Emperor Takakura

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Emperor Takakura (高倉天皇 Takakura Tennō) (September 23, 1161 – January 30, 1181) was the 80th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He reigned from March 30, 1168 to March 18, 1180. His personal name was Norihito (憲仁).

[edit] Genealogy

Takakura was the fourth son of Emperor Go-Shirakawa, and thus uncle to his predecessor, Emperor Rokujō. His mother was Empress Dowager Taira no Shigeko, the younger sister of Taira no Tokiko, the wife of Taira no Kiyomori. His empress consort was Taira no Tokuko (later Empress Dowager Kenrei), the daughter of Taira no Kiyomori, and thus his first cousin (as his mother and Tokuko's mothers were sisters).

Empress consort: Taira no Tokuko (平徳子)
- Imperial Prince Tokihito (言仁親王) - later Emperor Antoku)
Bōmon Shōkushi (坊門稙子)
- Fourth son: Imperial Prince Takahira (尊成親王) - later Emperor Go-Toba
Shichijo-in Tanako (質所店子）
- Second son: Imperial Prince Morisada (守貞親王) - later Go-Takakura-in (後高倉院)
  - Third son: Imperial Prince Yutahito (茂仁親王) - later Emperor Go-Horikawa

[edit] Life

Government affairs were controlled by his father, the ex-Emperor Go-Shirakawa, reigning as cloistered Emperor, and his father-in-law, Taira no Kiyomori, who reigned as de facto regent. Soon after the birth of Takakura's son, Imperial Prince Tokihito, he was pressured to abdicate in his favor. The one-year-old infant became Emperor Antoku.