Ashikaga Takauji was a Japanese general and the founder of the Ashikaga shogunate, which ruled Japan from 1336 to 1573. Born in 1305, he initially served the Kamakura shogunate but later rebelled against it, leading to the Nanboku-chō period, a time of civil war and political strife. Takauji played a crucial role in the Genkō War, helping to establish the Ashikaga family's power. His leadership marked the beginning of a new era in Japanese history, characterized by the rise of regional warlords and the decline of central authority.