MINAMOTO YORITOMO, (1146-99).

A Japanese warrior and statesman who played an important part in the struggles for power of the rival military families, the Taira and the Minamoto, to the latter of which he belonged. His father, Yoshitomo, having been treacherously murdered in 1159 at the instance of Kiyomori, chief of the Taira clan and at that time the virtual ruler of the country. Yoritomo fled, but was captured and condemned by Kiyomori to be beheaded. Spared through the pity of the stepmother of Kiyomori, he was banished to Idzu. There he married the daughter of Hojo Tokimasa, one of his guardians in exile. In 1150, calling around him his father's scattered retainers, and securing the assistance of his father-in-law and the monks of Hiyeizan (see KYOTO), he got together an army which he placed under the command of his youngest brother, Yoshitsune, and proceeded against the Taira. Five years later his enemies were utterly annihilated in a great naval battle off Dan-no-ura, near Shimonoseki. He made Kamakura his capital, was created Sei-i-tai-shogun in 1192, laid the foundations of the feudal system in Japan, and became the virtual ruler of the land-nominally under the Mikado -and the office of shogun became hereditary in the Minamoto family. He died in 1199 with his great reputation somewhat sullied by his cruel treatment of his brother Yoshitsune.