Empress Suiko of Japan
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Empress Suiko (推古天皇) (554-628) was the 33rd imperial ruler of Japan and the first woman to hold this position. She was a daughter of the Emperor Kimmei. Her mother was a woman of the clan of Soga. She married her half-brother Emperor Bidatsu. However, after the empress, Bidatsu's first wife, died, Suiko became the new empress. She bore five childeren; two sons and three daughters.
After the death of Bidatsu she had some influence in politics. She was known a wise and prudent woman with a strong will, holding the honorific title of Okisaki (Empress). After the death of her brother Emperor Yomei two princes fought for the throne. With the clan of Soga, Suiko supported Hatsusebe, later the Emperor Sushun. After the Soga clan assassinated Sushun, her uncle, the head of the Soga clan, Soga no Umako, expected her to assume the throne. She accepted and became the first female imperial ruler of Japan.She reigned from 593 to 628, but took little active part in affairs of state, which were handled by Prince Shotoku, who was the son of her brother Emperor Yomei and was married to Suiko's daughter. Prince Shotoku was her regent and likely the strongest candidate to succeed the empress, but died before Suiko.
Suiko was one of the first Buddhist monarchs in Japan and had taken the vows of a nun shortly before becoming empress. She founded Horyu-ji in Ikaruga, Yamato province, today in Nara Prefecture.
She left no indication of succession. She called two candidates and gave each of them a suggestive words on politics. One was a grandson of Emperor Bidatsu and another was a son of Prince Shotoku by another woman but her daughter. After her death, the courtiers thought she had implied her favor back of those words. She was suceeded by Jomei, the grandson of her husband and brother Emperor Bidatsu.
| Preceded by: Sushun | Empress of Japan 593-628 | Succeeded by: Jomei Template:End boxde:Suiko it:Suiko imperatrice del Giappone ja:推古天皇 zh-cn:推古天皇 |