In March 1184, when the Taira family was completely defeated in the Battle of Ichinotani by the army led by MINAMOTO no Noriyori and MINAMOTO no Yoshitsune, Shigehira was captured by the enemy.
寿永3年（1184年）2月、一ノ谷の戦いで平家は源範頼・源義経に大敗し、重衡は捕えられてしまった。