Heiji Rebellion
Three years later in 1159, Yoshitomo and Fujiwara no Nobuyori placed Go-Shirakawa under house arrest and killed his retainer, the scholar Fujiwara no Michinori, in what is called the Heiji Rebellion. Yoshitomo was angry that the Taira had become the favorite of the imperial court after the Hogen Rebellion despite the sacrifice of the Minamoto. Eventually, Taira no Kiyomori, in support of Go-Shirakawa, defeated Yoshitomo and killed his two eldest sons and Nobuyori, releasing Go-Shirakawa.
After escaping from Kyoto, Yoshitomo was betrayed and killed by a retainer in Owari Province. His remaining sons Yoritomo along with Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Minamoto no Noriyori were later spared and exiled by Kiyomori. It is said that Yoshitomo was killed unarmed while taking a bath at a hot spring. His grave in Aichi Prefecture is surrounded on all sides by wooden swords (bokuto), as by legend his last words were "If only I had even a bokuto...".
Read more about this topic: Minamoto No Yoshitomo
Famous quotes containing the word rebellion:
“The rebellion is against time pollution, the feeling that the essence of what makes life worth living—the small moments, the special family getaways, the cookies in the oven, the weekend drives, the long dreamlike summers Mso much of this has been taken from us, or we have given it up. For what? Hitachi stereos? Club Med? Company cars? Racquetball? For fifteen-hour days and lousy day care?”
—Richard Louv (20th century)