Emperor Konin of Japan
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Emperor Kōnin (光仁天皇) (709-782) was the 49th imperial ruler of Japan. He reigned from 770 to 781. His birth name was Shirakabe ō.
He was a son of Prince Shiki and a grandson of Emperor Tenji. Initially, he was not in line for succession, as Emperor Temmu held the throne. He married Imperial Princess Ikami, a daughter of the Emperor Shōmu, producing a daughter and a son.
After his sister in law, the Empress Shōtoku, died, he was named her heir. The high courtiers claimed the empress had left her will in a letter in which she had appointed him as her successor. Prior to this, he had been considered a gentle man without political ambition.
Kōnin attempted to reconstruct the state finance and administrative organisations, which had been corrupted under the reign of Empress Kōken.
After some months, Princess Ikami was promoted to empress and her son became the crown prince. Later, she was accused of cursing her husband, Kōnin. Today, it is believed this accusation was revenge for depriving her son of the throne. Princess Ikami was stripped of the rank of the empress, and died soon after she from illness, at least according to the official documentation.
After her death, Prince Yamabe, a son of Konin's by his concubine, Takano no Niigasa (former Yamato no Niigasa), who is said to be a descendant of King Muryeong of Baekje, was named crown prince.
| Preceded by: Shōtoku | Emperor of Japan 770-781 | Succeeded by: Kammu Template:End boxde:Konin it:Konin imperatore del Giappone ja:光仁天皇 zh-cn:光仁天皇 |