Empress Gemmei

From Freepedia

Empress Gemmei (also Empress Genmyō; 元明天皇 Genmei Tennō) (661 – December 7, 721¹) was the 43rd imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, and the fourth woman to hold such a position. She was a daughter of Emperor Tenji and the wife of Crown Prince Kusakabe no Miko, who was the son of Emperor Temmu and Empress Jitō. Kusakabe was also Gemmei's first cousin and her nephew. After their son Emperor Mommu died in 707, she succeeded to the throne, in hopes of holding it until her grandson Emperor Shōmu reached maturity. However, in 715, Gemmei abdicated in favor of Mommu's sister Empress Genshō. Shōmu later succeeded Genshō.

In 708 she moved the capital of Japan from the Fujiwara Capital to the Heijō Capital, just west of the modern city of Nara, thus giving the Nara period of Japanese history its name.

Notes

1. Japanese dates correspond to the traditional lunisolar calendar used in Japan until 1873. December 7, 721 of the Japanese calendar corresponds to December 29, 721 of the Julian calendar.

Preceded by: Emperor Mommu

Empress of Japan 707-715

Succeeded by: Empress Genshō