The samurai were members of the professional warrior class in pre-industrial Japan, who served as retainers to the lords. These men came from warrior families and trained from a young age in military
The mounted archer represented the quintessential samurai.
A warrior in ō-yoroi armor typical of the Gempei War (1180–1185).
Ōdachi forged by Sadaie, 14th century, Nanboku-chō period, Important Sword
Shōgun, officially sei-i taishōgun, was the title of the military rulers of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de
Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (758–811) was one of the first shoguns of the early Heian period.
Taira no Masakado's rebellion is historically significant as the first rebellion of the warrior class and the first attempt of the warrior class to establish a government.
Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun (1192–1199) of the Kamakura shogunate
Hōjō Tokimasa shifted the source of power in the shogunate from the shogun to the shogun's assistant, shikken, and established the rule of the Hōjō clan.