Battle of Uji (1221)
Encyclopedia
The third battle at the Uji River was the primary battle of the Jōkyū War
in Japan
. Bakufu forces led by Imperial regent Hōjō Yoshitoki
sought to enter Kyoto
and overthrow Emperor Go-Toba
, using Uji and Seta as their gateways.
The Emperor's forces, alongside sōhei
from Mount Hiei
, attempted to make his final stand at the bridge into Kyoto, defending it from the Shogun's armies. The bakufu forces attacked the entire river line from Uji to Seta, and the Imperial forces stood firm for many hours. However, eventually, they broke through, scattering the remaining defenders, and opening the way into the city for the rest of their rebel forces.
As had happened twice before (see Battle of Uji
), the bridge over the Uji-gawa proved to be a tactically crucial entryway into Kyoto, and highly defensible; but, as before, it was ultimately not defensible enough and the attackers crossed the river and killed their enemies.
Jokyu War
', also known as the Jōkyū Disturbance or the Jōkyū Rebellion, was fought in Japan between the forces of Retired Emperor Go-Toba and those of the Hōjō clan, regents of the Kamakura shogunate, whom the retired emperor was trying to overthrow....
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Bakufu forces led by Imperial regent Hōjō Yoshitoki
Hojo Yoshitoki
was the second Hōjō shikken of the Kamakura shogunate and head of the Hōjō clan. He was the eldest son of Hōjō Tokimasa and his wife Hōjō no Maki...
sought to enter Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
and overthrow Emperor Go-Toba
Emperor Go-Toba
was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1183 through 1198....
, using Uji and Seta as their gateways.
The Emperor's forces, alongside sōhei
Sohei
were Buddhist warrior monks of feudal Japan. At certain points of history they held considerable power, obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate....
from Mount Hiei
Mount Hiei
is a mountain to the northeast of Kyoto, lying on the border between the Kyoto and Shiga prefectures, Japan.The temple of Enryaku-ji, the first outpost of the Japanese Tiantai sect of Buddhism, was founded atop Mount Hiei by Saichō in 788. Both Nichiren and Honen studied at the temple before...
, attempted to make his final stand at the bridge into Kyoto, defending it from the Shogun's armies. The bakufu forces attacked the entire river line from Uji to Seta, and the Imperial forces stood firm for many hours. However, eventually, they broke through, scattering the remaining defenders, and opening the way into the city for the rest of their rebel forces.
As had happened twice before (see Battle of Uji
Battle of Uji
Battle of Uji refers to one of three 12th and 13th century battles fought in Japan:*Battle of Uji , First Battle of Uji*Battle of Uji , Second Battle of Uji*Battle of Uji , Third Battle of Uji...
), the bridge over the Uji-gawa proved to be a tactically crucial entryway into Kyoto, and highly defensible; but, as before, it was ultimately not defensible enough and the attackers crossed the river and killed their enemies.