Battle of Uji (1221)

Third Battle of Uji
Part of the Jōkyū War
Date May 1221[1] Location Uji, near Kyoto 34°52′51″N 135°46′46″E Result Shogunate victorious; Emperor exiled and transferred to Oki island
Belligerents
Kamakura shogunate and allies	clans loyal to Emperor Go-Toba
Commanders and leaders
Hōjō Yoshitoki Hōjō Yasutoki	Emperor Go-Toba
Strength
100,000	10,000
Casualties and losses
2,000–3,000 (not approved)	6,000–8,000 (not approved)
class=notpageimage| Location within Japan

The third battle at the Uji River was the primary battle of the Jōkyū War in Japan. Bakufu forces led by Hōjō Yoshitoki, shikken (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate, sought to enter Kyoto and overthrow Emperor Go-Toba, using Uji and Seta as their gateways.

The Emperor's forces, alongside warrior monks from Mount Hiei, attempted to make a final stand at the bridge into Kyoto, defending it from the Shōgun'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 and scattered the remaining defenders, and opening the way into the city for the rest of their rebel forces.[2]

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 entered Kyoto.[3]

References

1. The 13th–14th days of the 6th lunar month on the Japanese calendar.
2. Sansom, George (1958). A History of Japan to 1334. Stanford University Press. pp. 380–381. ISBN 0804705232.
3. Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. Cassell & Co. pp. 205–206. ISBN 1-85409-523-4.