Yoriie

Yoriie, also romanized as Minamoto no Yoriie, was the second shogun of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan. He was the eldest son of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura shogunate, and his rise to power occurred in the late 12th century following his father’s death.

Yoriie’s reign was characterized by the rising influence of the Hōjō clan, who served as regents and held real political authority. While Yoriie retained the title of shogun, his ability to govern was limited by regents and powerful military leaders, and internal factionalism within the military government further constrained his leadership. The period marks an important shift in Kamakura governance, with the office of shogun becoming increasingly subordinate to regents from the Hōjō family.

In 1204, Yoriie died, and his death effectively cleared the way for his son, Minamoto no Sanetomo, to become the next shogun. Sanetomo’s ascent continued the pattern of nominal shogunal authority exercised under Hōjō regency, a structure that would dominate the Kamakura administration for decades.

Yoriie’s brief tenure is often cited as an early example of the changing balance of power within the Kamakura shogunate, illustrating how regents came to wield substantial influence over the military government and its leadership.