Emperor Go-Saga

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Emperor Go-Saga (後嵯峨天皇 Go-Saga Tennō) (April 1, 1220 – March 17, 1272) was the 88th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He ruled from February 21, 1242 to February 16, 1246. His personal name was Kunihito (邦仁).

[edit] Genealogy

He was the second son of Emperor Tsuchimikado, and second cousin of his predecessor Emperor Shijō.

Empress: Saionji (Fujiwara) ?? (西園寺（藤原）姞子)
- Fourth son: Imperial Prince Hisahito (久仁親王) (Emperor Go-Fukakusa)
- First daughter: Imperial Princess ?? (綜子内親王)
- Seventh son: Imperial Prince Tsunehito (恒仁親王) (Emperor Kameyama)
- Eleventh son: Imperial Prince ?? (雅尊親王)
- Thirteenth son: Imperial Prince ?? (貞良親王)
Lady-in-waiting: Taira ?? (平棟子)
- Third son: Imperial Prince Munetaka (宗尊親王) (6th Kamakura Shōgun)
Handmaid?: Fujiwara ?? (藤原博子)
- Eighth son: Prince ?? (覚助法親王) (Buddhist Priest)
- Second daughter: ??? (柳殿)
- Sixth daughter: Imperial Princess ?? (懌子内親王)

[edit] Life

When Emperor Tsuchimikado moved to Tosa Province (on Shikoku), he was raised by his mother's side of the family.

Because of the sudden death of Emperor Shijō at the age of 10, the question of succession arose. Because the expectations of the court nobility and the Bakufu conflicted, the issue was bitterly contested. Kujō Michiie and the court nobility supported Prince Tadanari (忠成王), a son of Retired Emperor Juntoku, but the shikken Hōjō Yasutoki was opposed to the sons of Juntoku for his involvement in the Jōkyū War. He instead supported Tsuchimikado's son Prince Kunihito as a neutral figure for Emperor. Because of these negotiations, there was a vacancy on the throne of 11 days.

In 1242, Prince Kunihito became emperor. In 1246 he abdicated to his son, Emperor Go-Fukakusa, beginning his reign as cloistered emperor. In 1259, he compelled Emperor Go-Fukakusa to abdicate to his younger brother, Emperor Kameyama. Imperial Prince Munetaka became shōgun instead of the Hōjō regents. Henceforth, the shōguns of the Kamakura Bakufu came from the imperial house. Still, the Hōjō regents increased their control of the Kamakura Bakufu, setting up the system of rule by regents.

In 1272, Go-Saga died. The descendants of his two sons contested the throne between them, forming into two lines, the Jimyōin-tō (Go-Fukakusa's descendants) and the Daikakuji-tō (Kameyama's descendats).