Stories of the Japanese 00989 [Early Northern and Southern Courts Period] Tadafuyu Departs for the Western Provinces
It is troublesome to write out both era names every time, but it is even more troublesome to try to use them selectively, such as 'using the Northern Court era name when talking about Northern Court-related matters, and the Southern Court era name when talking about Southern Court-related matters.'
March 14, 1348 (Shohei 3 / Jowa 4). Takauji's residence in Higashinotoin happened to be destroyed by fire. Having lost his place to live, Takauji stayed at Ko Moronao's residence in Imadegawa for the time being. Although this is a trivial episode, the fact that he chose Moronao's residence in Imadegawa instead of Tadayoshi's residence in Sanjo-bomon can be seen as foreshadowing that Takauji would side with Moronao during the later conflict between Tadayoshi and Moronao.
On May 28, a Southern Court rebellion occurred in Kii Province, and the shogunate decided to dispatch Ashikaga Tadafuyu (1327?–1387?) to suppress it.
This marks the first appearance of Ashikaga Tadafuyu, another important figure in the history of the Northern and Southern Courts period in Kyushu.
To begin with, Takauji had three sons at this point.
・Second son: Tadafuyu (1327–1387)
・Third son: Yoshiakira (1330–1367) = childhood name Senjuo
・Fourth son: Motouji (1340–1367)
The eldest son, Takewakamaru, had already passed away. The second son, Tadafuyu, was an illegitimate child, and while his mother is called Echizen no Tsubone, no specific details about what kind of person she was have been passed down. It is said that she was just someone Takauji spent a single night with, so she does not even seem to have been recognized as a concubine.
On the other hand, Yoshiakira and Motouji were born to his legal wife, Akahashi Toko, so Yoshiakira was the legitimate heir.
Tadafuyu's very existence was unknown to those around him, but one day, a monk named Genkei, who had been raising Tadafuyu, told Tadayoshi about this, and through Tadayoshi's mediation, a meeting between father and son was finally permitted.
However, for reasons unknown, Takauji persistently disliked Tadafuyu and kept him at a distance. Therefore, Tadayoshi, who had not been blessed with children, negotiated with Takauji and took Tadafuyu as his adopted son. The name 'Tadafuyu' was also given to him by Tadayoshi.
Tadafuyu set out gallantly, fought against the Southern Court army in Kii Province from August 8 to 9, and successfully pacified the region despite suffering many casualties. Tadafuyu returned in triumph on September 28, but it is said that Takauji was not at all pleased and did not utter a single word to praise his military achievements.
After that, although the exact timing is unknown, by April 1349 (Shohei 4 / Jowa 5) at the latest, Tadafuyu was appointed as Nagato Tandai (also known as Chugoku Tandai) to pacify the western provinces and departed from Kyoto. The reasons he was entrusted with the pacification of the western provinces include:
・Because he was disliked and kept at a distance by Takauji
・Because of Tadayoshi's parental concern to 'keep him from getting involved in political strife'
There are various theories, and it is not well understood.
I hope you will keep this Tadafuyu in mind, as he will emerge as an important figure once the conflict between the brothers Takauji and Tadayoshi begins.