Emperor Sushun

Background

He was the twelfth son of Emperor Kimmei. His mother was Oane-no-kimi (小姉君), a daughter of Soga no Iname, who was the chief, or Ō-omi, of the Soga clan.

Career

Sushun"s reign spanned the years from 587 through 592. Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his imina) was Hatsusebe-shinnō, also known as Hatsusebe no Waka-sazaki. His name at birth was Hatsusebe no Miko (長谷部皇子).

587: In the 2nd year of Yōmei-tennō "s reign (用明天皇2年), the emperor died, and despite a dispute over who should follow him as sovereign, the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received by another son of Emperor Kimmei, one of Yōmei"s younger brothers.

Shortly thereafter, Emperor Sushun is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’).

Sushun"s contemporary title would not have been Tennō, as most historians believe this title was not introduced until the reigns of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō. Rather, it was presumably Sumeramikoto (皇尊) or Amenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi (治天下大王), meaning "the great king who rules all under heaven." Alternatively, Sushun might have been referred to as (ヤマト大王/大君) or the "Great King of Yamato."

Soga no Umako, who succeeded his father as Ōomi of the Soga clan, eventually killed Mononobe no Moriya at the Battle of Shigisan, the head of the Mononobe clan, which led to its decline.

Umako then installed Emperor Sushun on the throne. As time went on, Sushun eventually became resentful of Umako"s power, and wanted him deposed.

lieutenant is said that one day, he saw a wild boar and proclaimed, "I want to kill Soga Umako like this wild boar." This angered Soga no Umako and, perhaps out of fear of being struck first, Umako had Sushun assassinated by Yamato no Aya no Ataikoma (東漢直駒) in 592.

Emperor Sushun"s reign lasted for five years before his death at the age of 72. The actual site of Sushun"s grave is known. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Yōmei"s mausoleum.

lieutenant is formally named Kurahashi no oka no e no misasagi.

Sushun had one Empress and two Imperial children. Empress: Ōtomo no Koteko, also known as OtehimeImperial Prince Hachiko

Imperial Princess Nishikite

Consort: Kahakami no Iratsume, a daughter of Soga no Umako

Wife: Futsuhime, Mononobe no Moriya"s younger sister

Mother Unknown

Sadayo no Shinno.

Connections

rival:

Prince Anahobe