Atlas of Battles

naval engagement, major, medieval

Battle of Dan-no-ura

Battle of Dan-no-ura was a naval engagement fought on 25 April 1185 at Dan-no-ura, in what is now Japan. It was part of the Genpei War, which ran from 1180 to 1185. The recorded result: Minamoto clan victory. Recorded strength: 800 ships (Azuma Kagami) or 3,000 (The Tale of the Heike) against 500 ships (Azuma Kagami) or 1,000 (The Tale of the Heike).

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Naval battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185. These are 2 left panels of 8 panels total. 《Emperor Antoku Engi Illustrated》8 width panels. "Emperor Antoku painting on gold paper" designated cultural property.
Naval battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185. These are 2 left panels of 8 panels total. 《Emperor Antoku Engi Illustrated》8 width panels. "Emperor Antoku painting on gold paper" designated cultural property.. Tosa Mitsunobu, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought25 April 1185
WhereDan-no-ura, Japan33.965N, 130.957E
OutcomeMinamoto clan victory
BelligerentsMinamoto clanagainstTaira clan
Casualties and lossesUnknownandAnnihilated
Part ofGenpei War1180 to 1185

Where it sits in the Genpei War

Battle of Uji, 1180Battle of Ishibashiyama, 1180Siege of Kinugasa Castle, 1180Battle of Yūkihama, 1180Battle of Ichihara, 1180Battle of Fujigawa, 1180Battle of Hachita, 1180Siege of Kanasa Castle, 1180Mino Genji's raising of an army, 1180Iyo Kono Uprising, 1180Battle of Omi, 1180Battle of Yahagi-gawa, 1181Siege of Nara, 1181Battle of Sunomata-gawa, 1181Battle of Yokotagawara, 1181Yowa Hokuriku Expedition, 1181Battle of Nogimiya, 1183Siege of Hiuchi, 1183Battle of Hannyano, 1183Battle of Kurikara, 1183Battle of Shioyama, 1183Battle of Shinohara, 1183Siege of Fukuryūji, 1183Battle of Mizushima, 1183Siege of Hōjūjidono, 1184Battle of Muroyama, 1184Battle of Uji, 1184Battle of Awazu, 1184Battle of Mikusayama, 1184Battle of Ichi-no-Tani, 1184Battle of Kojima, 1185Battle of Ashiyaura, 1185Battle of Yashima, 1185Battle of Shido, 1185Battle of Dan-no-ura, 118511801185Battle of Dan-no-ura, 1185
35 placed engagements of the Genpei War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date25 April 1185
PlaceDan-no-ura, Japan
33.965N, 130.957E
KindNaval engagement, medieval
Territorial changeMinamoto clan gain command of Japan
Strength800 ships (Azuma Kagami) or 3,000 (The Tale of the Heike)500 ships (Azuma Kagami) or 1,000 (The Tale of the Heike)
Casualties and lossesUnknownAnnihilated
Commanders
  • Emperor Antoku
  • Taira no Tokiko
  • Taira no Munemori
  • Taira no Tomomori
  • Taira no Noritsune
  • Taira no Norimori
Battle of Dan-no-uraBattle of Dan-no-uraSiege of MojiBattle of AshiyauraSiege of GanjakuTainei-ji incidentSiege of TachibanaBattle of AshiyauraSiege of GanjakuTainei-ji incidentSiege of TachibanaNagasakiBusanKumamotoŌitaSaseboKure100 km33.965N, 130.957E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1185

Battle of Dan-no-ura is one of 438 engagements of the 12th century in the atlas and one of 481 in present-day Japan.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q968676, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Dan-no-ura, revision 1385580172, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.