Yoshiaki ASHIKAGA was the brother of Yoshiteru ASHIKAGA, the 13th shogun of the Muromachi bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun), and now it was ensured that Yoshiaki, who entered Kyoto with Nobunaga's military power, would ascend to the throne from the 14th shogun Yoshihide ASHIKAGA.
足利義昭は室町幕府13代将軍足利義輝の弟であり、義昭が信長の武力とともに京都に入ったことで、将軍の地位は14代足利義栄から義昭に渡ることが確実になった。