The first person to take the post was Motouji ASHIKAGA in 1349 who went to Kamakura to take over the duties of Yoshiakira ASHIKAGA when Yoshiakira had to return to Kyoto in order to administer affairs of state instead of Naoyoshi ASHIKAGA who had entered into conflict with Takauji ASHIKAGA, his older brother (this conflict lead to the 'Kanno Disturbance').
1349年に足利尊氏と弟の足利直義が対立（「観応の擾乱」に発展）した際、直義に代わって政務を執るために上京した足利義詮の後を継いで鎌倉に下向した足利基氏を初代とする。