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The was a senior government post held by members of the Hōjō clan, officially a regent of the shogunate. From 1199 to 1333, during the Kamakura period, the shikken served as the head of the bakufu (shogun's government). This era was referred to as Shikken Seiji.9780521223522, Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521223522
During roughly the first half of that period, the shikken was the de facto military dictator of Japan (excluding the independent Northern Fujiwara). In 1256 the title of shikken was relegated to the second in command of the Tokusō (a separate rank also monopolized by the Hojō clan). By the Muromachi period (1333–1573) the position, though not abolished, had lost much of its power and was no longer considered as one of the top ranks. The position was abolished after the Muromachi period.
Hōjō Tokimasa, was the father-in-law of Yoritomo through his wife Hōjō Masako, and became the first shikken in 1203, after Yoritomo's death. The shikken was the chief of the mandokoro at that time. Tokimasa became the de facto ruler of the shōgunate by monopolizing decisions for the young shōguns Yoriie and Sanetomo who were the sons of Yoritomo and Masako and thus Tokimasa's maternal grandchildren, executing whoever got in his way, family or not. Tokimasa's grandson Yoriie and great-grandson were murdered on Tokimasa's orders, a year after he replaced the more independent Yoriie with his younger brother Sanetomo as shōgun.
Tokimasa's son Yoshitoki strengthened the position of shikken by integrating it with the post of Samurai-dokoro, after annihilating the powerful Wada clan, who had dominated the latter position. The shikken became the highest post, controlling puppet shōguns in practice. In 1224, Yoshitoki's son Hōjō Yasutoki set up the position of rensho (cosigner), or assistant regent.
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