Eve of the Genpei War: Jishō Coup of 1179

Timeline

1. 1179Heian-kyō · KinaiAfter the death of Taira pillar Shigemori, Cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa and Regent Fujiwara no Motofusa allied, sharpening conflict with Kiyomori. Emperor Takakura reigned; his mother was Kiyomori's sister Shigeko and his empress was Kiyomori's daughter Taira no Tokiko; the struggle for real power among the cloistered emperor, court nobles, and Taira intensified, creating conditions for the coup.
2. 1179Heian-kyō imperial palace · Heian-kyōTaira no Kiyomori led troops into Heian-kyō, confined Go-Shirakawa at the Toba Palace, dismissed Fujiwara no Motofusa as regent and exiled his kin, and installed Konoe no Motohira as regent. The court fell entirely under Taira control, known historically as the Jishō Coup of 1179.
3. 1180Japan · JapanAfter the coup cut off court channels, Prince Mochihito issued an order to crusade against the Taira in May 1180, calling on the Minamoto and eastern samurai to rise; the Taira pursued him and Mochihito was defeated and killed at Uji. Minamoto no Yoritomo responded in Izu, Minamoto no Yoshinaka rose in Shinano, and the Genpei War formally broke out.