During the reign of the Muromachi Shogunate's second Shogun Yoshiakira ASHIKAGA, a conflict had arisen among the group of shugo (Protectors), and after such men as the steward Kiyouji HOSOKAWA were driven out of power, they defected to the Southern Court at Yoshino, who managed to recapture Kyoto, which left the shogunate in a very unstable position.
室町幕府の2代将軍足利義詮の頃には守護同士が対立し、執事の細川清氏などは失脚した後に吉野朝廷に属して京都を奪還するなど幕政は不安定な状態にあった。