Although he was the second (or third) son, he inherited the Ashikaga no sho (Ashikaga manor) in Shimotsuke Province owned by the Ashikaga clan (the Fujiwara clan) from his father, Yoshikuni and then claimed the Ashikaga clan.
次男（三男）であるが、父義国から足利氏(藤原氏)の割拠する下野国足利庄を相続し、足利氏を称した。