The shogun was the military dictator of Japan, holding supreme military authority and wielding immense political influence. They were the head of the bakufu (military government), and while the emperor was still considered the symbolic head of state, the shogun held the real power.
Here's a breakdown:
* The Kamakura Shogunate (1185-1333): This period saw the first shogun, Minamoto no Yoritomo, and subsequent shoguns from the Minamoto clan.
* The Muromachi Shogunate (1338-1573): This period saw the Ashikaga shogunate, with various shoguns from the Ashikaga family.
* The Edo Shogunate (1603-1868): This period saw the Tokugawa shogunate, with various shoguns from the Tokugawa family.
So, although there were multiple shogunates throughout Japanese history, each shogunate had a single individual holding the position of shogun at any given time.