Emperor Heizei, also known as Heijō-tennō, was the 51st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Heizei's reign lasted from 806 to 809.
Heizei was the eldest son of the Emperor Kanmu and empress Fujiwara no Otomuro. Heizei had three Empresses and seven sons and daughters. Heizei is traditionally venerated at his tomb; the Imperial Household Agency designates, in Nara, as the location of Heizei's mausoleum. The site is publicly accessible. 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.
April 9, 806 : In the 25th year of Emperor Kanmu's reign, he died; and despite an ensuring dispute over who should follow him as sovereign, contemporary scholars then construed that the succession was received by his son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Heizei is said to have acceded to the throne.
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. Both sides were given a new Senior Commander; at this time Heizei appointed Sakanoue no Tamuramaro as Senior Commander of the Imperial Bodyguards of the Right. Under Emperor Kanmu, Tamuramaro had been appointed as shōgun of a military expedition against the Emishi.
809 : After a reign of four years, Heizei fell ill; and fearing that he would not survive, Heizei abdicated in favor of his younger brother, who would later come to be known as Emperor Saga. After abdicating, Heizei moved to Nara and was henceforth known as Nara no Mikado, the "Emperor of Nara".
May 18, 809 : Emperor Saga was enthroned at age 24.
810 : In Heizei's name, the former emperor's ambitious third wife, Kusuko, 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.
August 5, 824 : Heizei died at age 51, 14 years after he had abdicated due to illness.
Era of Heizei's reign
The years of Heizei's reign are encompassed within one era name.
Daidō
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 Heizei's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
When the daughter of a chūnagon became the favored consort of the Crown Prince Ate, her father's power and position in court was affected. Kanmu disapproved of Fujiwara no Kusuko, 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.
Chūnagon, Fujiwara no Tadanushi
Consorts and children
Empress : Fujiwara no Tarashiko/Taishi, Fujiwara no Momokawa’s daughter Hi: Imperial Princess Asahara, Emperor Kanmu’s daughter Hi: Imperial Princess Ōyake, Emperor Kanmu’s daughter Hi: Imperial Princess Kan'nabi, Emperor Kanmu’s daughter ShōshiCourt lady : Fujiwara no Kusuko, former wife of Chūnagon Fujiwara no Tadanushi and Fujiwara no Tanetsugu’s daughter Hi: Fujiwara Tadanushi’s daughter Court lady: Ise no Tsuguko, Ise no Ōna’s daughter
Third Prince: Imperial Prince Takaoka, the Crown Prince in 809
Fourth prince: Imperial Prince Kose
Imperial Princess Kamitsukeno
Imperial Princess Isonokami
Third princess: Imperial Princess Ōhara, 14th Saiō in Ise Shrine
Court lady: Fujii no Fujiko/Tōshi, Fujii no Michiyori’s daughter
