Minamoto no Yoshihira


Minamoto no Yoshihira was a Minamoto clan warrior who fought alongside his father, Minamoto no Yoshitomo, in the Heiji Rebellion.

Story

His mother was the daughter of Miura no Yoshiaki, thus indicating the close ties between the two families. His brothers were Minamoto Tomonaga, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Noriyori and Yoritomo. He married the daughter of Minamoto no Yoshishige, Shojuhime.
In 1155, Yoshihira killed his uncle, Minamoto no Yoshikata, the father of Minamoto no Yoshinaka.
Then, in 1159, Yoshihira was sent to Kyoto to fight in the Heiji Rebellion. The Taira offered to make a peace agreement, but the Minamoto refused, and were soon defeated. Yoshihira succeeded to flee, then attempted to avenge his father by killing a Taira leader by coming back secretly to Kyoto, but he was betrayed, soon captured and decapitated by Taira no Kiyomori, the head of the enemy faction.