The Fujiwara was a clan of Heian Era-Japan, and for many years were the strongest family in all of Japan. They declined over the years and their regency was overthrown by the Taira in 1175, and in 1177 the Kubota Fujiwara and Hiraizumi Fujiwara ended their alliance and fought each other. After the end of the Genpei War, the Kamakura Minamoto were free to attack the Fujiwara, defeating them in 1189.
History[]
Fujiwara clan leaders
The Fujiwara clan of northern Japan was one of the most powerful families of Japan in the early years of the Heian Empire that ruled the country. But their regency was overthrown in 1175 by a stronger clan, the Taira, who went on to stamp their rule on the islands of Cipango. Fujiwara rulers planned and waited for their time to strike, and in the 1170s they expanded southwards through Honshu. They conquered Shinano from the Takeda and proceeded to move ever closer to Kyoto. Only a family dispute ended their march. In 1177 the two branches of the family, the Kubota and Hiraizumi Fujiwara, broke their alliance and fought in a civil war.
Eventually, most of the families that supported their rule had either allied with or been conquered by the Minamoto clan, who defeated the Taira and took over power in 1185. With only the Fujiwara left, they sent the rest of their troops north and conquered the Fujiwara by 1189.