Since the 13th seii taishogun (literally, "great general who subdues the barbarians") Iesada TOKUGAWA was poor in health and did not have an heir, the Bakumatsu no shikenko members including Yodo and Nariaki TOKUGAWA (the lord of the Mito Domain) recommended Yoshinobu TOKUGAWA as the next shogun.
13代征夷大将軍・徳川家定が病弱で嗣子が無かったため、容堂ほか四賢侯、水戸藩主・徳川斉昭らは次期将軍に徳川慶喜を推していた。