The actual political power of the Ashikaga Shogunate, however, was not long-lived and, after the mid Muromachi Period, San-ke Shi-shoku (三家四職), except for the Hosokawa clan, declined and, rather than the Shogunate rein, the coalition government due to some powerful shugo, became stronger and this created a power struggle among factions that lead to frequent wars, such as the Onin War, breaking out.
しかし、足利将軍職の政治的実権は長くは続かず、室町時代中盤以降となると、三家四職も細川氏を除いてはおしなべて衰退して、幕府統制と言うよりも有力守護らによる連合政権的な色彩を強めて派閥闘争を生み、応仁の乱などの戦乱が頻発するようになった。