Emperor Reizei

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Emperor Reizei (冷泉天皇 Reizei Tennō) (12 June 950 - 21 November 1011) was the 63rd emperor of Japan (967 - 969), according to the traditional order of succession. His name in birth was Prince Norihira (冷泉天皇).

Emperor Reizei was the second son of Emperor Murakami. His mother was a daughter of Fujiwara no Morosuke. Soon after his birth he was appointed as crown prince. This decision was supposedly made under the influence of Morosuke and his brother Fujiwara no Sanetomo who had seized power in the court.

Due to a mental illness his succession was considered somewhat problematic. In 967 his father Murakami died and Reizei ascended to the throne at the age of eighteen and Sanetomo was appointed kanpaku regent to support the emperor in his illness. A struggle occurred between two princes of Murakami over who would be appointed the crown prince. In 969 Reizei retired and received the honorific title of Reizei-in Jōkō (retired emperor Reizei).