Background
Soga no Iruka was a son of Soga no Emishi a statesman in the Asuka Period of Japan and grandson of Soga no Umako.
蘇我 入鹿
Soga no Iruka was a son of Soga no Emishi a statesman in the Asuka Period of Japan and grandson of Soga no Umako.
When Empress Suiko died in 628, a struggle for the succession arose between Prince Tamura, who enjoyed the support of Soga no Emishi, and Prince Yamashiro no Oe, the son of Prince Shotoku. The former emerged victorious, however, and ascended the throne to become Emperor Jomei.
In 643 Soga no Iruka forced Prince Yamashiro no Oe to commit suicide and thereafter was able to manage affairs of state as he pleased, even going so far as to build mansions for himself and his family that he entitled "palaces."
In 645, however, he was assassinated by Prince Naka no Oe, the future Emperor Tenji, and Nakatomi no Kamatari (Fuji- wara no Kamatari), whereupon his father, Emishi, set fire to his own house and burned to death.