He became a successor of his older brother Yoshimasa who did not have any children, but after his older brother's son Yoshihisa ASHIKAGA was born there was a dispute over the position of the shogun, and the Onin War ensued.
嗣子に恵まれない兄・義政の後継となったが、後に兄に足利義尚が生まれると、将軍位をめぐって対立して応仁の乱を引き起こす。