Background
His father was Minamoto no Yoshitomo. Tomonaga accompanied his father and two brothers, Minamoto no Yoshihira and Minamoto no Yoritomo, fleeing Kyoto following their defeat in the Heiji Rebellion of 1159.
源 朝長
His father was Minamoto no Yoshitomo. Tomonaga accompanied his father and two brothers, Minamoto no Yoshihira and Minamoto no Yoritomo, fleeing Kyoto following their defeat in the Heiji Rebellion of 1159.
Tomonaga had been wounded on Mount Hiyei. The four made their way through snowstorms to the east in an attempt to levy troops. Yoshihira and Yoritomo went on ahead, while Tomonaga lagged behind.
Tomonaga asked his father to kill him so he would not fall into the hands of the enemy.
Shortly afterwards, Yoshitomo was also killed. Tomonaga"s grave was defiled some time later, by Taira no Munekiyo, who brought his head to Kyoto as a trophy.