Nagayoshi Miyoshi

Nagayoshi Miyoshi, also known as Chōkei, is a daimyo who installed Yoshiteru Ashikaga as a puppet leader to influence the imperial court from behind the scenes.

He placed forty-fifth in the Nobunaga no Yabou Taishi poll for most favorite father.

Role in Games
In the Japanese version of Samurai Warriors, naming an edit character after Nagayoshi will boost specific stats. His appearances in the series are limited to the Empires spin-offs.

Nobunaga's Ambition portrays him as a capable but malicious officer. In Rise to Power, he may be prodded into assassinating Yoshiteru if he and Hisahide are in the same castle.

Historical Information
Born in Awa Province, Nagayoshi sought to gain control as family head, though his uncle Masanaga was constantly in the way. Upon leading an army to the capital in 1539, he saw his opportunity to seize power by forming an alliance with the Hosokawa clan, particularly Hosokawa Harumoto. At the time, the Hosokawa were afflicted by internal conflict caused by Ujitsuna. Nagayoshi, for his part, helped repel the troublemaker from Sakai in 1543 and subverted the latter's siege three years later. However, that did not stop them from helping each other bring about Masanaga's downfall in 1548.

Having assumed the name Chōkei and distancing himself from the Hosokawa, the warlord attacked Miyake Castle and forced Harumoto to surrender. Chōkei's victory was said to have been due to the skilled pikemen under his employ. He then focused his attention on the Yamato region by befriending the Tsutsui. With the aid of Matsunaga Hisahide and the Miyoshi Trio, Chōkei was made Ashikaga Yoshiteru's regent. He used the young shogun as a figurehead to sway the imperial court to his favor. Although Yoshiteru once attempted to revolt alongside the Rokkaku, he ended up being driven out from Kyoto and only returned after signing a truce with the Miyoshi.

Because of Chōkei's actions, the Miyoshi clan rose to considerable power after a prolonged stand-off with the Rokkaku and Hosokawa. After succumbing to illness, his adopted son Yoshitsugu succeeded him. Sources claim he died at the hands of his right-hand man Hisahide, though this has yet to be verified. While criticized by historians as a villain who used others for his own ends, Chōkei was also a talented poet who supported the arts. He even allowed Christian missionaries to proselytize despite being a Buddhist himself.