Emperor Temmu

Emperor Temmu (???? Temmu Tenn?) (c. 631 - October 1, 686) was the 40th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He ruled from 672 until his death in 686. He was the youngest son of Emperor Jomei and Empress Saimei, and the younger brother of the Emperor Tenji. His name at birth was Prince ?ama. He was succeeded by Empress Jit?, who was both his niece and his wife.

Life

The first and only document on his life was Nihonshoki. However, it was edited by his son, Prince Toneri, and the work was written during the reign of his wife and children, causing one to suspect its accuracy and impartiality.

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His father died while he was young, and he grew up mainly under the guidance of Empress Saimei. He was not expected to gain the throne, because his brother Tenji was the crown prince of their mother, the reigning empress.

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After Tenji ascended to the throne, Temmu was appointed to be the crown prince. This was because Tenji had no appropriate heir among his sons at that time due to the fact that none of their mothers were highly ranked enough to give the substantial political support needed to help their son become a future emperor. Tenji was suspicious that Temmu might be so ambitious as to attempt to take the throne, and felt necessity to strengthen his allegiance through marriage.

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In his old age, Tenji had a son, Prince ?tomo, by a lower ranked consort. Since ?tomo had weak political support from his maternal side, the general wisdom of the time held that it was not a good idea for him to ascend to the throne, yet Tenji was obsessed with the idea. In 671 Temmu felt himself to be in danger and volunteered to resign the office of crown prince to become a monk. He moved to the mountains in Yoshino, Yamato province (now in Yoshino, Nara), officially for reasons of seclusion. He took with him his sons and his wife, Princess Unonosarara, a daughter of Tenji. However, he left all his other consorts at the capital Omiky? in Omi province (today in Otsu, Shiga).

Related Topics:
671 - Yamato province - Yoshino, Nara - Omi province - Otsu, Shiga

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It was only a year until Tenji died and Prince ?tomo ascended to the throne (in 672) as Emperor K?bun. Temmu assembled an army and marched from Yoshino to the east, to attack Omiky? in a counterclockwise movement. They marched through Yamato, Iga and Mino provinces to threaten Omiky? in the adjacent province. The army of Temmu and the army of the young Emperor Kobun fought in the northwestern part of Mino (nowadays Sekigahara, Gifu). Temmu's army won and K?bun committed suicide.

Related Topics:
672 - Emperor K?bun - Iga - Mino province - Sekigahara, Gifu

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In 673 Temmu moved the capital back to Yamato province, naming his new capital Asukakiyomihara, and there he ascended to the throne. He elevated Unonosarara to be empress. He reigned from this capital until his death in 686.

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