the clan was an ally of the ashikaga shogunate against the (imperial) southern court during the wars of the nanboku-chō period, and was rewarded by the shogunate with the hereditary position of "shugo" (governor) of the provinces of yamashiro, kii, kawachi, etchū, and noto, at the end of the 14th century. during the 15th century, the members of the hatakeyama clan held, although not exclusively, the title of "kanrei" (shōgun's deputy), holding great influence over the imperial court at kyoto. around 1450, there was a split in the clan, and the internal conflict weakened the clan as a whole, causing it to lose the position of "kanrei" to the hosokawa clan. this split began with a feud between hatakeyama masanaga and hatakeyama yoshinari over succession to the position; it quickly grew, as each side gained allies, and was one of the sparks that ignited the ōnin war.