Japanese Shogun

By Crusader1307

The well-known Title of “Shogun” was indicative to Japanese History as “Military Dictator”. It was seen in great use from 10th Century AD to the 19th Century AD. Men of great Power and Wealth, they could recruit huge Armies to control their Territories. The first Holder of the Title of “Shogun” was claimed during The Kamakura Period (1199-1300 AD). Most Shogun's were appointed by an Emperor as a means of maintaining control over his vast Territories and allowed to raise Armies to accomplish this. The Shogun was roughly equivalent to The European “Duke”. Most Shogun's recruited their own loyal Samurai (although this was not necessarily a requirement of being appointed as a “Shogun”).

Tasked to enforce Law and collect Taxes and Imperial Tributes, as one might expect – many Shoguns began to steal or direct portions towards their own fortunes. Conversely, many Shoguns disliked one another (for very much the same reasons of “having” more than “another”). Not all Shoguns were corrupt, however. Their seat of Power was normally a “Court” held within elaborate Castle, designed and built for great height (and often on water), to further protect a Shogun from Enemies. In some Periods of Feudal Japan, when their was no Emperor or Dynastic Family to control The Country, “Shogunate Wars” would break out as different Regional Shoguns fought and vied for control and Supremacy. Many of these “Dynastic Civil Wars” were long and bloody.

At different Period, Emperors (fearing Coups), would disband The Shogun (often having to recruit huge Armies to do this). The largest attempt to dissolve The Shogun was in 1867 by Emperor Meji and The Tokugawa War. The resulting War (one of Japan's most bloodiest internal struggles). Would effectively destroy the nearly 1,000 year Reign of The Shoguns.