Tokugawa Ienobu
In 1709, "shōgun" Tsunayoshi died without a male heir. In genealogical terms, it would have appeared reasonable for the "daimyō" of Kōfu, Tokugawa Ienobu, to be elevated to the role of "shōgun" because he was the only remaining direct lineal descendant of Tokugawa Ieyasu. However, this was a secondary factor in the context of intra-"bakufu" politics which were carried over from the last days of the Tsunayoshi "bakufu". The ultimate resolution of any questions about shogunal succession were probably influenced most effectively by the fact that Ienobu was the expressed preference of the late "shōgun" Tsunayoshi's wife.