Changes

* ''Born: [[1138]]''

* ''Born: [[1138]]''

* ''Died: [[1215]]''

* ''Died: [[1215]]''

Hôjô Tokimasa was a valued ally of [[Minamoto Yoritomo]] from the latter’s days as an exile in [[Izu province|Izu]], when he married Tokimasa’s daughter Masako. Tokimasa joined Yoritomo in declaring war on the [[Taira clan|Taira]] family in [[1180]] and served on his Kamakura headquarters for the duration of the war. After the Taira defeat in [[1185]], Tokimasa was sent to present a request to the Imperial Court that supposedly resulted in the first appointments of Shugo and jitō. The [[Hojo clan|Hôjô]], led by Tokimasa and the influential Masako, had become one of the most powerful families in Kamakura when Yoritomo was named Shogun in [[1192]].

Hôjô Tokimasa was a valued ally of [[Minamoto Yoritomo]] from the latter’s days as an exile in [[Izu province|Izu]], when he married Tokimasa’s daughter Masako. Tokimasa joined Yoritomo in declaring war on the [[Taira clan|Taira]] family in [[1180]] and served on his Kamakura headquarters for the duration of the war. After the Taira defeat in [[1185]], Tokimasa was sent to present a request to the Imperial Court that supposedly resulted in the first appointments of Shugo and jitō. The [[Hojo clan|Hôjô]], led by Tokimasa and the influential Masako, had become one of the most powerful families in Kamakura when Yoritomo was named Shogun in [[1192]].

Some time after the Hatakeyama affair, in [[1205]], Yoshitoki heard rumors that Tokimasa was planning to have Sanetomo assassinated and replaced with none other then Hiraga Tomomasa, a man of Minamoto stock. Yoshitoki and Masako, who also seems to have drawn away from her father, took steps to foil the scheme by putting Sanetomo under guard and killing Hiraga. Yoshitoki openly challenged his father’s authority, and left Tokimasa little choice but to step down. Tokimasa shaved his head and departed for exile in Izu province, his political career at an end. Whether or not Tokimasa really intended to have Sanetomo killed is anyone’s guess. Sanetomo was hardly a difficult character - most of his time was spent studying the arts - in particular poetry. Possibly Tokimasa had become a liability to Masako and Yoshitoki - we have no way of knowing. That Tokimasa’s career had a profound effect on the course of Japanese history is somewhat more obvious.  

Some time after the Hatakeyama affair, in [[1205]], Yoshitoki heard rumors that Tokimasa was planning to have Sanetomo assassinated and replaced with none other then Hiraga Tomomasa, a man of Minamoto stock. Yoshitoki and Masako, who also seems to have drawn away from her father, took steps to foil the scheme by putting Sanetomo under guard and killing Hiraga. Yoshitoki openly challenged his father’s authority, and left Tokimasa little choice but to step down. Tokimasa shaved his head and departed for exile in Izu province, his political career at an end. Whether or not Tokimasa really intended to have Sanetomo killed is anyone’s guess. Sanetomo was hardly a difficult character - most of his time was spent studying the arts - in particular poetry. Possibly Tokimasa had become a liability to Masako and Yoshitoki - we have no way of knowing. That Tokimasa’s career had a profound effect on the course of Japanese history is somewhat more obvious.  

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Heian Period]]