Then a large-scale revolt against the Taira clan occurred in Mino and Omi provinces, and Mitsunaga and other members of the Mino-Genji also joined the revolt as main players, but the army sent by the Taira clan government to suppress the revolt crushed the rebels in Omi, marched into Mino, defeated the rebel forces there and took over their castle ('Rising of the Mino-Genji' and the 'Battle in Omi').
その後、美濃・近江国両国で起きた平家に対する大規模な反乱では光長ら美濃源氏もその中心的存在として蜂起し、翌養和元年（1181年）、近江を鎮圧した後に美濃へと攻め込んだ追討軍に敗れ居城を落とされる(「美濃源氏の挙兵」「近江攻防」)。