Emperor Go-Horikawa
Emperor Go-Horikawa was the 86th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1221 through 1232.
This 13th-century sovereign was named after the 11th-century Emperor Horikawa and go-, translates literally as "later"; and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Horikawa". The Japanese word go has also been translated to mean the "second one;" and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as "Horikawa, the second," or as "Horikawa II."
Genealogy
Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Yutahito-shinnō, also known as Motsihito-shinnō.The third son of Imperial Prince Morisada, the second son of Emperor Takakura.
- Empress : Sanjō Ariuko later Ankimon’in, Sanjo Kinfusa's daughter
- Empress : Konoe Nagako Later Takatsukasa’in, Konoe Iezane’s daughter.
- Empress : Kujō Shunshi Later Sōhekimon’in, Kujo Michiie’s daughter
- *First son: Imperial Prince Mitsuhito later Emperor Shijō
- *Fourth daughter: Imperial Princess Hoshi
- *Second Son:
- Lady-in-waiting: Betto-Naishi, Jimyōin Ieyuki’s daughter
- *First daughter: Imperial Princess Kishi later Muromachi-in
- *Second daughter: Imperial Princess Taishi later Shinsenmon’in
- Lady-in-waiting: Dainagon-no-Tsubone, Fujiwara Kaneyoshi’s daughter
- *Third daughter: Imperial Princess Akiko
Events of Go-Horikawa's life
In 1221, because of the Jōkyū Incident, an unsuccessful attempt by Emperor Go-Toba to seize real power, the Kamakura shogunate completely excluded those of the imperial family descended from Emperor Go-Toba from the Chrysanthemum Throne, thus forcing Emperor Chūkyō to abdicate. After the Genpei War, he, as the grandson of the late Emperor Takakura, who was also a nephew of the then-exiled Retired Emperor Go-Toba, and Chūkyō's first cousin, was enthroned as Go-Horikawa. He ruled from July 29, 1221 to October 26, 1232.29 July 1221 : In the 1st year of what is now considered to have been Chūkyō-tennōs reign, he abruptly abdicated without designating an heir; and contemporary scholars then construed that the succession was received by a grandson of former Emperor Go-Toba.14 January 1222 : Emperor Go-Horikawa acceded to the throne.As Go-Horikawa was only ten-years-old at this time, his father Imperial Prince Morisada acted as cloistered emperor under the name Go-Takakura-in.
In 1232, he began his own cloistered rule, abdicating to his 1-year-old son, Emperor Shijō. However, he had a weak constitution, and his cloistered rule lasted just under two years before he died.
Emperor Go-Horikawa's Imperial tomb is at Sennyū-ji in the Nochi no Tsukinowa no Higashiyama no misasagi.
''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.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 Go-Horikawa's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:Sesshō, Konoe Iezane, d. 1242.Sadaijin, Konoe Iemichi, 1204–1224.Udaijin, Fujiwara Kintsugu, 1117–1227.Naidaijin, Saionji Kintsune, 1171–1224.
- ''Dainagon''