The Genpei War (1180-1185 CE), also known as the Taira-Minamoto War, was a conflict in Japan principally between two rival clans: the Minamoto and Taira, for control of the imperial throne. The civil war was punctuated by a typhoon, earthquake, famine and a plague but was finally ended at the decisive Battle of Dannoura when the defeated leader of the Taira, Tomomori, and the claimant to the throne Antoku, both committed suicide. In the aftermath of the war, the Kamakura Shogunate was established by Minamoto no Yoritomo and the military would go on to dominate Japanese government for centuries to come.
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Definition
Timeline
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794 - 1185The Heian Period in ancient Japan.
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1180The Todaiji Temple at Nara is destroyed by fire during the Genpei War.
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1180Taira forces defeat an army led by Minamoto no Yorimasa.
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1180 - 1185The Genpei War in Japan between the Taira and Minamoto clans.
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1181Taira forces defeat an army led by Minamoto no Yukie.
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1183Japanese emperor Go-Shirakawa officially recognises the authority of Minamoto no Yoritomo in the Kanto region.
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1183Kiso Yoshinaka defeats a large Taira army at Kurikara in Etchu and occupies the Japanese capital Heiankyo (Kyoto).
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1185Battle of Dannoura where the Minamoto defeat the rival Taira. The young emperor Antoku drowns.
