Ashikaga Yoshinori - Assassination

Assassination

Yoshinori was notorious for his oppressive measures and unpredictable dictatorial whims. Yoshinori was assassinated at the age of 48 by Akamatsu Mitsusuke, who had learned that Yoshinori planned to bestow on a youthful male favorite three provinces belonging to Mitususuke; shortly thereafter, it was determined that his 8-year-old son, Yoshikatsu, would become the new shogun.

Although the Ashikaga line continued through this seventh shogun, the power of the shoguns gradually eroded and the shogunate fell into decline. The mere fact of that assassination and treason had become a reality had served to undercut the previous military ethic of loyalty.