At the Siege of Hojujidono Temple he incarcerated the Monk-Emperor and Emperor Go-Toba and became Seii Taishogun (currently, it is widely believed to be Seito Taishogun), but 10 days later he was defeated at Awazu in Omi Province by the troops of MINAMOTO no Yoshitsune sent by MINAMOTO no Yoritomo.
法住寺合戦に及んで法皇と後鳥羽天皇を幽閉して征夷大将軍となり（近年では征東大将軍説が有力）、その10日後に源頼朝が送った源義経の軍勢によって近江国粟津で討たれた。