was very generous with those below him. Due to his rise to power by betraying his former masters, such as the Kamakura shogunate and Emperor Go-Daigo, he has a historical reputation as one of Japan's Three Great Villains (日本三大梟雄), a nickname which he shared with Dōkyō and Taira no Kiyomori; who also known with similar sobriquet as Japan's Three Great Villains by Confucian-minded history scholars due to their lack of loyalty to the throne.

During Ashikaga Takauji's reign, Edward III of England ruled England, Orhan ruled Ottoman Empire, and Afonso IV of Portugal ruled Portugal.

Want to learn more? Further reading

A History of Japan to 1334 by George Sansom

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The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

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A History of Japan to 1334

George Sansom

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