The Imperial seats during the Nanboku-chō period were in relatively close proximity, but geographically distinct. They were conventionally identified as:
During the Meiji period, an Imperial decree dated March 3, 1911 established that the legitimate reigning monarchs of this period were the direct descendants of Emperor Go-Daigo through Emperor Go-Murakami, whose Southern Court (南朝, nanchō) had been established in exile in Yoshino, near Nara.
Until the end of the Edo period, the militarily superior pretender-Emperors supported by the Ashikaga shogunate had been mistakenly incorporated in Imperial chronologies despite widespread recognition that the Imperial Regalia were not in their possession.
1381, also called Eitoku gannen (永徳元年): The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. The previous era ended and the new one commenced in Kōryaku 3.
In this time frame, Kōwa (Muromachi period) (1381–1384) was the Southern Court equivalent nengō.
Events of the Eitoku era
1381 (Eitoku 1, 3rd month): The emperor travels in procession to see Ashikaga Yoshimitsu at his palacial home in Muromachi.
1381 (Eitoku 1, 7th month): the kampakuNijō Yoshimoto is elevated to the position of daijō daijin. Yoshimitsu is raised to the Imperial court position of nadaijin at the young age of 24. Yoshimoto and Yoshimitsu work well in harmony together.
1382 (Eitoku 2, 1st month): Yoshimitsu is raised to the court position of sadaijin, and several days later, he was named General of the Left (sadaisho). In this same period, Fujiwara no Sanetoki is elevated from the position of dainagon to nadaijin.
↑Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Eitoku" in Japan encyclopedia, p. 173; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, seeDeutsche Nationalbibliothek Authority File[link removed].
↑Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Shitoku" in Japan encyclopedia, p. 875; n.b., Nussbaum identifies Eitoku's end in March 1383 and Shitoku's beginning a year later in March 1384.