Minamoto no Tomonaga

In this Japanese name, the family name is Minamoto.

Minamoto no Tomonaga (源 朝長) (1144–1160) was a Minamoto clan samurai of the late Heian period. His father was Minamoto no Yoshitomo.

Tomonaga accompanied his father and two brothers, Minamoto no Yoshihira and Minamoto no Yoritomo, fleeing Kyoto following their defeat in the Heiji Rebellion of 1159. Tomonaga had been wounded on Mount Hiyei. The four made their way through snowstorms to the east in an attempt to levy troops. Yoshihira and Yoritomo went on ahead, while Tomonaga lagged behind. Tomonaga asked his father to kill him so he would not fall into the hands of the enemy. Yoshitomo obliged his son. Shortly afterwards, Yoshitomo was also killed.[1]

Tomonaga's grave was defiled some time later, by Taira no Munekiyo, who brought his head to Kyoto as a trophy.

References

  1. Sansom, George (1958). A history of Japan to 1334. Stanford University Press. pp. 255–258. ISBN 0804705232.
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