Name: Taira no Tadamori (平 忠盛)
Birth/Death: (1096-1153)
Appearance: Book 1 Episode 1-3, 5; Book 2 Episode 3; Book 4 Episode 8; Book 6 Episode 10; Book 9 Episode 16
Bio:
He is the father of Kiyomori, Tsunemori, Norimori, Yorimori, Tadanori, and Kenreimon'in, among others.
Taira no Tadamori consolidated the influence of the Taira clan in the Imperial Court. He was said to have been the first samurai to serve the Emperor directly and is also credited with the construction of the Tokujōju-in. Tadamori was granted the governorship of Tajima province as a reward for completing this project.
In Book 1, episode 2, the Fujiwara conspire to attack Taira no Tadamori out of jealousy at an imperial function, because they are angry that Emperor Toba granted Tadamori a province without considering them. Tadamori learned of their plot and confounded their efforts, thereby earning greater approval from Emperor Toba.
In Book 6, we learn a rumor that Emperor Shirakawa gave Tadamori the Gion Consort, who was pregnant at the time. The child born to her is a boy, and Tadamori names him Kiyomori and raises him as his own. This section suggests that Kiyomori's true father may have been Shirakawa.