Minamoto no Yukiie



Minamoto no Yukiie (源 行家) was the brother of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, and one of the commanders of the Minamoto forces in the Genpei War at the end of the Heian period of Japanese history.

In 1181, he was defeated at the Battle of Sunomatagawa by Taira no Tomomori; he fled, and tried to take a stand by tearing up the bridge over the Yahagi-gawa, and forming a shield wall. His forces were defeated once more at this Battle of Yahagigawa, but the pursuit was called off when Tomomori fell ill.

For a time, Yukiie plotted with Minamoto no Yoshinaka against Yoritomo, the head of the clan. But when Yoshinaka suggested kidnapping the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa, Yukiie betrayed him, revealing his plan to Emperor Go-Shirakawa, who in turn revealed it to Yoritomo. Yukiie was then beheaded in 1186 on charges of high treason.