Emperor Juntoku of Japan - Definition and Overview

Emperor Juntoku (順徳天皇) (October 22, 1197 - October 7, 1242) was the 84th imperial ruler of Japan. He reigned from December 12, 1210 to May 13, 1221. His name was Morinari (守成)

Geneology

He was the third son of Emperor Go-Toba. His mother was Shigeko (重子), the daughter of Fujiwara Hanki (?, 藤原範季)

• Empress (chūgū): Kujō (Fujiwara) Ritsuko (?) (九条（藤原）立子)
  • Second daughter: Imperial Princess Taiko (?) (諦子内親王)
  • Fourth son: Imperial Prince Kanenari (懐成親王) (Emperor Chūkyō)
• Lady-in-waiting: Daughter of Fujiwara Norimitsu (藤原範光)
  • Sixth son: Imperial Prince Zentō (?, 善統親王)
  • Seventh son: Prince Hikonari (彦成王)
• Consort: Daughter of Fujiwara Sayaki (?, 藤原清季)
  • Fifth son: Prince Tadanari (忠成王)

Life

In the year 1200, he became Crown Prince. He became Emperor after Emperor Go-Toba pressured Emperor Tsuchimikado into abdicating. It is said that Juntoku had a violent disposition, the opposite of the mild Tsuchimikado.

In actuality, Go-Toba ruled as cloistered Emperor.

In 1221, he was forced to abdicate for participating in Go-Toba's attempt to overthrow the Kamakura bakufu (the Jōkyū Incident)

After the Jōkyū Incident, he was sent into exile at Sado Island until his death in 1242

Names

Because he was sent to Sado Island, he was known as Sado-no-in (佐渡院)

Eras of his reign

• Jōgen
• Kenryaku
• Kempō
• Jōkyū