{{Short description|Emperor of Japan from 806 to 809}} {{distinguish|text=Emperor Heisei, the future posthumous name of Emperor Emeritus Akihito}} {{distinguish|Heijō-kyō}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2012}}

{{Infobox royalty | name = Emperor Heizei<br>{{nobold|{{lang|ja|平城天皇}}}} | image = Emperor Heizei.jpg | caption = | succession = Emperor of Japan | reign = 806–809 | coronation = April 9, 806 | cor-type = japan | predecessor = Kanmu | successor = Saga | posthumous name = ''Tsuigō'':<br/>Emperor Heizei ({{lang|ja|平城天皇}})<br/><br/>Japanese-style ''shigō'':<br/>Yamato-neko-ameoshikuni-takahiko no Sumeramikoto ({{lang|ja|日本根子天推国高彦天皇}}) | spouse = Fujiwara no Tarashiko/Taishi | issue = {{plainlist| *Prince Abo *Prince Takaoka *Prince Kose *Princess Kamitsukeno *Princess Isonokami *Princess Ōhara *Princess Enu}} | royal house = Imperial House of Japan | father = Emperor Kanmu | mother = Fujiwara no Otomuro | birth_name = {{nihongo|Ate|安殿}} | birth_date = 773 | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and age|824|8|5|773}} | death_place = Heijō-kyō (Nara) | burial_place = ''Yamamomo no misasagi'' (楊梅陵) (Nara)| }}

{{nihongo|'''Emperor Heizei'''|平城天皇|Heizei-tennō|773 – August 5, 824}}, also known as ''Heijō-tennō'', was the 51st emperor of Japan,<ref name="kunaichō">Emperor Heizei, Yamamomo Imperial Mausoleum, Imperial Household Agency</ref> according to the traditional order of succession.<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', pp. 62–63.</ref> Heizei's reign lasted from 806 to 809.<ref>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.</ref>

==Traditional narrative== Heizei was the eldest son of the Emperor Kanmu and empress Fujiwara no Otomuro.<ref>Varley, p. 151; Brown, p. 279.</ref> Heizei had three empresses and seven sons and daughters.<ref name="b279">Brown, p. 279.</ref>

Heizei is traditionally venerated at his tomb; the Imperial Household Agency designates {{nihongo3|Yamamomo Imperial Mausoleum|楊梅陵|Yamamomo no Misasagi}}, in Nara, as the location of Heizei's mausoleum.<ref name="kunaichō" /> The site is publicly accessible.<ref>Nara City Sightseeing Information Center (''Narashikanko''): [http://narashikanko.jp/english/aria_map/map_pdf/302.pdf Heizei's ''misasagi'', map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207003146/http://narashikanko.jp/english/aria_map/map_pdf/302.pdf |date=February 7, 2012 }}</ref> 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 Heijō-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''': ({{nihongo foot|''Enryaku 4, 11th month''|延暦四年十一月}}): Heizei was appointed Crown Prince at the age of 12.<ref>Brown and Ishida, p. 279</ref> * '''April 9, 806''' <ref>Julian dates derived from [http://web.me.com/meyer.eva/www.yukikurete.de/nengo_calc.htm NengoCalc]</ref> ({{nihongo foot|''Daidō 1, 17th day of the 3rd month''|大同一年三月十七日}}): 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'').<ref>Titsingh, p. 95; Brown and Ishida, p. 279; Varley, p. 44; a distinct act of ''senso'' is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except Jitō, Yōzei, Go-Toba, and Fushimi have ''senso'' and ''sokui'' in the same year until the reign of Emperor Go-Murakami.</ref>

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.<ref name="b280">Brown and Ishida, p. 280</ref> Both sides were given a new Senior Commander; at this time Heizei appointed Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (758–811) as Senior Commander of the Imperial Bodyguards of the Right.<ref name="b280"/> Under Emperor Kanmu, Tamuramaro had been appointed as ''shōgun'' of a military expedition against the Emishi.<ref>Brown and Ishida, p. 279; Varley, p. 272; Titsingh, p. 99.</ref>

* '''809''' ({{nihongo foot|''Daidō 4, 1st month''|大同四年一月}}): 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.<ref name = "b280"/> After abdicating, Heizei moved to Nara and was henceforth known as ''Nara no Mikado'', the "Emperor of Nara".<ref name = "b280"/> * '''May 18, 809''' ({{nihongo foot|''Daidō 4, 1st day of the 4th month''|大同四年四月一日}}): Emperor Saga was enthroned at age 24.<ref name = "b280"/> * '''810''' (''Kōnin 1''): In Heizei's name, the former emperor's ambitious third wife, {{nihongo|Fujiwara no Kusuko|藤原薬子}}, 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.<ref name="ponsonby318">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 318. Brown and Ishida, pp. 281</ref> * '''August 5, 824''' ({{nihongo foot|''Tenchō 1, 7th day of the 7th month''|天長一年七月七日}}): Heizei died at age 51, 14 years after he had abdicated due to illness.<ref>Brown and Ishida, p. 280; Varley, p. 151.</ref>

===Era of Heizei's reign=== The years of Heizei's reign are encompassed within one era name (''nengō'').<ref>Titsingh, p. 96.</ref> * ''Daidō'' (806–810)

==Kugyō== {{nihongo|''Kugyō''|公卿}} is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.<ref>Furugosho: [http://www.furugosho.com/moyenage/empereur-g2.htm ''Kugyō'' of Heizi-''tennō'']</ref>

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.<ref name="b279"/> * ''Udaijin'', Fujiwara no Uchimaro (藤原内麿), 806–812.<ref name="b280"/> * ''Naidaijin'' * ''Dainagon'', Fujiwara no Otomo (藤原雄友), 806–807

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 {{nihongo|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.<ref name="ponsonby318"/>

* ''Chūnagon'', Fujiwara no Tadanushi<ref name="ponsonby318"/>

==Consorts and children== {{further|topic=terms related to imperial consorts|Kōkyū#consorts}}

*Empress (posthumously elevated ''Kōgō''): Fujiwara no Tarashiko/''Taishi'' (藤原帯子; d.794), Fujiwara no Momokawa’s daughter<ref>Ponsonby-Fane, P. 318; in 806, 12 years after death, this is first time this posthumously elevated rank was bestowed</ref> *Consort ''(Hi):'' Imperial Princess Asahara (朝原内親王; 779–817), Emperor Kanmu’s daughter *Consort ''(Hi)'': Imperial Princess Ōyake (大宅内親王; d.849), Emperor Kanmu’s daughter *''Consort (Hi):'': Imperial Princess Kan'nabi (甘南美内親王; 800–817), Emperor Kanmu’s daughter *''Shōshi'' Court lady (''Naishi-no-kami''): {{nihongo|Fujiwara no Kusuko|藤原薬子|extra=d. 810}}, former wife of ''Chūnagon'' Fujiwara no Tadanushi<ref name="ponsonby318"/> and Fujiwara no Tanetsugu's daughter *''Consort (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; 799–865), 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 Saiō in Ise Shrine (806–809) *Court lady: Fujii no Fujiko/''Tōshi'' (葛井藤子), Fujii no Michiyori's daughter **First Prince: Imperial Prince Abo (阿保親王) *Court lady: Ki no Iokazu (紀魚員), Ki no Kotsuo's daughter **Imperial Princess Enu (叡努内親王; d. 835)

==Ancestry== <ref name=descent>{{cite web|url=https://reichsarchiv.jp/%e5%ae%b6%e7%b3%bb%e3%83%aa%e3%82%b9%e3%83%88/%e5%a4%a9%e7%9a%87%e5%ae%b6#emp051|title=Genealogy|website=Reichsarchiv|date=April 30, 2010 |access-date=28 January 2018|language=ja}}</ref> {{ahnentafel |collapsed=yes |align=center |boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc; |boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9; |boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc; |boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc; |1= 1. '''Emperor Heizei''' |2= 2. Emperor Kanmu (737-806) |3= 3. Fujiwara no Otomuro (760-790) |4= 4. Emperor Kōnin (709–782) |5= 5. Takano no Niigasa (c. 720-790) |6= 6. Fujiwara no Yoshitsugu (716-777) |7= 7. Abe no Komina (d. 784) |8= 8. Prince Shiki (d. 716) |9= 9. Ki no Tochihime (d. 709) |10=10. Yamato no Ototsugu |11=11. Haji no Maimo |12=12. Fujiwara no Umakai (694-737) |13=13. Isonokami no Kunimina no Ōtoji |14=14. Abe no Nukamushi |15= }}

==See also== {{Portal|Japan|Biography}} * Emperor of Japan * List of Emperors of Japan * Imperial cult

==Notes== [[File:Imperial Seal of Japan.svg|thumb|right|120px|Japanese Imperial kamon — a stylized chrysanthemum blossom]] {{Reflist}}

==References== * {{cite book|author=Brown, Delmer M.|author2=Ishida, Ichirō|year=1979|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w4f5FrmIJKIC&q=Gukansho|title=''The Future and the Past''|publisher=Berkeley: University of California Press.|format=a translation and study of the Gukanshō, an interpretive history of Japan written in 1219|isbn=978-0-520-03460-0|oclc=251325323|ref=Brown-Ishida}} * {{cite web | url=https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/ryobo/guide/051/index.html | script-title=ja:平城天皇 山桃陵 | access-date=February 4, 2011 | author=Imperial Household Agency | language=ja |trans-title=Emperor Heizei, Yamamomo Imperial Mausoleum | year=2004 | ref=Kunaichō}} * Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959). [https://books.google.com/books?id=SLAeAAAAMAAJ&q=The+Imperial+House+of+Japan ''The Imperial House of Japan''.] Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. {{OCLC|194887}} * Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). ''Nihon Ōdai Ichiran''; ou, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&q=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran ''Annales des empereurs du Japon''.] Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. {{OCLC|5850691}} * Varley, H. Paul. (1980). [https://books.google.com/books?id=tVv6OAAACAAJ ''Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns''.] New York: Columbia University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-231-04940-5}}; {{OCLC|59145842}}

{{S-start}} {{s-reg}} {{s-bef|before=Emperor Kanmu}} {{s-ttl|title=Emperor of Japan:<br>Heizei|years=806–809}} {{s-aft|after=Emperor Saga}} {{S-end}} {{Emperors of Japan}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Heizei}} Category:Emperors of Japan Category:773 births Category:824 deaths Category:People of the Heian period Category:People of the Nara period Category:9th-century Japanese monarchs Category:Buddhist clergy of the Heian period Category:Japanese Buddhist monarchs Category:Japanese emperors who abdicated