Kajiwara Kagetoki
d.1200
Kagetoki was a clan
leader from Izu descended from the Taira. He initially opposed Minamoto Yoritomo
during the Gempei War and was present alongside Oba Kagechika at the Battle
of Ishibashiyama. Legend has it that following Yoritomo's defeat at that
battle, a secretly sympathetic Kajiwara discovered him hiding in a hollow tree,
but said nothing. He afterwards joined Yoritomo and quickly became one of his
most valued allies. He fought at the Battle of Ichi no Tani (1184) and
was afterwards active with administrative affairs; he is said to have clashed
with Minamoto
Yoshitsune prior to the Battle of Yashima over tactical issues, and again
immediately before the Battle of Dan no Ura. Following the Taira defeat
he rose to become even closer to Yoritomo, and was rumored to have further
slandered his rival Yoshitsune. He contributed forces to the Mutsu Campaign
(1189) and received the rank of shugo. Following the death of Yoritomo,
he became close to the heir, Yoriie but his slanderous (or presumed slanderous)
behavior raised the ire of his colleagues and in November 1199 66 Minamoto
housemen signed a petition censuring him. Kagetoki fled Kamakura but was tracked
down and killed the following year by Bakufu forces.
Kagetoki was highly regarded by Minamoto Yoritomo as a soldier and
administrator, but was disliked by the other Minamoto retainers.
His sons included Kagesue (one of the first to fight at the Battle of the Uji
in 1184), Kagetaka, and Kageie. All three were present at the Battle of Dan no
Ura.
______________________________________Return to Gempei War Sources:
Mass, Jeffery P. (ed.) Court and Bakufu in Japan Stanford 1995
McCullough, Helen C. The Tale of the Heike Stanford 1988
Morris, Ivan The Nobility of Failure Secker and Warburg 1975