Uda Minamoto was not a single person, but the Uda Minamoto were quite real. The Uda Minamoto were descendants of Emperor Uda. Each branch of the Minamoto clan is based on the Emperor from which they descended. The Minamoto were relatives of the Emperors who were too far down the family chain to be considered royalty. The name Minamoto was bestowed on these relatives as an honorary title, but over time the various Minamoto groups became quite powerful. The Uda Minamoto were a particularly powerful and influential group within the Minamoto. Another interesting fact is that Emperor Uda was Emperor Murakami’s grandfather and struggled against the Fujiwara clan’s political maneuvering.