平清盛 (Taira no Kiyomori) was a prominent Japanese military leader during the late Heian period. He was the head of the Taira clan and played a crucial role in the Genpei War, a conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clan. Kiyomori's rise to power marked the beginning of the samurai's influence in Japanese politics. Kiyomori is known for establishing the first samurai-dominated government in Japan. He became the first person from the Taira clan to be appointed as a regent, which allowed him to exert significant control over the imperial court. His legacy is often associated with the shift from aristocratic rule to military governance.