Abe no Sadato

Background

Sadato was the son of Abe no Yoritoki, the chinjufu shogun (general in charge of overseeing the Ainu and the defense of the north).

Career

With his father, Yoritoki, he revolted in 1054 and fought the forces of Yoriyoshi Minamoto, Lord of Mutsu. Minamoto no Yoriyoshi and his son Yoshiie came to the Abe's northern province of Mutsu to restore power over the province to the Governor; Abe no Yoritoki, Sadato's father, had been acting beyond his station. As a result, the two clans fought for roughly nine years, with some truces, over the course of a total of twelve years from 1051 to 1063. He fought them in the battle of Kawasaki, in a snowstorm, defeated them and pursued them through the blizzard for a short time. Other battles followed, during which Sadato's attacks, along with the harsh weather and terrain weakened his enemies. However, in 1062, the Minamoto received reinforcements, and Sadato faced them for the last time.

After his father died, he led his rebel army. For many years, Yoriyoshi's outnumbered forces struggled against Sadat's. In 1062, reinforcements came from Takanori Kiyohara to Yoriyoshi and the combined forces captured Sadato's fortresses at Komatsu, Koromogawa and Torinomi, and finally the last stronghold at Kuriyagawa.

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

• "He was more than six feet tall, the circumference of his waist seven feet and four inches. He had an extraordinary face, his skin was white, and he was fat."