Fujiwara no Michinaga
Fujiwara no Michinaga (Japanese藤原 道 长; * 966 in Kyoto, Japanese calendar, † January 3, 1028 ibid :万寿年4月12日4 ) Represents the culmination of the rule of the Fujiwara regents of the Government of Japan
Michinaga practiced in the early 11th century, de facto from the domination of Japan. This can be seen from the fact that he was the father of four ( non- incumbent ) empresses, uncle of two Japanese emperors and the grandfather of three other emperors.
He was the fourth or fifth son of Fujiwara no Kaneie with his wife Fujiwara no Tokihime. Two regents ( Michitaka and Michikane ) and two imperial consorts ( Chushi and Senshi ) were among his siblings.
As the youngest son of his father, he did not appear at court, especially in appearance, to his two brothers died. He began his career at court, when he was 15 years old. 995, during the reign of Emperor Ichijō his two older brothers and Michitaka Michikane died of an illness. He argued with Fujiwara no Korechika, the elder son of Michitaka. With the support of his sister Senshi, the mother of Ichijō succeeded Michinaga, the power, as well as the support of the majority of the court to win. He was promoted to Nairan, the secretary of the emperor, who traditionally all documents perused and sorted out before the Emperor read it yourself. Although he was not yet Regent, he was essentially already at that time the most powerful person at court.
Although Ichijō already had an empress (a subsidiary of Michitaka ), he claimed that there are two kinds of empresses shaft and therefore it is legal to simultaneously have two empresses. Michinagas ambitions led him to make his own daughter, Shoshi to the second Empress of Ichijō.
1000 Shoshi was proclaimed to Chugu - Empress and the existing Empress, Teishi, given the title Empress Kogo. It was the first time in Japanese history that an emperor had two empresses. The power struggle between Korechika and Michinaga went up to Teishis unexpected death on. This sealed Michinagas power since Shoshi after Teishis death was the only empress.
Shoshi was born two princes who were later crowned as Emperor Go - Ichijō and Suzaku. Michinagas other daughters, Kenshi and Ishi, experienced similar fates as Shoshi and strengthened Michinagas power over the court on securely.
After Ichijō resigned due to illness, Emperor ascended the throne Sanjō. Although he was a nephew of Michinaga (the mother of Sanjō was another sister of Michinaga; these had died in Sanjōs childhood, and he was influenced relatively little of his maternal line ), he was already a mature man and had his own political views. He was older than its predecessor Ichijo and in his thirties, when he became emperor.
Michinagas and Sanjōs opinions contradicted each other often. Michinaga therefore practiced on Sanjō pressure to resign. 1016 Sanjō finally came back with the agreement that his elder son should be appointed as his successor. But Michinagas political power and influence lead to a "voluntary" resignation of the crown prince. Michinaga pleased this decision and gave him his daughter (either Kenshi or Ishi ) to wife and presented thus ensures that the prince in the future would be no obstacle.
Actually took Michinaga never formally the title of Kampaku ( " Regent, Adviser"), but in reality, his word was law, even after he officially retired in 1019 from public life. He continued to manage the affairs of his son and successor, Fujiwara no Yorimichi. Michinaga is also known as the MIDO Kampaku (御堂 关 白 记) is known. This means that he had usurped the full authority of a Kampaku without necessarily describe themselves as Kampaku. He used the title of Sesshō (摂 政, dt Regent (for a minor / female emperor ) ) in a short period from 1016 to 1017. In 1017 he gave his heir Yorimichi this post.
Soon after that began a series of emperors to retire early in life in a monastery and put their young sons on the throne, to then run the country behind the stage. This tactic allowed the emperors briefly, the Fujiwara clan to seize power, but only to lose them later to the Taira clan.
Michinaga left behind a diary, Mido Kampakuki (御堂 关 白 记), which is one of our main sources of information about the climax of the court life of the Heian period. The handwritten original of the diary was declared in 2013 for the World Soundtrack Awards.
There is also the view that he was the inspiration for the Prince Genji, the hero of the Tale of Genji Murasaki Shikibu the maid of honor.