Heizei is traditionally venerated at his tomb; the
Nara, as the location of Heizei's mausoleum.[1] The site is publicly accessible.[6] Although one of the largest kofun
monuments in Japan, archaeological investigations in 1962–1963 indicate that it was constructed in the early 5th century, and that portions of it were destroyed during the construction of Heijo-kyō, calling into question the designation by the Imperial Household Agency.
Events of Heizei's life
Before he ascended to the throne, his liaison with Fujiwara no Kusuko, the mother of his one consort, caused a scandal. Because of this scandal his father considered depriving him of the rank of crown prince.
785: (Enryaku 4, 11th month[7]): Heizei was appointed Crown Prince at the age of 12.[8]
April 9, 806[9] (Daidō 1, 17th day of the 3rd month[10]): In the 25th year of Emperor Kanmu's reign, he died; and despite an ensuing dispute over who should follow him as sovereign, contemporary scholars then construed that the succession (senso) was received by his son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Heizei is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).[11]
His title Heizei was derived from the official name of the capital in Nara, Heizei Kyō.
During Heizei's reign, the bodyguards were reorganized; the existing Imperial Bodyguards became the Left Imperial Bodyguards, while the Middle Bodyguards became the Right Imperial Bodyguards.
shōgun of a military expedition against the Emishi.[13]
809 (
Nara and was henceforth known as Nara no Mikado, the "Emperor of Nara".[12]
May 18, 809 (Daidō 4, 1st day of the 4th month[15]): Emperor Saga was enthroned at age 24.[12]
810 (Kōnin 1): In Heizei's name, the former emperor's ambitious third wife, Kusuko (薬子), and her brother Nakanari organized an attempted rebellion, but their forces were defeated. Kusuko died in poison and her brother was executed. Heizei took the tonsure and became a Buddhist monk.[16]
August 5, 824 (Tenchō 1, 7th day of the 7th month[17]): Heizei died at age 51, 14 years after he had abdicated due to illness.[18]
Era of Heizei's reign
The years of Heizei's reign are encompassed within one
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 Heizei's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
Sadaijin
(not appointed)
Udaijin, Miwa-no-Oh or Miwa-no-Ohkimi (神王), 798–806.[5]
Udaijin, Fujiwara no Uchimaro (藤原内麿), 806–812.[12]
When the daughter of a chūnagon became the favored consort of the Crown Prince Ate (later known as Heizei-tennō), her father's power and position in court was affected. Kanmu disapproved of Fujiwara no Kusuko (藤原薬子, d. 810), former wife of Fujiwara no Tadanushi; and Kanmu had her removed from his son's household. After Kanmu died, Heizei restored this one-time favorite as part of his household; and this distinction had consequences.[16]
Shōshi Court lady (Naishi-no-kami): Fujiwara no Kusuko (藤原薬子, d. 810), former wife of Chūnagon Fujiwara no Tadanushi[16] and Fujiwara no Tanetsugu’s daughter
Hi: Fujiwara Tadanushi’s daughter
Court lady: Ise no Tsuguko (伊勢継子; 772–812), Ise no Ōna’s daughter
Third Prince: Imperial Prince Takaoka (高丘親王; 799–881), the Crown Prince in 809 (deposed in 810)
Fourth prince: Imperial Prince Kose (巨勢親王; d. 882)
Imperial Princess Kamitsukeno (上毛野内親王; d. 842)
Imperial Princess Isonokami (石上内親王; d. 846)
Third princess: Imperial Princess Ōhara (大原内親王; d. 863), 14th
Ise Shrine
(806–809)
Court lady: Fujii no Fujiko/Tōshi (葛井藤子), Fujii no Michiyori’s daughter
^Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, pp. 62–63.
^Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon, pp. 96–97; Brown, Delmer et al. (1979). Gukanshō, pp. 279–280; Varley, H. Paul. Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 151.