Empress Koken

Empress K?ken (???? K?ken Tenn?) also Empress Sh?toku (???? Sh?toku Tenn?) (718 – August 4, 770{{an|Japanese_dates1 1}}) was both the 46th and 48th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. She first ruled as Empress K?ken from 749 to 758. She abdicated in favor of her second cousin, Emperor Junnin, but six years later she took the crown from him and reascended the throne. Her posthumus name for her second reign (764-770) was Empress Sh?toku.

Notes

• Japanese dates correspond to the traditional lunisolar calendar used in Japan until 1873. August 4, 770 of the Japanese calendar corresponds to August 28, 770 of the Julian calendar.