Emperor Toba

Quick Facts: Who was Emperor Toba?

Subject:

Emperor Toba

Known for:

74th Emperor of Japan; reigned from 1107 to 1123, wielding significant power.

Born:

1103-02-24

Died:

1156-07-20

Century / Era:

1103s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Emperor Toba (鳥羽天皇, Toba-tennō; February 24, 1103 – July 20, 1156) was the 74th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Toba's reign spanned the years from 1107 through 1123. Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his imina) was Munehito-shinnō (宗仁親王). He was the son of Emperor Horikawa. His mother was Empress Dowager Fujiwara no Ishi (藤原苡子) Toba had three Empresses, some consort ladies and 14 imperial sons and daughters.

Career & Major Achievements

chūgū : Fujiwara no Tamako (藤原璋子) later Taikenmon'in (待賢門院), Fujiwara no Kinzane's daughter First Son: Imperial Prince Akihito (顕仁親王) later Emperor Sutoku First Daughter: Imperial Princess Yoshiko/Kishi (禧子内親王; 1122–1133) – Saiin at Kamo Shrine Second Son: Imperial Prince Michihito (通仁親王; 1124–1129) Third Son: Imperial Prince Kimihito (君仁親王; 1125–1143) Second Daughter: Imperial Princess Muneko (統子内親王) later Jōsaimon-in (上西門院), – Saiin at Kamo Shrine. Fourth Son: Imperial Prince Masahito (雅仁親王) later Emperor Go-Shirakawa Fifth Son: Imperial Prince Motohito? (本仁親王; 1129–1169) later Imperial Prince priest Kakushō (覚性法親王) kōgō: Fujiwara no Yasuko/Taishi (藤原泰子) later Kōyō-in (高陽院), Fujiwara no Tadazane's daughter kōgō: Fujiwara no Nariko (藤原得子) later Bifukumon'in (美福門院), Fujiwara no Nagazane's daughter. Daughter: Imperial Princess Toshiko/Eishi (叡子内親王; 1135–1148) Daughter: Imperial Princess Akiko (暲子内親王; 1137–1211) later Hachijo'in (八条院) Ninth Son: Imperial Prince Narihito (体仁親王), later Emperor Konoe Daughter: Imperial Imperial Princess Yoshiko/Shushi (姝子内親王) later Takamatsu'in (高松院), chūgū (Empress) to Emperor Nijō) Court Lady Ki Ieko (紀家子), Mino-no-Tsubone (美濃局), Ki no Mitsukiyo's daughter Sixth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Dōkei (道恵法親王; 1132–1168) Seventh Son: Imperial Prince Priest Kakukai (覚快法親王; 1134–1181) Daughter: Aya Gozen (阿夜御前; d.1195) Sanjō-no-Tsubone (三条局; d.1138), Fujiwara no Iemasa's daughter Daughter: Imperial Princess Kenshi (妍子内親王; d.1161) Yoshida saigū (Imperial Princess serving at Ise Shrine) Kasuga-no-Tsubone (春日局), Tokudaiji Saneyosi's daughter Seventh Daughter: Imperial Princess Shōshi/Nobuko (頌子内親王; 1145–1208) Fujitsubo-Nyogo (藤壺女御), Tachibana Toshitsuna's daughter Shin-yo? (真誉) – Buddhist nun Tosa-no-Tsubone (土佐局), Minamoto no Mitsuyasu's daughter Fujiwara no Sanehira's Daughter Daughter: Princess Takamatsu (高松宮) (apparently no connection with Arisugawa-no-miya, which was originally named Takamatsu-no-miya) Unknown Imperial Prince Priest Saichū (最忠法親王) Imperial Prince Dōka?

Enduring Legacy & Impact

(道果親王) When his mother died, his grandfather, former-Emperor Shirakawa, took him under his care and raised him. August 9, 1107 (Kajō 2, 19th day of the 7th month): In the 21st year of Emperor Horikawa's reign (堀河天皇21年), the emperor ("tennō") died at the age of 29; and the succession (senso) was received by his only son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Toba is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui). During the initial years of Toba's reign, the actual power was held by his grandfather, the "retired" Emperor Shirakawa, in a process known as cloistered rule. 1110 (Ten'ei 3, 6th month): The Miidera-ji burned down.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1103 (1103-02-24): Birth of Emperor Toba — 74th Emperor of Japan; reigned from 1107 to 1123, wielding significant power.
2. 1107: 1107 Milestone — Toba's reign spanned the years from 1107 through 1123.
3. 1110: 1110 Milestone — 1110 (Ten'ei 3, 6th month): The Miidera-ji burned down.
4. 1122: 1122 Milestone — chūgū : Fujiwara no Tamako (藤原璋子) later Taikenmon'in (待賢門院), Fujiwara no Kinzane's daughter First Son: Imperial Prince Akihito (顕仁親王) later Emperor Sutoku First Daughter: Imperial Princess Yoshiko/Kishi (禧子内親王; 1122–1133) – Saiin at Kamo Shrine Second Son: Imperial Prince Michihito (通仁親王; 1124–1129) Third Son: Imperial Prince Kimihito (君仁親王; 1125–1143) Second Daughter: Imperial Princess Muneko (統子内親王) later Jōsaimon-in (上西門院), – Saiin at Kamo Shrine.
5. 1129: 1129 Milestone — (本仁親王; 1129–1169) later Imperial Prince priest Kakushō (覚性法親王) kōgō: Fujiwara no Yasuko/Taishi (藤原泰子) later Kōyō-in (高陽院), Fujiwara no Tadazane's daughter kōgō: Fujiwara no Nariko (藤原得子) later Bifukumon'in (美福門院), Fujiwara no Nagazane's daughter.
6. 1135: 1135 Milestone — Daughter: Imperial Princess Toshiko/Eishi (叡子内親王; 1135–1148) Daughter: Imperial Princess Akiko (暲子内親王; 1137–1211) later Hachijo'in (八条院) Ninth Son: Imperial Prince Narihito (体仁親王), later Emperor Konoe Daughter: Imperial Imperial Princess Yoshiko/Shushi (姝子内親王) later Takamatsu'in (高松院), chūgū (Empress) to Emperor Nijō) Court Lady Ki Ieko (紀家子), Mino-no-Tsubone (美濃局), Ki no Mitsukiyo's daughter Sixth Son: Imperial Prince Priest Dōkei (道恵法親王; 1132–1168) Seventh Son: Imperial Prince Priest Kakukai (覚快法親王; 1134–1181) Daughter: Aya Gozen (阿夜御前; d.
7. 1138: 1138 Milestone — 1138), Fujiwara no Iemasa's daughter Daughter: Imperial Princess Kenshi (妍子内親王; d.
8. 1156 (1156-07-20): Passing & Historical Legacy — Emperor Toba passed away on 1156-07-20, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
9. 1161: 1161 Milestone — 1161) Yoshida saigū (Imperial Princess serving at Ise Shrine) Kasuga-no-Tsubone (春日局), Tokudaiji Saneyosi's daughter Seventh Daughter: Imperial Princess Shōshi/Nobuko (頌子内親王; 1145–1208) Fujitsubo-Nyogo (藤壺女御), Tachibana Toshitsuna's daughter Shin-yo?

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Emperor Toba

True or False: “Emperor Toba was the first emperor of Japan to rule during the Heian period.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The Heian period began with Emperor Kanmu; Toba reigned much later in Japanese history.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Emperor Toba