In the Seto Inland Sea, FUJIWARA no Sumitomo, who was responsible for combatting pirates, together with others who had been commissioned for the same purpose, set up an independent armed force against the Zuryo (provincial governors) of Kyoto.
瀬戸内海では、海賊鎮圧の任に当たっていた藤原純友が、同じ目的で地方任官していた者たちと独自の武装勢力を形成して京から赴任する受領たちと対立。