Japanese regent and statesman Fujiwara no Michinaga…
1019 CE
Japanese regent and statesman Fujiwara no Michinaga was the fourth or fifth son of Fujiwara no Kaneie by his wife Tokihime, daughter of Fujiwara no Nakamasa.
There have been two regents and two imperial consorts among his brothers and sisters by the same mother.
As the youngest son of his father, his career at court, which he began at age fifteen, had been unremarkable until his two elder brothers Michitaka and Michikane died of disease in 995 during the reign of Emperor Ichijō.
Michinaga had struggled with Fujiwara no Korechika, the elder son of Michitaka, for political power.
With support of Senshi, his sister and mother of Ichijō, Michinaga had eventually succeeded in gaining power as well the support of majority of the court.
He had been appointed Nairan, the secretary of the emperor and the reviewer of all the documents sent to the emperor before the emperor himself read them.
During the initial years of Go-Ichijō's reign, Fujiwara no Michinaga had actually ruled from his position as sesshō (regent).
Although Michinaga has never formally taken on the title of kampaku regent, he exercises great power and influence, even after he formally retires from public life in 1019.
He will continue to direct the affairs of his son and successor, Fujiwara no Yorimichi, and will remain the de facto ruler of Japan until his death in 1028.
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East Asia
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