Prince Takamochi was born as the son of
Prince Takami, the third prince of
Prince Kazurawara, and
Tachibana no Harunari. Takamochi was the great-grandson of
Emperor Kanmu, who reigned from 781 to 806. He was granted the court rank of
Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade and served as Vice Governor (
suke kokushi) of
Kazusa Province. On May 13, 889, Takamochi was granted the surname Taira, thus establishing the Kanmu Heishi line of the
Taira clan. This line proved to be the strongest and most dominant line during the
Heian period. Even after his retirement, he stayed in Kazusa Province and became a powerful figure in the
Kantō region as a feudal lord, privately owning vast
rice fields. == Genealogy ==