Before his ascension to the
Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (
imina) was Karu
-shinnō. He was a grandson of
Emperor Tenmu and
Empress Jitō. He was the second son of Prince Kusakabe. Monmu's mother was Princess Abe, a daughter of
Emperor Tenji. Monmu's mother would later accede to the throne herself, and she would be known as Empress Genmei.
Events of Monmu's life Karu
-shinnō was only six years old when his father,
Crown Prince Kusakabe, died. •
697: In the 10th year of Jitō
-tennōs reign (持統天皇十年), the empress abdicated; and the succession (
senso) was received by a grandson of
Emperor Tenmu. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Monmu is said to have acceded to the throne (
sokui). Emperor Monmu ruled until his death in 707, at which point he was succeeded by his mother,
Empress Genmei, who was also his
first cousin once removed and his first cousin twice removed. He left a young son by
Fujiwara no Miyako, a daughter of
Fujiwara no Fuhito: Obito no miko (Prince Obito), who eventually became
Emperor Shōmu. Emperor Monmu's reign lasted 10 years. He died at the age of 25. The actual site of Monmu's
grave is known.
Kugyō is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the
Emperor of Japan in pre-
Meiji eras. In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Monmu's reign, this apex of the
Daijō-kan included: •
Daijō-daijin, Osakabe
-shinnō. •
Dainagon, Fujiwara Fuhito. ==Eras of Monmu's reign==