Atlas of Battles

siege, notable, medieval

Siege of Nara

Siege of Nara was a siege conducted on 15 January 1181 at Nara, in what is now Japan. It was part of the Genpei War, which ran from 1180 to 1185. The recorded result: Taira victory; much of city destroyed. Recorded strength: Initial Mission: 500 samurai; Battle: 40,000 (likely exaggerated) or ~3,000 against 7,000 monks.

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Tōdai-ji's Golden Hall is a Japan's National Treasure, in Nara, Nara prefecture, Japan
Tōdai-ji's Golden Hall is a Japan's National Treasure, in Nara, Nara prefecture, Japan. 663highland, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought15 January 1181
WhereNara, Japan34.683N, 135.783E
OutcomeTaira victory; much of city destroyed
BelligerentsTaira clanagainstWarrior monks of various Nara temples
Casualties and lossesUnknownand3,500 civilians, and 1,000 warrior monks
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, 118511801185Siege of Nara, 1181
35 placed engagements of the Genpei War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date15 January 1181
PlaceNara, Japan
34.683N, 135.783E
KindSiege, medieval
StrengthInitial Mission: 500 samurai; Battle: 40,000 (likely exaggerated) or ~3,0007,000 monks
Casualties and lossesUnknown3,500 civilians, and 1,000 warrior monks
Commanders
  • Taira no Shigehira
  • Taira no Tomomori
Siege of NaraSiege of NaraSiege of Kōriyama CastleSiege of ShigisanBattle of ShijōnawateBattle of KyōkōjiBattle of YaoSiege of ShigisanBattle of ShijōnawateBattle of YaoNagoyaKyotoHamamatsuWakayamaGifuTottoriMaizuruOkayama100 km34.683N, 135.783E
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 1181

Siege of Nara 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 Q1116528, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Siege of Nara, revision 1381146840, 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.