Timeline June 1180

Events in June 1180 3

• 1104 – 1180 Minamoto no Yorimasa (1104-1180) Died 20 June 1180, aged 76 Minamoto no Yorimasa, a court poet and warrior who had risen to the senior nobility, raised Prince Mochihito's revolt against Taira dominance in 1180. Defeated at the Battle of Uji, he took his own life at the Byodo-in temple, becoming one of the first notable casualties of the Genpei War. His death is traditionally cited as an early example of ritual seppuku by a samurai.
• 1180 Taira no Kiyomori relocates the capital to Fukuhara Short-lived move away from Kyoto Taira no Kiyomori, the dominant power behind the Japanese court, moved the imperial capital from Kyoto to Fukuhara in June 1180 to consolidate his clan's control and reduce the influence of rival court factions. The relocation proved unpopular and impractical, and the capital returned to Kyoto within the year. The episode reflected the Taira clan's growing isolation amid mounting opposition.
• 1180 Battle of Uji Opening battle of Japan's Genpei War Forces of the Taira clan defeated Minamoto no Yorimasa and Prince Mochihito at the Uji River on 20 June 1180, in the first clash of the Genpei War between the Minamoto and Taira clans. Yorimasa was wounded and committed suicide after the defeat, while Mochihito was killed fleeing the battle. The clash set off a civil war that would last five years and end Taira dominance over Japan.