Battle of Dan no Ura

• Minamoto Yoshitsune (850 ships) vs. Taira Munemori (500 ships)
  • Date: 24 April 1185
  • Location: Shimonoseki
  • KIA: Taira Tomomori, Taira Noritsune, Taira Norimori, Taira Tsunemori, Taira Sukemori, Taira Arimori, Taira Yukimori, et cetera...

Dan no Ura was the culmination of the Gempei War (1180-85) and resulted in the complete destruction of the Taira leadership. The battle had been essentially forced on the Taira by their loss of Yashima - their base on Shikoku. Pursued by Minamoto Yoshitsune and isolated by the maneuvers of Minamoto Noriyori on Honshu and northern Kyushu, the Taira were forced to stand and fight. They were more experienced at naval warfare then the Minamoto, but this was offset to a great extent when a number of local warriors brought ships and seasoned Inland Sea sailors for the Minamoto. Though outnumbered in ships (perhaps 850 to 500), the Taira hoped to use the tides to their advantage. In the event, the tides did flow against the Minamoto initially, and allowed the Taira to employ their archers to some effect. In the end, the tide changed and Yoshitsune, aided by the defection of the Taira general Taguchi Shigeyoshi, was able to drive home his attack. The child-emperor Antoku and his mother commited suicide by drowning, followed by most of the Taira samurai - save their leader, Munemori, who was captured and later executed.