Genpei War

The Genpei War was a Japanese civil war fought from 1180 to 1185 between the Taira and Minamoto clans. Minamoto victory ended Taira rule and enabled the Kamakura shogunate’s establishment.

Battle of Uji: A 1180 battle in which Minamoto forces fought Taira troops at the Uji River near Kyoto. The fighting at Uji marked the conflict’s opening phase after Minamoto no Yorimasa’s revolt.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune: A Minamoto military commander celebrated for victories against the Taira during the Genpei War. His campaigns at Ichi-no-Tani, Yashima, and Dan-no-ura secured the Minamoto victory.
Hōgen Rebellion: A 1156 conflict over imperial succession that drew the Taira and Minamoto clans into rival court factions. It foreshadowed the clans’ growing military influence and political competition.
Kamakura shogunate: A Japanese military government established by Minamoto no Yoritomo at Kamakura in the late twelfth century. It institutionalized the Minamoto victory and placed warrior government alongside the imperial court.
Battle of Fujigawa: A 1180 encounter near the Fuji River in which Taira forces withdrew after a nighttime disturbance among waterfowl. The episode illustrates the uncertain, often uneven early fighting between the clans.
Battle of Kurikara: An 1183 battle in which Minamoto no Yoshinaka defeated a large Taira army in the mountains of Etchū Province. Yoshinaka’s victory opened the route to Kyoto and forced the Taira court to flee.
Minamoto no Yoshinaka: A Minamoto warrior who captured Kyoto in 1183 before falling into conflict with Yoritomo’s forces. His rise and defeat show that Minamoto victory did not eliminate rivalry within the clan.
Heiji Rebellion: A 1159 uprising in Kyoto in which Taira no Kiyomori defeated Minamoto rivals. The Taira victory deepened the rivalry that later erupted into the Genpei War.
Shogun: A Japanese military ruler whose office became the leading authority under successive warrior governments. Yoritomo’s postwar appointment established the shogun as a central political office.
Siege of Hōjūjidono: A 1180 attack in Kyoto in which Minamoto no Yorimasa’s forces fought Taira troops at the imperial residence. The clash entangled the war’s opening rebellion with control of the emperor.

Linked from 25 pages