Battle of Ichinotani

Timeline

1. 1183–1184Fukuhara · SettsuAfter leaving Kyoto, the Taira made camp at the old capital of Fukuhara and Ichinotani on the Suma coast—a narrow strip of terrain favorable for coastal defense but unsuitable for maneuver. Minamoto no Yoritomo planned the western campaign from Kamakura, ordering Noriyori as the main force and Yoshitsune as the surprise detachment, aiming to remove this last Taira land base in the Kinai.
2. 1184Ichinotani and Tobiyoe · SettsuMinamoto no Noriyori attacked from the Ikuta forest direction on the east flank, drawing Taira attention. Minamoto no Yoshitsune led a small cavalry force over the Rokkō mountains, rushing down the steep Tobiyoe slope straight into the rear of the Ichinotani camp. The Taira lines fell into chaos; the narrow coastal strip left no room to maneuver, and the defense quickly collapsed.
3. 1184From the Suma coast toward Yashima · Seto Inland SeaTaira no Tadokage was killed, Taira no Shigehira captured, and the Taira remnants boarded ships and withdrew to Yashima in Shikoku. The Minamoto controlled the Settsu coast and the western gateway to Kyoto; Yoshitsune's prestige soared, providing a forward base for the Yashima and Dan-no-ura campaigns, while also sowing the seeds of conflict with Yoritomo over his outsized achievements.