The legend of the land of Mutsu. Magnificent Hundred

At that time, the roads became almost impassable due to a snowstorm. The sovereign's troops ran out of provisions, people and horses were tired. The rebels rode on fresh horses and rushed at the enemy. And it's not just that the rebels fought on their own land, they also greatly outnumbered Yoriyoshi's troops.

The sovereign's troops were defeated, and several hundred people were killed.

The eldest son of the commander, Yoshiie, had exceptional courage, rode a horse and shot from a bow like a god of war. Destroying the enemy with his sword, he and his detachment broke through the enemy's dense ring and outflanked them. Launching a buzzing arrow-turnip, he began to shoot at the rebels. Not a single arrow was wasted, each shot hit one of the enemies. He struck like lightning, flew like the wind, and in his courage was like a god of war. The ranks of the Emishi gave way, and no one dared to turn the sword against him. The Emishi called him Hachiman Taro. Han Li Guang was called the Flying Commander, but he could hardly be compared with Yoshiie.

Some Yoriyoshi warriors fled, others were wounded or killed. There are only six of them left. These were: the son of Yoriyoshi, Yoshiie, Shuri no Shoshin Fujiwara no Kagemiti, Oya no Mitsutoo, Kiyohara no Sadahiro, Fujiwara no Norisue and Fujiwara no Noriakira. More than two hundred rebels engulfed them on the right and left. Arrows fell like rain. The warlord's horse fell, struck by a stray arrow. Kagemichi found the horse and brought it to his master. Yoshiie's horse also fell from an arrow, and Noriakira captured the enemy's horse and gave it to Yoshiie. There was no way to break through, but Yoshiie continued to beat the enemies. Then Mitsutoo and the others, not sparing their lives, struck at the enemy, and the rebels, seeing that they were fighting like angry gods, gave in and retreated.

11. Loyalty to Tsunenori and Kagesue, retainers of Yoriyoshi

At that time there was a warrior in Yoriyoshi's army, whose name was san'i Saeki no Tsunenori. He was originally from the land of Sagami, and the military leader distinguished him. When the army was defeated, he managed to break through, but he failed to find the commander. I asked the soldiers who fled from the battlefield, and they answered:

The commander was surrounded by rebels, and he had only a few troops. Apparently, it is unlikely that he will break through.

Tsunenori then said:

I have served our warlord for thirty years. I, an old man, have already reached the age when I believe what my ears hear, and the military leader has reached the age when a chariot is hung up. And now, at the hour when we are defeated, will I not be able to share my fate with him? My only desire is to accompany him on his way to the next world.

And he turned his horse and again rushed at the rebels. Two or three of the soldiers who were with him reasoned:

Our master, out of loyalty, has already shared the fate of a military leader. Can we really live now? Even though we are just the warlord's subordinate servants, we will also show our loyalty!

Deciding so, they crashed into the enemy army and in the blink of an eye had already defeated a dozen rebels, but there were enemies like trees in the forest, and the brave men fell face to face with the enemy.

Fujiwara no Kagesue was the eldest son of Kagemichi. He was in his twenties, a man of few words, and an excellent archer at a gallop. In battle, looking death in the face, he was serene, as if he were in his own home. Having dispersed his horse, he crashed into the enemy ranks, hit another brave man and returned to his own. He did this seven or eight times, but the horse stumbled and they took him prisoner. It was a pity for them to have such a daredevil, but since he was close to Yoriyoshi, he was hacked to death.

Sani Wake no Munesuke, Ki no Tamekiyo and others, not sparing their lives, rushed to the enemy and laid down their lives for the commander Yoriyoshi. These warriors, obsessed with the lust for death, were all desperate brave men.

12. Hasty tonsure of Fujiwara no Shigeyori. The search for the master's body

Yoriyoshi also had his trusted associate, and his name was Fujiwara no Shigeyori. He fought bravely. After the defeat in the battle, he searched for a master for several days and still did not find. And he thought: “It’s true, the rebels killed him!”, And then he said to himself sadly and shedding tears: “I would like to mourn and bury his remains. However, do not get on the battlefield otherwise than under the guise of a monk. I will immediately shave my head and go to look for the body of the master! And he transformed into a monk and went to the battlefield, but on the way he met Yoriyoshi. There was no limit to their joy from the meeting and sadness from the defeat, and together they went away from there. Although this tonsure was hasty, it showed Shigeyori's true devotion.

13. Capture of the Taira no Kunitae

There was also a warrior, san'i Taira no Kunitae from the land of Deva. He fought bravely, and always defeated hordes of enemies with his small detachment. He had never suffered defeat, and therefore they called him "Invincible Taira." In this battle, the commander called him and placed him in the vanguard, but in the battle his horse fell, and the rebels captured him alive. The commander of the rebels was Tsunekiyo, and he was Kunitae's nephew, and therefore they saved his life, but other warriors considered such a salvation shameful.

14. Yoriyoshi in the report of the twelfth month of the fifth year of Tenki announces the failure

In the twelfth month of the same year, in a report on the state of affairs in the province, Yoriyoshi wrote:

“An answer to the lowest expressed request for the collection of troops and provisions from all the provinces did not follow. The population of this land fled to the neighboring ones, and evades military service. In response to the order to capture and return the fugitives, the ruler of the land of Dewa, Minamoto no ason Kanenaga, did nothing. If we do not receive confirmation of this decree, then it will not be possible to pacify the rebels.

Therefore, Kanenaga was removed from the control of the land of Deva, and was appointed the ruler of Minamoto no Ason Tadayori, so that he would join forces with Yoriyoshi to pacify Abe no Sadatoo.

Sadatoo was defeated. Yoriyoshi's warriors, inspired by victory, chased the fleeing enemy warriors. The rebels reached the Iwai River, but in the confusion, some got lost and did not find the crossing, some fell off the cliff, and some drowned in the rapids. A few reckless ones who attack the tiger unarmed or try to ford the Huang He tried to fight, but were killed. From the place of the battle to the river, a hundred rebels were killed and about three hundred horses were captured.

23. Takenori pursues the retreating rebel army. Yoriyoshi visits the wounded

The warlord said to Takenori:

Even though it was getting dark, the rebels must not be allowed to run, they must be overtaken by all means. If we give them a break today, they can fight tomorrow.

And Takenori set off to pursue the retreating, taking eight hundred strong warriors.

Yoriyoshi, upon returning to the camp, provided the soldiers with food and sake, and ordered them to put their weapons in order. He himself walked around the camp and helped treat the wounded. All the soldiers in a fit of gratitude said: “It is easier to give life for the good deeds of the master. To accept death for the master even now is not a pity. Tai Zong, who burned his mustache and sucked out the pus from the wounded, and he would not be compared with him!

Meanwhile, Takenori thought over the plan of attack, selected five dozen warriors ready to follow him into fire and water, and from the side of Nishiyama - the Western Mountain - made his way with them to the Sadatoo camp and fired at the enemy camp. Then the rest of his warriors, seeing the fire, rushed at the enemy with shouts from three sides. The Sadatoo camp did not expect an attack and became alarmed. The rebels rushed to cut themselves, not making out their own and others, and many of them were hacked to death. They abandoned the camp at Takanashi and the fortifications at Ishizaka, and fled to the Koromogawa outpost. In this turmoil, both foot and horsemen fell from the cliffs. The bodies of smashed horses and people were scattered on thirty cho like cut hemp. Scattered entrails and spattered bile covered the ground, the fat of corpses watered the plain.

24. Capture of the Koromogava outpost on the sixth day of the ninth month

At noon on the sixth day, Yoriyoshi's troops stopped at Takanashi, and on the same day it was decided to attack the Koromogawa outpost.

The roads leading to the outpost were steep and narrow, like the road on Mount Yaoshan or at the Hangu outpost. A single warrior here could hold back an army of ten thousand men.

They began to cut trees and lay paths through the swamps, dig up cliffs and pave the way. In addition, it rained without interruption, and the river overflowed. However, three detachments - from Kiyohara no Takesada, Tachibana no Yorisada and Kiyohara no Takenori - were sent to take the fortress. Takesada went along the straight road to the outpost, Yorisada along the road leading to the upper crossing over Koromogawa, and Takenori along the lower road. They tried to take the fortress by attack from the hour of the Sheep to the hour of the Dog, nine were killed in the sovereign's army, and more than eighty people were injured. Takenori dismounted, looked around the shore, called his warrior Hisakiyo and ordered:

Trees grow along both banks and branches hang over the water. You jump well - get over them to the other side, secretly make your way to the camp and set fire to the fortifications. The rebels will certainly run when they see the fire in their camp. This is where we take the fortress.

Hisakiyo replied:

My life and death is in your will.

And then, like a monkey, he jumped onto the branches of a tree on the other side, stretched ropes and creepers across the river and ferried about thirty soldiers. They sneaked into Fujiwara no Naritiki's fortress and set it on fire at once. (This Naritika, nicknamed Otonai, was the chief of Munetooo's army.) Then the soldiers of Munetoo, seeing the fire in the fortress of Naritika, became alarmed and fled. They forgot about the defense of the outpost, and took refuge in the fortress of Toriumi. So Hisakiyo with his warriors destroyed about seventy rebels.

25. The story of the prisoner about the losses of the rebels

On the seventh day of the same month, they destroyed the outpost and moved to the village of Shiratori, Izawa County. They took the Ooasauno and Sahara fortresses by storm, capturing one of the rebels. He told:

Ten people were killed in the battles of the commanders. Among them are Taira no Takatada, Kon no Moromichi, Abe no Tokito, Abe no Sadayuki, Kon no Yorikata, all are relatives of Sadatoo and Munetoo, and all are brave and powerful warriors.

26. Capture of the fortress of Toriumi. Yoriyoshi thanks Takenori

On the eleventh day of the same month, with the first roosters, they moved to Toriumi. It was about ten ri before the fortress. Munetoo and Tsunekiyo left the fortifications even before the arrival of the sovereign troops and settled in the fortress of Kuriyagawa.

Yoriyoshi, having occupied Toriumi, gave the soldiers a rest. In one house, they found about a dozen bottles of good sake. The warriors vied with each other to drink it, but Yoriyoshi calmed them down, saying:

Surely the rebels want to weaken us by planting poisoned sake.

However, one or two people from Chelyadin tried to drink, and nothing happened to them. Then everyone else shouting "Banzai!" started drinking sake.

The warlord said to Takenori:

For many years we have heard about the fortress of Toriumi, but we have not seen it. Today, thanks to your loyalty, we were able to occupy it. Now I'm satisfied.

Takenori replied:

We were just doing our duty to the sovereign. The rains wash our heads, the wind combs, and lice with nits nest under the shell. We have been in government service for more than ten years. Heaven and Earth helped you fulfill your duty to the sovereign, the soldiers were inspired by your aspirations. Thanks to this, you managed to drive off the rebels, as water breaks through a destroyed dam. But I, an insignificant servant, only followed you, driving the horse with a whip. I don't have any special merit. I look at the master and see that your gray hair has turned half black. Take the fortress of Kuriyagawa, and get the head of Sadatoo, they will become completely black, and the thinness acquired in the campaigns will pass.

The warlord said:

You brought your sons and relatives with a large army, yourself, wearing armor and with a sword in your hand, fought under arrows and stones, broke through the ranks of the enemy and destroyed fortresses like a boulder rolling downhill. Thanks to such devotion, I was able to fulfill my duty to the sovereign. Don't underestimate your accomplishments. And for the fact that my hair is turning black again, I am very pleased with you.

Takenori bowed in gratitude to the commander.

After that, they took the Kurosawajiri fortress, which is in the Waga district, where Abe no Masatoo was hiding. Thirty-two people were killed by the rebels, and how many were wounded and fled is unknown.

27. Burning of the fortresses of Kuriyagawa and Ubado

On the fourteenth day of the same moon, they set off for the Kuriyagawa fortress.

In the hour of the Rooster, they reached the fortresses of Kuriyagawa and Ubado. We stopped at seven or eight cho. Like wings, the birds embraced the troops of the fortress, and stood around until dawn. A large swamp surrounded these fortresses from the west and north, and river banks rose from the south and east. They were three jo high and there was no road or path to climb. It is difficult to take a fortress built in such a place. At the top of the fortress towers and walls were built, and strong warriors defended them. Ditches were built between the river and the fortress, with points dug into them at the bottom, and iron plates with spikes were laid on top of the earthen wall. Those who were far away were struck by the arrows of large bows, those who were close were thrown stones at those. Whoever managed to get under the very fortress - they would pour boiling water on them and cut them with swords.

When the sovereign's army approached the fortress, the soldiers on the towers in the fortress shouted: "Come on, come on!". And several dozen young maidens climbed the walls and began to sing. The commander was very angry about this.

At the hour of the Hare on the sixteenth day, they went on an attack. Spears from longbows flew around, arrows and stones rained down. The fortress held firm, and it was still not possible to take it. Several hundred soldiers perished in the sovereign's army.

At the hour of the Sheep on the seventeenth day, the commander called the soldiers and ordered:

Break several houses in the village and fill up the ditches under the fortress. And mow the grass, dump under the cliff.

Immediately, in the blink of an eye, they broke it, brought it, mowed it down, dragged a whole mountain of firewood and grass.

The commander dismounted, bowed towards the imperial palace, and prayed like this:

In the old days, when the virtue of the Han emperors was strong, according to the word of the faithful Gen Gong, water gushed from the source. Now, let the great wind rise for the glory of the imperial house, in fulfillment of the duty of the old vassal! I bow and pray to you, Three pillars of the Hachiman temple, - raise the wind and burn this fortress!

He immediately lit a fire, called it the name "Divine Flame" and threw it into the boards and grass. At this time, a dove appeared and flew over the troops. The commander made a double bow. A strong wind arose, and the flames shot up to the heavens. Arrows, fired earlier by the sovereign's army, stuck out of the walls of fortifications and towers, so that they were like a straw cape, which they cover in the rain. The flame, fanned by the wind, reached the plumage of the arrows and in an instant engulfed the towers, walls and buildings. Several thousand men and women who were in the fortress screamed and cried. The rebels fled in panic, and some threw themselves into the pool, and some accepted death from their own sword. The sovereign's troops crossed the river and attacked. At this time, several hundred rebels, overwhelmed by the thirst for death, wearing armor and brandishing swords, rushed to the breakthrough, not fearing their own death and not expecting to stay alive. Many were killed and wounded in the sovereign's army. Takenori told his warriors: "Open the passage for them and let them out!" The passage was open. The rebels, who did not expect to stay alive, stopped fighting and rushed to run. Then the sovereign's army attacked them from the flanks, and they were all killed.

28. Capture and execution of Tsunekiyo

Then Tsunekiyo was captured. The commander called him and scolded him, saying:

Many generations of your ancestors served the sovereign. And despite this, for many years you have been cheating on the sovereign, you have forgotten about the blessings of your masters. Turned away from virtue and did base deeds. Well, how do you feel about your "white seal"?

Tsunekiyo bowed his head and found nothing to answer. The warlord was very angry with him and sawed off his head with a blunt sword in order to prolong Tsunekiyo's torment.

29. Capture and execution of Sadatoo

Sadatoo, with a sword in his hand, cut down with the sovereign's soldiers, but they got him with a pike. They put it on a large shield, and six soldiers carried it to the commander. He was six shaku tall and seven shaku and four suna in girth. The face is handsome, the body is plump and white. The commander began to interrogate him on the case of the rebellion, and Sadatoo died without lowering his face.

In addition, his younger brother Shigetoo (called Kitaura no Rokuro) was hacked to death. Only Munetoo managed to get through the deep swamp and escape.

30. Execution of Chiyo Doshi, son of Sadatoo

Sadatoo's eldest son was thirteen years old. His name was Chiyo Doshi. His face was extraordinarily good. Putting on armor, he bravely fought outside the walls of the fortress. He was bold and courageous, like his ancestors, Yoritoki and Sadatoo. The warlord, out of pity, wanted to spare him, but Takenori said: “Commander, a small deed can turn into a big disaster!” The warlord agreed with him and ordered Chiyo Doshi to be hacked to death. (Sadatoo himself died at the age of thirty-four).

31. The commander gives the enemy women to the soldiers. Noritoo's wife throws herself into the water

Several dozen women remained in the fortress, dressed in silk, as they say - in brocade and jade. They groaned and wept in the smoke of the fire. They were pulled out of the fortress and distributed to distinguished soldiers.

Only the wife of Noritoo, when the fortress fell, holding her three-year-old son in her arms, said to her husband:

You're about to die. I can't live without you. I'd rather die first!

And pressing her son to her breast, she threw herself into a deep pool. She can be called a truly faithful wife!

32. Sadatoo's Relatives Surrender

Shortly thereafter, Abe no Tamemoto, Sadatoo's uncle (his name was Akamura no Suke), and Sadatoo's younger brother, Ieto, surrendered. And a few days later, nine relatives of Munetoo came with a confession.

33. In the report on the state of affairs in the province of the seventeenth day of the twelfth month, Yoriyoshi reports the victory of the sovereign troops

On the seventeenth day of the twelfth month of the same year, Yoriyoshi wrote in a report:

“Executed or captured rebels - Abe no Sadatoo, Abe no Shigetoo, Fujiwara no Tsunekiyo, Taira no Takatada, Fujiwara no Shigehisa, Mononobe no Koremasa, Fujiwara no Tsunemitsu, Fujiwara no Masatsuna, Fujiwara no Masamoto . Abe no Munetoo came with confession, his younger brothers Ieto and Noritoo (took tonsure and came with confession), Abe no Tamemoto, Kon no Tameyuki, Kon no Noriyuki, Kon no Tsunenaga, Fujiwara no Naritika, Fujiwara- no Yorihisa and Fujiwara no Toohisa. There are no more relatives of Sadatoo left. Only one Masatoo has yet to show up anywhere.”

34. Masatoo confesses

Inok Ryosho fled to the land of Dewa, but was caught by the ruler of that land, Minamoto no Tadayori.

Masatoo first hid in the land of Dewa with the son of Mitsuyori, whose name was Ootoriyama no Taro Yoritoo. After, having learned that all his relatives had surrendered, he also came with a confession.

35. Takenori Tries Yoshiie's Shooting Art

During the battle, when Yoshiie fired at the enemy's men-at-arms, with each click of the bowstring, the enemy warrior fell down, slain. The next day, Takenori asked Yoshiie:

I respectfully request permission to see how you shoot.

Yoshiie replied:

Then Takenori took three armor, put one on top of the other and hung it on a tree branch. Yoshiie shot all three in one shot. Takenori admired a lot and said:

You, not otherwise, the embodiment of a deity. Such a thing is beyond the power of a mere mortal!

It goes without saying that such a thing aroused the admiration of a warrior.

Yoshiie's younger brother, Yoshitsuna, was also a brave man and a galloping archer.

36. Abe's heads on the streets of the capital

On the sixteenth day of the second month of the sixth year of Kohei, the heads of Sadatoo, Tsunekiyo, and Shigetoo were delivered to the court. The people of the capital rejoiced at the spectacle. The wagons almost collided, people crowded each other with their elbows.

Before entering the capital, in the Koga district in the land of Aumi, the messenger carrying the heads ordered the boxes with the heads to be opened, taken out, washed and combed. The bearers of Sadatoo's servants carried the heads. They complained that there were no combs to comb the hair on the heads of their masters. Then the messenger said: “You have your own, with which you comb. Here they are and comb!". The bearers combed their heads, shedding tears and grieving: “Our Lords, when you were alive, we looked at you with reverence, as if they were heavenly beings. Did we think that we would comb your hair with our dirty combs! They groaned without hiding. Those who saw this shed tears. Although they are simple porters, they also know the feeling of devotion to the master!

37. Yoriyoshi is awarded for military merit

On the twenty-fifth day of the same month at the court, during the appointment ceremony and the distribution of awards, Yoriyoshi no Ason was granted the junior degree of the highest fourth rank and appointed ruler of the land of Iyo. His eldest son, Yoshiie, was granted the junior degree of the lowest fifth rank and the position of the ruler of the land of Deva. The second son, Yoshitsune, is the position of Chief of the Guards of the left side. Takenori was granted the junior degree of the lowest fifth rank and endowed with the position of Military Commander of the Security Department. The messenger who brought the heads, Fujiwara no Suetoshi, is the position of the Third Right Stable. Mononobe no Nagayori is appointed as the fourth assistant to the ruler of the land of Mutsu. The merits were rewarded, and the Celestial Empire glorified the heroes.

38. About the merits of the warlord Yoriyoshi

Even in China, they could not cope with the Rong and Di barbarians when they rebelled. Therefore, Gao Zu, who tried to surround Pingcheng, did not succeed, and Empress Lu had to endure the insult. And in our state, although in the old days they sent a large army many times, and harassed a lot of public good, they could not win a decisive victory. Sakamonote Moremaro, sent to pacify the Emishi, subjugated all the Six Counties and glorified his name for ten thousand generations. He was a rare military leader, the true incarnation of the deity Bishamon. After that, for more than two hundred years, bold commanders won victories in one campaign, and wise vassals subdued the barbarians using six methods. However, they won and subjugated only one locality, or one clan, but it was not such that, thanks to the brilliant skill of one commander, all the Emishi were pacified at once everywhere. However, Yoriyoshi no Ason was not afraid of the arrows and stones of the enemy and crushed the Emishi forces. Is there still such a commander in the world? Even the one that defeated Zhi Zhi and Dan Yu, and the one that put the head of the ruler of the Southern Yue in the capital - and they could not be compared with him.

39. About these records

Today, after making extracts from the reports on the state of affairs in the provinces and collecting what the people say, I have folded this scroll. It was written a thousand ri from those places, and therefore I, perhaps, made many mistakes. Let those who know the truth correct.

Notes:

1046.4.14-1053.1.11

Ason is a name element indicating court rank. From the first to the third ranks, it is attached to the family name, and the personal name is not indicated. For courtiers of the fourth rank - after the family and personal names, for courtiers of the fifth rank it is placed between the family and personal names.

Modern Onikobe, near Naruko pref. Miyagi.

1028.7.25-1037.4.21

Lands east of Ashigara (Kanagawa prefecture) and Usui (pass on the border of Nagano prefecture and Gunma prefecture), Kanto district.

Taira no Naokata was a descendant of Taira no Sadamori who defeated Taira no Masakado in 940 (see Notes on Masakado)

Hachiman Taro Yoshiie (1039–1106), great-grandfather of Minamoto no Yoritomo and Yoshitsune.

A military establishment in the land of Mutsu that has existed since the 8th century. It was intended to maintain control of the central government over the Emisi tribes, the indigenous population of these lands. Originally located in Tagajo Fortress (modern city of Tagajo, Miyagi Prefecture); in 802, it was moved to Isawajo (modern Iwate Prefecture, Mizusawa City).

Amnesty announced in 7 Eisho (1052) due to the illness of Empress Jotomonin (Fujiwara no Shoshi, 988-1074), daughter of Fujiwara no Mitinaga. At the beginning of the 11th century, Murasaki Shikibu was in her retinue.

4 y. Tanki (1056)

This refers to the uprising in China 18-27 years. n. e., when the rebels painted their eyebrows red, and the Yellow Turban Rebellion (184), when they tied their heads yellow to distinguish their warriors from the enemy in battle.

Han Xin, Peng Yue, Qin Bu are close associates of the Han sovereign Gao Zu. When Han Xin and Peng Yue were executed on suspicion of treason, Qin Bu raised troops against Gao Zu, but was defeated and died. This episode is taken from Sima Qian's Historical Notes.

Taira no Nagahira's other name is Igu no Jiro.

The words "fortress", "strengthening" translate the word "saku", meaning fortifications surrounded by a palisade - wooden or bamboo, often surrounded by a moat.

Modern Fujisawa City, Higashiiwai Prefecture Iwate.

A person who has a court rank but has not been appointed to office.

That is, 60 years old. The expression is taken from "Conversations and Judgments" ("Lun Yu") of Confucius.

70 years old. The expression comes from an episode described in the Records of the Han Dynasty (Han shu). The official Xue Guang-de, upon reaching the age of 70, hung up the chariot granted by the sovereign, as a sign that he would not use the chariot in which he went to the service, that is, he resigned from his duties.

Bisyamon (Skt. Vaishravana) - one of the four gods - guardians of the cardinal points. Protects the northern side with his army, consisting of Yakshas and Rakshasas.

This refers to the generals of the Han era - the commander Gan Yan shou, who defeated the leaders of the Xiongnu Zhi Zhi and Dan Yu, and Fu Bo, who defeated the kingdom of Southern Yue.

Participation in wars: Civil War.
Participation in battles:

famous samurai

tayra and Minamoto- two clans that for 2 centuries waged an embittered war among themselves

1st samurai known by the surname Minamoto, was Tsunemoto(894-961), he fought with Tyro Masakado. He earned his name at the end of his life. Under the great-grandson of Tsunemoto Yeriesi The surname Minamoto is gaining wide popularity. Yoriyoshi was born in 995 and began his military career in the army of his father Yerinobu(968-1048). He attracted attention during Early Nine Years' War", which ended with the fact that it was possible to deal with Abe Yeritok and a dignitary who abused his official position.

Yoritoki was killed in 1057, but his son Abe Sadato continued the work of his father, gaining a foothold in Kawasaki. Attack Minamoto on the fortifications of the city failed. When the warriors Minamoto retreated, a severe snowstorm began. Abe Sadato counterattacked and destroyed the Minamoto rearguard. In this battle, the 13-year-old son of Eriesi, named Yesie, the one that earned the nickname Hachimantaro - "the firstborn of the war deity Hachiman". In the gunkimono "Mutsu Waki" - the main source of information about this battle - a rather inquisitive overview of Yeriyoshi's leadership qualities is given. Many people joined Yeriyoshi "because Yeriyoshi cared for them and saw their needs." After another battle, Yeriesi “fed the soldiers and helped to put the ammunition in order. He personally went around the camp and helped the wounded. All the soldiers were touched to the core. The warriors said: "We now owe our master our lives."

In 1062 Minamoto again got involved in the war and laid siege to the Kiriyagawa citadel - the rate Abe Sadato. A ruthless battle broke out, and young Yoshiie turned to the deity Hachiman, whose name he was named, with a plea for help and forgiveness. In gratitude, Esie promised to build a sanctuary. When he returned to Kyoto carrying the heads of his enemies, he erected the Tsurugaoka Hachiman shrine in Kamakura. This shrine became the sacred site of every Minamoto clan. Minamoto Yeriyoshi died in his bed in 1082, having handed over the reins of power to the faithful hands of Yoshiie.

In the XII century, the bloody and irreconcilable war between the samurai clans Fujiwara, Taira and Minamoto did not stop on the Japanese islands. The emperors of the Land of the Rising Sun were sometimes only nominal rulers, but in reality they were ruled by regent dictators, first of the Fujiwara clan, and then of the Minamoto clan.

Japan in that century experienced a series of bloody and extremely fierce feudal wars. For nine years, the warring samurai clans fought among themselves: at first - Abe and Minamoto, then - Kievara and Minamoto.

In 1156 there was a war called Hogannoran. The reason for her was the dispute for the paternal throne between two brothers - Princes Goshirakawa and Sutoku. The former won with the help of samurai warriors of the Tairu clan and became Emperor Goshirakawa I. He sent his brother, who had lost the war, into exile on a remote island.

Soon the Minamoto clan suffered a brutal defeat from the Taira clan during the samurai war called "Heiji". Minamoto for a long time gathered his strength to take revenge on the clan that seized power in the country.

The decisive battle between the Minamoto and Taira resulted in the war of 1180-1184. During her squad, the samurai attacked each other many times. It was only about the ruthless extermination of the enemy. In battles, clan troops converged on land, and samurai fleets at sea.

In those years, the Minamoto clan, led by the militant leader Minamoto Heretimo, who became one of the most famous generals in the samurai era, opposed the ruling Taira clan. It was headed by the famous Japanese dictator of the Middle Ages Taira Kiyomori, also endowed with military leadership.

War, battles, skirmishes of the samurai army were fierce. As a rule, they did not take prisoners in them, and those who were defeated did not want to surrender. The victorious scales in the five-year war first leaned towards the more numerous samurai of the Taira clan, who also used the "administrative resource", since Taira Kiyomori was the first person in the imperial environment.

However, during the war, a number of large feudal lords (princes) left the Taira, each of whom had considerable detachments of samurai. They were dissatisfied with the overconfident dictatorial rule of the clan and therefore sided with the Minamoto clan. The army began to noticeably increase in numbers.

The Taira troops began to suffer serious defeats: as a commander, the Japanese dictator was noticeably inferior to the strategist Minamoto Heretimo, who also had many talented samurai commanders. In 1183, the Taira troops were expelled by force of arms from the capital city of Kyoto, in which, during any military upheavals, the untouchable imperial palace towered.

Soon, Minamoto Heretimo prozdnov another great victory for the samurai army of the clan and its allies. The troops of the Taira clan lost the battle of Yashima on the island of Shikoku, which was important during the war. After that, it became clear that the war was coming to an end and everything should be decided in a pitched battle, for which the parties prepared most carefully, foreseeing the bloody denouement of the protracted confrontation.

The decisive battle between the two blood enemies took place in the last year of the war. In the Shimonoseki Strait, which connects the Korea Strait with the Inland Sea of Japan, an uncompromising naval battle between two huge fleets took place. At the same time, two land armies fought on the seashore. None of the parties thought about retreat either at sea or on land, since a warrior or sailor (not a samurai) could immediately lose his head for trying to escape.

The forces of the Minamoto clan in that battle were commanded by Yeritimo's brother, General Yoshitsuno. Distinguished in the overthrow of the military power of the Taira clan and another brother of Heretimo - Yesie, and cousin Esinaka. They acted on the shores and waters of the Shimonoseki Strait according to the plans of the clan military leader.

From the troops of the Taira clan, almost not a single person managed to escape. Wounded warriors achieved victors in the most ruthless way. World military history, not only the Middle Ages, knows few such examples.

A few years ago, the powerful Taira clan, which dictated its will to the Land of the Rising Sun, physically ceased to exist at the behest of Minamoto Heretimo. This was the finale of that really bloody and merciless war of two samurai associations - communities (clans).

In 1185, the dictatorship of the samurai commander Minamoto Heretimo was established in Japan. But in order to protect himself, he ordered to kill his own brothers Yoshitsuno and Yoshio, cousin of Yoshinako - the winners of the army and navy of the Taira clan in the Shimonoseki battle. The dictator had serious fears that they were conspiring against the head of the clan, which, however, was not uncommon in Japanese history.

The "villainous" murder was immediately attributed to the samurai of the Fujiwara clan, whose squads were also exterminated. That is, it was another "small" clan war. So the newly-minted Japanese dictator eliminated potential rivals in the foreseeable future.

Minamoto Heretimo entered the history of the Land of the Rising Sun as the first Japanese dictator with the title of shogun, that is, the great commander (commander in chief). This title was bestowed on the head of the Minamoto clan by Emperor Goshirakawa I, who finally got rid of the self-confident and irreverent Taira clan. So Minamoto Heretimo became the founder of the first dynasty of shoguns in Japan, which lasted until 1333.

Minamoto Heretimo

Samurai commander of the Minamoto clan, winner in the Taira war, who founded the first dynasty of shoguns in Japan

Minamoto Heretimo

In the XII century, the bloody and irreconcilable war between the samurai clans Fujiwara, Taira and Minamoto did not stop on the Japanese islands. The emperors of the Land of the Rising Sun were sometimes only nominal rulers, but in reality they were ruled by regents - dictators, first of the Fujiwara clan, and then of the Minamoto clan.

In 1156 there was a war called Hogannoran. The reason for her was the dispute for the paternal throne between two brothers - Princes Goshirakawa and Sutoku. The first won with the help of warriors - samurai of the Tairu clan and became Emperor Goshirakawa I. He sent his brother, who had lost the war, into exile on a remote island.

The forces of the Minamoto clan in that battle were commanded by Yeritimo's brother, commander Yoshitsuno. Distinguished in the overthrow of the military power of the Taira clan and another brother of Heretimo - Yesie, and cousin Yesinaka. They acted on the shores and waters of the Shimonoseki Strait according to the plans of the clan military leader.

In 1185, the dictatorship of the samurai commander Minamoto Heretimo was established in Japan. But in order to protect himself, he ordered to kill his brothers Yoshitsuno and Yoshio, cousin of Yoshinako - the winners of the army and navy of the Taira clan in the Shimonoseki battle. The dictator had serious fears that they were conspiring against the head of the clan, which, however, was not uncommon in Japanese history.

From the book Samurai [Knights of the Far East] author Tarnovsky Wolfgang

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