When an order to arrest him was issued all over Japan, he again counted on the protection of FUJIWARA no Hidehira, but after Hidehira's death, he was assaulted by the new head of the clan, FUJIWARA no Yasuhira, as he was pressed by Yoritomo, and Yoshitsune, who felt cornered, killed himself at the Koromogawa no Tachi residence.
全国に捕縛の命が伝わると難を逃れ再び藤原秀衡を頼ったが秀衡の死後、頼朝の追及を受けた当主藤原泰衡に攻められ衣川館で自刃し果てた。