Emperor Toba


Emperor Toba was the 74th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Toba's reign spanned the years from 1107 through 1123.

Genealogy

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Munehito-shinnō.
He was the son of Emperor Horikawa. His mother was Empress Dowager Fujiwara no Ishi
Toba had three Empresses, some consort ladies and 14 imperial sons and daughters.
  • chūgū : Fujiwara no Tamako later Taikenmon’in, Fujiwara no Kinzane‘s daughter
  • * First Son: Imperial Prince Akihito later Emperor Sutoku
  • * First Daughter: Imperial Princess Yoshiko/Kishi – Saiin at Kamo Shrine
  • * Second Son: Imperial Prince Michihito
  • * Third Son: Imperial Prince Kimihito
  • * Second Daughter: Imperial Princess Muneko later Jōsaimon-in, – Saiin at Kamo Shrine.
  • * Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Masahito later Emperor Go-Shirakawa
  • * Fifth Son: Imperial Prince Motohito? later Imperial Prince priest Kakushō
  • kōgō: Fujiwara no Yasuko/Taishi later Kōyō-in, Fujiwara no Tadazane’s daughter
  • kōgō: Fujiwara no Nariko later Bifukumon’in, Fujiwara no Nagazane’s daughter.
  • * Daughter: Imperial Princess Toshiko/Eishi
  • * Daughter: Imperial Princess Akiko later Hachijo’in
  • * Ninth Son: Imperial Prince Narihito, later Emperor Konoe
  • * Daughter: Imperial Imperial Princess Yoshiko/Shushi later Takamatsu’in, chūgū
  • Court Lady Ki Ieko, Mino-no-Tsubone, Ki no Mitsukiyo’s daughter
  • * Sixth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Dōkei
  • * Seventh Son: Imperial Prince Priest Kakukai
  • * Daughter: Aya Gozen
  • Sanjō-no-Tsubone, Fujiwara no Iemasa’s daughter
  • * Daughter: Imperial Princess Kenshi Yoshida saigū
  • Kasuga-no-Tsubone, Tokudaiji Saneyosi‘s daughter
  • * Seventh Daughter: Imperial Princess Shōshi/Nobuko
  • Fujitsubo-Nyogo, Tachibana Toshitsuna‘s daughter
  • * Shin-yo? – Buddhist nun
  • Tosa-no-Tsubone, Minamoto no Mitsuyasu‘s daughter
  • Fujiwara no Sanehira‘s Daughter
  • * Daughter: Princess Takamatsu
  • Unknown
  • * Imperial Prince Priest Saichū
  • * Imperial Prince Dōka?

    Events of Toba's life

When his mother died, his grandfather, former-Emperor Shirakawa, took him under his care and raised him.
  • August 9, 1107 : In the 21st year of Emperor Horikawa's reign, the emperor died at the age of 29; and the succession was received by his only son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Toba is said to have acceded to the throne.
During the initial years of Toba's reign, the actual power was held by his grandfather, the "retired" Emperor Shirakawa, in a process known as cloistered rule.
  • 1110 : The Miidera-ji burned down. This was the second time the temple was destroyed by fire, the first time being in 1081.
  • February 25, 1123 : In the 17th year of Emperor Toba's reign, Toba was forced to abdicate by his grandfather, retired-Emperor Shirakawa. Toba gave up the throne in favor of his son Akihito, who would become Emperor Sutoku. Toba was only 20 years old when he renounced his title; and he had already reigned for 16 years: two in the nengō ''Tennin, three in Ten'ei, five in the nengō Eikyū, two in Gen'ei, and four in the nengō Hōan. At this time, Toba took the title Daijō-tennō. The succession was received by his son.
  • 1123 : Emperor Sutoku is said to have acceded to the throne.
  • 1129 : "retired" Emperor Shirakawa died; and Toba himself began to rule as cloistered emperor. Toba continued to hold power through the reigns of three emperors, Emperor Sutoku, Emperor Konoe, and Emperor Go-Shirakawa.
  • 1134 : The former-Emperor Toba made a pilgrimage to the Kumano Shrines. He was accompanied by sadaijin Hanazono no Arahito and udaijin'' Naka-no-in Munetada. The excursion was enjoyed by all, and great quantities of sake were consumed.

    Kugyō

Kugyō is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras. Even during those years in which the court's actual influence outside the palace walls was minimal, the hierarchic organization persisted.
In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Toba's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
The years of Toba's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.