Emperor Tsuchimikado


Emperor Tsuchimikado was the 83rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Tsuchimikado's reign spanned the years from 1198 through 1210.

Genealogy

Before Tsuchimikado's accession to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Tamehito-shinnō. He was the firstborn son of Emperor Go-Toba. His mother was Ariko , daughter of Minamoto no Michichika.
Tsuchimikado's Imperial family lived with him in the Dairi of the Heian Palace. His family included three sons by three different consorts:
  • Empress : Ōinomikado (Fujiwara) no Reishi later Onmeimon'in, Ōinomikado Yorisane's daughter
  • Lady-in-waiting: Tsuchimikado no Michiko, Minamoto Michimumen's daughter
  • *First daughter: Princess Haruko
  • *Second daughter: Imperial Princess Akiko later Ogimachi'in
  • *Third son: Imperial Prince Priest Ninjo
  • *Fourth son: Imperial Prince Priest Jojin
  • *Sixth son: Prince Kunihito, later Emperor Go-Saga
  • Court Lady: Mimasaka-Naishi, Takashina Nakasuke's daughter
  • * Princess
  • * Son: Imperial Prince Priest Donin
  • Court Lady: Minamoto Sadamitsu's daughter
  • *Fifth daughter: Princess Hideko
  • Court Lady: Owari-no-Tsubone, Priest's daughter
  • *Son: Imperial Prince Priest Sonsyu
  • Court Lady: Priest Shine's daughter
  • *Son: Imperial Prince Priest Sonjo
  • Court Lady: Jibukyo-no-tsubone, Priest's Daughter
  • *Son: Imperial Prince Priest Dōen
  • *Daughter: Princess Nobuko
  • Court Lady: Omiya-no-Tsubone, Minamoto Arimasa's daughter
  • * Daughter: Imperial Princess Teruko later Senkamon-in
  • Court Lady:, Priest's Daughter
  • *Son: Imperial Prince Priest Sainin
  • Court Lady: Kunaikyō-no-tsubone, Fujiwara Norimitsu's daughter
  • * Daughter: Princess Tomoko
  • Court Lady:, Priest's Daughter
  • * Son: Zojin
  • Court Lady: Sakyōdaibu-no-Tsubone, Priest's Daughter
  • * Daughter: Imperial Princess Junko
  • Court Lady: Tanba-no-Tsubone, Priest's Daughter
  • * Daughter: Princess Koreko
  • Mother Unknown:
  • * daughter, adopted by Prince Hokuroku
  • * Kaison
  • * Jakue

    Events of Tsuchimikado's life

In 1198, he became emperor upon the abdication of Emperor Go-Toba, who continued to exercise Imperial powers as cloistered emperor.
  • 18 February 1198 : In the 15th year of Go-Toba-tennōs reign, the emperor abdicated; and the succession was received by his eldest son.
  • 1198 : Emperor Tsuchimikado is said to have acceded to the throne.
  • 1199: Shortly after Tsuchimikado's reign began, Minamoto no Yoritomo died.
  • 1203: Yoritomo's successor as head of the Kamakura shogunate, Minamoto no Yoriie, was assassinated; and former emperor Go-Toba was responsible for good relations with the shogunate when it was headed by Minamoto no Sanetomo from 1203 through 1219.
  • 1210: Go-Toba persuaded Tsuchimikado to abdicate in favor of his younger brother, who would become known as Emperor Juntoku.
In Kyōto, Minamoto no Michichika took power as steward, and in Kamakura, in 1199, upon the death of Minamoto no Yoritomo, Hōjō Tokimasa began to rule as Gokenin.
Tsuchimikado removed himself from Kyoto, traveling first to Tosa Province ; and later, he moved to Awa province, where he died in exile.
  • 1231: The former emperor died at age 35.
Tsuchimikado's official Imperial tomb is in Kyoto. The emperor is venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine. This mausoleum shrine is formally named Kanegahara 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 Tsuchimikado's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
The years of Tschuimikado's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.