Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, medieval

Battle of Sunomata-gawa

Battle of Sunomata-gawa was a battle fought on 8 June 1181 at Nagara River, in what is now Japan. It was part of the Genpei War, which ran from 1180 to 1185. The recorded result: Sneak attack fails; Taira victory.

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Battle of Sunomata-gawa
Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought8 June 1181
WhereNagara River, Japan35.353N, 136.684E
OutcomeSneak attack fails; Taira victory
BelligerentsMinamoto clanagainstTaira clan
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 Sunomata-gawa, 1181
35 placed engagements of the Genpei War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date8 June 1181
PlaceNagara River, Japan
35.353N, 136.684E
KindBattle, medieval
Commanders
  • Minamoto no Yukiie
Battle of Sunomata-gawaBattle of Sunomata-gawaBattle of MoribeSiege of TakehanaSiege of Ōgaki CastleBattle of KuisegawaBattle of KomenoBattle of MoribeBattle of KuisegawaŌsakaKyotoKōbeKanazawaHamamatsuShizuokaTsuWakayama100 km35.353N, 136.684E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

Contested ground: this site was fought over 3 times between 1181 and 1584.

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1181

Battle of Sunomata-gawa 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 Q2890114, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Sunomata-gawa, revision 1379171513, 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.