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Empresses Regnant of Japan – Empress Go-Sakuramachi

Empress Go-Sakuramachi was the last of eight Empresses Regnant of Japan. Before her accession to the throne, she was known as Toshiko. She was born on 23 September 1740 as the second daughter of Emperor Sakuramachi and Nijō Ieko. Her elder sister Noriko died in childhood in 1746. Her younger half-brother was Prince Toohito, later Emperor Momozono. She grew up in the Heian Palace, and she and her brother would turn out to be the last lineal descendants of Emperor Nakamikado.

On 9 June 1747, Toshiko’s father abdicated in favour of her half-brother. Emperor Sakuramachi would die just three years later at the age of 30. Her half-brother would father at least two sons with a court lady named Ichijō Tomiko. In 1762, the Emperor abdicated in favour of his sister Toshiko, who became the Empress Go-Sakuramachi. He died not much later on 31 August 1762, at the age of 21. His eldest son was just five years old, and it was expected that Go-Sakuramachi would reign only until her nephew was old enough to take over.  During her reign of 8 years, it was the shōgun (military dictator) Ieshige held the actual power. There was one failed plot to restore the Imperial powers, but this did not come from the Empress herself.

She indeed abdicated in favour of her nephew on 9 January 1771, and he became Emperor Go-Momozono. When the new Emperor died just eight years into his reign, he had a single living 10-month-old daughter, who was not considered suitable. On Go-Sakuramachi’s insistence, her nephew adopted Prince Morohito as his heir, and he became Emperor Kōkaku. Go-Momozono’s daughter Princess Yoshiko later married Morohito, but their two sons would die in infancy. Go-Sakuramachi acted as guardian for the new Emperor, who was just nine years old.

The former empress Go-Sakuramachi died on 24 December 1813, at the age of 73. She was buried in the Tsuki no wa no misasagi mausoleum in Kyoto.

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From the Queen to the German Crown Princess – 29 April 1882

From the Queen to the German Crown Princess – Windsor Castle, 29 April 1882

(Describing Prince Leopold’s1 wedding to Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont)

Truly glad would I have been to have seen you here, dearest child, as you may well believe – but I could not have lodged you, and every single corner was full; not a mouse could have been put in. And then as I naturally wished to give the Waldecks the pas – above all other princes and princesses (the King and Queen of the Netherlands excepted) I felt it might not do, as I knew how very particular they are at Berlin about these things.

She answered so plainly and distinctly much louder than he did – that it was heard all through the Chapel. The King of the Netherlands is as quiet and unobtrusive as possible; a totally altered man and totally owing to her. She2 is charming, so amiable, kind, friendly and cheerful. She would be very pretty were it not for her complexion which has suffered very much from the damp climate and is very red. The little sister of Helena is a darling and such a handsome child.3

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Empresses Regnant of Japan – Empress Meishō

Before Empress Meishō succeeded as Empress Regnant of Japan, she was known as Oki-ko. She was born on 9 January 1624 as the second daughter of Emperor Go-Mizunoo and Tokugawa Masako. She grew up in the Inner Apartments of the Heian Palace. She was one of at least 33 (half) siblings.

Het father abdicated in her favour when she was just six years old and the power was mainly in the hands of her maternal uncle shōgun (military dictator) Iemitsu. She was the first Empress Regnant of Japan in 859 years and it is unknown why she was selected from her many (and male) siblings. Meishō never married and she had no children of her own.

After a reign of just 15 years, Meishō abdicated in favour of her younger half-brother who became Emperor Go-Kōmyō. Despite being barely out of her teens, she would live the rest of her long life in retirement.

She died on 4 December 1696, at the age of 72. She was buried in the Tsuki no wa no misasagi mausoleum in Kyoto.

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Empresses Regnant of Japan – Empress Kōken/Shōtoku

Before Empress Kōken succeeded as Empress Regnant of Japan, she was known as Abe. She was born in 713 as the daughter of Emperor Shōmu and Empress Kōmyō.

She succeeded her father upon his abdication in 749 and she survived two coup attempts. Her first reign ended in 758 when she abdicated in favour of a cousin who would become known as Emperor Junnin. Following the Fujiwara no Nakamaro Rebellion, she began her second reign by the name of Empress Shōtoku. She was involved in an affair with a priest named Dōkyō and appointed him Grand Minister in 764.

Her second reign lasted until her death on 28 August 770. She was succeeded by her first cousin twice removed, who became Emperor Kōnin.

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Empresses Regnant of Japan – Empress Genmei

Before Empress Genmei succeeded as Empress Regnant of Japan, she was known by her personal Abe-Hime. She was born around 662 as the fourth daughter of Emperor Tenji and Mei-no-Iratsume. She became the consort of her cousin Crown Prince Kusakabe no Miko, and they had two daughters and a son together. Her father abdicated in 671 in favour of her brother Kōbun. His reign lasted just eight months, and he died the following year. He was succeeded by his uncle Tenmu who reigned until his death in 686. Tenmu was succeeded by his wife, who was also his niece, and Genmei’s older sister, Jitō.

Jitō would reign for 11 years. Jitō’s son with Tenmu was Crown Prince Kusakabe no Miko, who also happened to be Genmei’s husband. He would die in 689 at the age of 27. Jitō abdicated in 697 in favour of her grandson and Genmei’s son Monmu who became Emperor at the age of 14. Monmu reigned for 11 years before dying in 707, leaving behind a young son. Instead of his young son, he was succeeded by his 46-year-old mother, who proved herself to be an able ruler.

In 714, Genmei abdicated in favour of her daughter who became Empress Genshō, and this is the only case in Japanese history where a daughter succeeded her mother. Genmei died on 29 December 721, at the age of 61.

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