The clan contributed to toppling the Kamakura bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) as well as setting up the Muromachi bakufu, and enjoyed the domination as one of the shugo daimyo (Shugo, which were Japanese provincial military governors, that became daimyo, which were Japanese feudal lords).
鎌倉幕府の打倒、室町幕府の創設に寄与し、守護大名の一人として勢威を振るった。