Fujiwara no Tadamichi, the eldest son of the esteemed statesman Fujiwara no Tadazane, followed in his father's illustrious footsteps. In 1121, he ascended to the position of Kampaku, serving as the Chief Advisor to the Emperor—a title of great significance before the establishment of the Shogunate. Just two years later, he assumed the role of Sessho, acting as a regent for Emperor Sutoku. In 1129, he was further appointed Dajo Daijin, holding the esteemed position of Chancellor of the Realm.
Tadamichi's legacy extended through his five sons, all of whom played pivotal roles in the political and military landscape of Heian Period Japan. His daughter Masako became the consort of Emperor Sutoku, while his two adopted daughters, Ikushi and Teishi, entered into matrimonial unions with emperors. Additionally, his daughter Shimeko became a concubine of Emperor Konoe.
During the Hogo Rebellion, a brief civil conflict in the summer of 1156 stemming from an Imperial succession dispute, Tadamichi aligned himself with Emperor Go-Shirakawa. Meanwhile, his brother Yorinaga supported Emperor Sutoku, whose cause ultimately met defeat, resulting in Yorinaga's death in battle.
Fujiwara no Tadamichi's remaining memoirs were compiled and published as the "Hoshoji Kampaku-ki." A handwritten manuscript authored by Tadamichi, housed in the Kyoto National Museum, holds the distinction of being a National Treasure.
Tadamichi passed away on March 13, 1164, just two days shy of his 68th birthday, which fell on March 15.
See also
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Uesugi Kagetora
Uesugi Kagetora (1552 – April 19, 1579) was the seventh son of Hojo Ujiyasu and was originally known as Hojo Saburo. He was adopted by Uesugi Kenshin and intended to be Kenshin's heir. However, in 1578, he was attacked in his Otate Castle by Uesugi Kagekatsu, his brother-in-law, and was ultimately defeated. Kagetora committed suicide the following year at Samegao Castle.
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Hojo Ujinao
Hojo Ujinao (1562 – December 19, 1591) was a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku period and the last leader of the Later Hojo clan. An important figure in Azuchi-Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the Siege of Odawara (1590). Despite this, he survived, and his family continued as minor daimyo during the Edo period.
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Takeda Katsuyori
Takeda Katsuyori (1546 – April 3, 1582) was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period, renowned as the head of the Takeda clan and successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was also the son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu. Katsuyori was born to Shingen and the daughter of Suwa Yorishige, known posthumously as Suwa-goryonin and by her real name, Koihime. His children included Takeda Nobukatsu and Takeda Katsuchika.
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Yasuke
Yasuke, an African page, arrived in Japan in 1579 as the attendant of the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Before the arrival of the Englishman William Adams, it is thought that Yasuke was possibly the inaugural non-Japanese samurai, arriving about twenty years earlier.
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Yamanami Keisuke
Yamanami Keisuke, the second in command of the Shinsengumi, a special police force during the late Edo period, shocked many when he performed seppuku on March 20, 1865, at the age of 32.
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Yamamoto Kansuke
Yamamoto Kansuke, renowned as a samurai strategist and one of Takeda Shingen's esteemed 24 Generals, hailed from the Mikawa region, known for breeding formidable warriors. Despite physical challenges—blindness in one eye, lameness in one leg, and a malformed hand—Kansuke embarked on a warrior's pilgrimage in his twenties. Traveling across the land, he honed his skills in strategy, tactics, castle construction, and warfare, engaging in various swordsmanship schools and forms.
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Yamaga Soko
Yamaga Soko was a multifaceted figure in Japanese history, renowned as a strategist, philosopher, and scholar. Later in life, he became a ronin, leaving a significant mark on the understanding of the Tokugawa period samurai.
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William Adams - Miura Anjin
William Adams, also known as Miura Anjin, holds the distinction of being one of the few non-Japanese individuals granted samurai status. Born in Gillingham, Kent, England in 1564, Adams embarked on a remarkable journey that led him to become an influential figure in Japanese history.
