About minamoto

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He was born 1147, Japan and died Feb. 9, 1199. Founder of the Kamakura shogunate. A member of the Minamoto warrior clan, Yoritomo was banished in his young age as a consequence of his father's uprising against the reigning Taira family. In exile Yoritomo found support for his cause in Hj Tokimasa and in 1185 he defeated the Taira. In 1192 the protected emperor granted him to be the shogan which made him the supreme authority over all military forces in the country. He proven his own governors and stewards throughout Japan, by creating a governmental setup in competition with that of the imperial court. He was then able to rule without actually overthrowing the emperor, a pattern that was to be outdone by future shogunates.