The shoguns of medieval Japan were military dictators who ruled the country via a feudal system where a vassal's military service and loyalty was given in return for a lord's patronage. Established as an institution by the first shogun proper, Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1192 CE, the shoguns would rule for seven centuries until the Meiji Restoration of 1868 CE. The position of shogun was held by members of certain families which gave their names to two of the three successive shogunate governments (bakufu): the Ashikaga Shogunate (r. 1338-1573 CE) and Tokugawa Shogunate (r. 1603-1868 CE). In the case of the first shogunate, the capital gave its name to the government: the Kamakura Shogunate (r. 1192-1333 CE). The other shogunates may also be referred to by their capitals: Muromachi (Ashikaga Shogunate), an area of Heiankyo/Kyoto, and Edo (Tokugawa Shogunate), the original name of Tokyo.
More about: ShogunDefinition
Timeline
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1147 - 1199Life of Minamoto no Yoritomo, clan leader of the Minamoto and first shogun of Japan.
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1192 - 1333The Kamakura Shogunate rules Japan.
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1192 - 1199Minamoto no Yoritomo is shogun in Japan.
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1202 - 1203Minamoto no Yorie is shogun of Japan.
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1203 - 1219Minamoto no Sanetomo is shogun of Japan.
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1203 - 1205Hojo Tokimasa acts as regent to Japan's shogun, the first of 16 such regents
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1221The Jokyu Disturbance - Japan's emperor Go-Toba launches a failed coup against the Kamakura Shogunate.
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1225The position of vice-regent to the shogun (rensho) is created in Japan.
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1327 - 1333Hojo Moritoki reigns as shogun in Japan, the last of the Kamakura Shogunate.
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c. 1333Nitta Yoshisada attacks and destroys Kamakura, capital of Japan's Kamakura Shogunate.
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1333 - 1336The Kenmu Restoration when the Japanese emperor Go-Daigo uses rebel warlords to oust the Kamakura Shogunate.
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1333The position of deputy shogun (kanrei) is created in Japan.
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1338Ashikaga Takauji becomes the new shogun in Japan, it is the beginning of the Ashikaga (Muromachi) Shogunate.
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1338 - 1573The Ashikaga (Muromachi) Shogunate rules Japan.
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1338 - 1358Ashikaga Takauji rules as shogun in Japan.
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1350 - 1352Japan's shogun Ashikaga Takauji battles his brother Tadayoshi.
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1359 - 1368Ashikaga Yoshiakira rules as shogun in Japan.
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1368 - c. 1394Ashikaga Yoshimitsu rules as shogun in Japan.
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1395 - 1423Ashikaga Yoshimochi rules as shogun in Japan.
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1397The Kinkakuji or 'Golden Pavilion' is built in Heiankyo (Kyoto) by the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.
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1423 - 1425Ashikaga Yoshikazu rules as shogun in Japan.
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1429 - 1441Ashikaga Yoshinori rules as shogun in Japan.
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1442 - 1443Ashikaga Yoshikatsu rules as shogun in Japan.
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1449 - 1474Ashikaga Yoshimasa rules as shogun in Japan.
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1460 - 1483Ginkakuji Temple (Silver Pavilion) is built in Heiankyo (Kytoto) Japan by Ashikaga Yoshimasa.
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1467 - 1477The Onin War between rival warlords rages in Japan.
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1467 - 1568The Sengoku Period or Warring States Period in Japan.
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1474 - 1489Ashikaga Yoshihisa rules as shogun in Japan.
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1490 - 1493Ashikaga Yoshitane rules in his first spell as shogun of Japan.
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1494 - 1508Ashikaga Yoshizumi rules as shogun in Japan.
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1508 - 1521Ashikaga Yoshitane rules in his second spell as shogun of Japan.
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1521 - 1546Ashikaga Yoshiharu rules as shogun in Japan.
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1546 - 1565Ashikaga Yoshiteru rules as shogun in Japan.
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1568Ashikaga Yoshihide rules as shogun in Japan.
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1568 - 1588Ashikaga Yoshiaki rules as shogun in Japan (but is exiled by Oda Nobunaga from 1573 CE).
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1573Oda Nobunaga exiles the last Ashikaga shogun, Yoshiaki.
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1600Tokugawa Ieyasu wins the Battle of Sekigahara against those generals who supported Toyotomi Hideyoshi's son. End of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period.
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1603 - 1868Edo period. The Tokugawa Shogunate rules Japan.
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1603 - 1605Tokugawa Ieyasu rules as shogun in Japan.
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1868The Meiji Restoration eliminates the position of shogun in Japan, Edo is renamed Tokyo, and Edo Castle becomes the Imperial Palace.
