Taira no Shigehira

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Taira no Shigehira (平重衡?) (1158 – 1185) was one of the sons of Taira no Kiyomori, and one of the Taira Clan's chief commanders during the Heian period of the 12th century of Japan. Following the Battle of Uji in 1180, Shigehira ordered the burning of Nara (see Siege of Nara).

After defeating Minamoto no Yukiie at the Battle of Sunomatagawa, Shigehira was named commander-in-chief of the Taira forces, and was given 13,000 men.

He was defeated and captured four years later at the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani, and then turned over to the monks of the Tōdai-ji, which he had burned. He was then beheaded by the monks in late 1185.

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[edit] References

  • Sansom, George (1958). A History of Japan to 1334. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
  • Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. London: Cassell & Co.