Daimyo-gyoretsu initially referred to a form of military traffic preparing for battles which was based on a march in war time (for example, longer swords than ordinary one were allowed to carry), but as peace in Edo lasted long, it gradually changed to a political thing to show off their authority and social status.
大名行列は本来、戦時の行軍に準じた臨戦的・軍事的な移動形態（帯刀する刀の長さも通常の長さより大きなものでもよいなど）であったが、江戸時代の太平が続くと次第に大名の権威と格式を誇示するための政治的なものに変容した。