Princess Masako (Reizei)

Princess Masako (昌子内親王, Masako Naishinnō, 950 – 10 January, 1000), was a princess and an empress of Japan during the Heian period.[1] She was the consort of her cousin Emperor Reizei of Japan.[1] She was the daughter of Emperor Suzaku and Princess Hiroko.

Princess Masako
昌子内親王
Empress consort of Japan
TenureOctober 9, 967 – August 1, 973
Empress dowager of Japan
Tenure973–986
Grand empress dowager of Japan
Tenure986–1000
Born950
Heian Kyō (Kyōto)
DiedJanuary 10, 1000(1000-01-10) (aged 49–50)
Heian Kyō (Kyōto)
SpouseEmperor Reizei
HouseImperial House of Japan
FatherEmperor Suzaku
MotherHiroko

Biography

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She was born in 950 after the abdication of her father. She was made princess on the 8th lunar month, 10th the same year. Her mother died soon after her birth. Her father the former Emperor Suzaku died at the age of 30 in 952. Then she was raised by her paternal uncle Emperor Murakami due to the early death of her parents.

She was made Empress consort after her cousin Prince Norihira acceded to the throne as Emperor Reizei in 967. She had no children.

After the abdication of Emperor Reizei, she was made Empress Dowager in the 7th lunar month, 973 and Grand Empress Dowager in the 7th lunar month, 986.[1] She died from disease at the age of 50 on the 12th lunar month 1st, 999.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "昌子内親王". Asahi Dictionary of Historical Japanese Figures (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun Publishing Co. Retrieved 2024-06-02 – via Kotobank.jp.


Japanese royalty
Preceded by Empress consort of Japan
967–973
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Fujiwara no Anshi
(granted title posthumously)
Empress dowager of Japan
973–986
Succeeded by
Fujiwara no Chikako
(granted title posthumously)
Preceded by
Fujiwara no Anshi
(granted title posthumously)
Grand empress dowager of Japan
986–1000
Succeeded by