Emperor Go-Ichijō

Did You Know?

• His mother, Fujiwara no Akiko/Shōshi, was a daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga and later known as Jōtō-mon In.
• Before his reign, his personal name was Atsuhira-shinnō, also known as Atsunari-shinnō.

Events of Go-Ichijō's life

Prince Atsuhira was used as a pawn in Imperial court politics as a child. In 1012, he married a daughter of the sesshō and later kampaku Fujiwara no Michinaga. He became emperor at age eight after the abdication of his first cousin once removed, Emperor Sanjō, on March 10, 1016. Shortly thereafter, Go-Ichijō acceded to the throne. During the early years of his reign, Fujiwara no Michinaga ruled as sesshō. On June 5, 1017, former-Emperor Sanjō died at age 41. In the eighth month of 1017, Prince Atsuakira, Sanjō's eldest son and crown prince, withdrew from that role after being struck by a skin disease and facing intense pressure from Michinaga; his younger brother, Prince Atsunaga, was named crown prince in his place. In the ninth month of 1017, Michinaga made a pilgrimage to the Iwashimizu Shrine with many courtiers; the group divided among fifteen boats on the Yotogawa River, and one vessel overturned, killing more than thirty people. In the twelfth month of 1017, Michinaga was elevated to Daijō-Daijin. Emperor Go-Ichijō died on May 15, 1036, at age 27. His grave is known and is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine in Kyoto, formally named Bodaijuin no misasagi. The kugyō, the small group of powerful courtiers, during his reign included Fujiwara Michinaga (sesshō and daijō-daijin), Fujiwara Yorimichi (sesshō and kampaku), Kan'in Kinsue (daijō-daijin), and Fujiwara Akimitsu (sadaijin).