Background
Tanetsugu no Fujiwara was born in 737. He was the grandson of the sangi Fujiwara no Umakai, the founder of the Fujiwara Shikike.
Tanetsugu no Fujiwara was born in 737. He was the grandson of the sangi Fujiwara no Umakai, the founder of the Fujiwara Shikike.
He was trusted by Emperor Kammu and was appointed Chunagon (Court secretary). He made almost all Court decisions. In 783, without any previous notice, he announced the removal of the capital to Nagaoka (Shiga Prefecture) from Kyoto. While he was supervising construction work on the new capital at night, he was killed by an arrow shot of Tsuguhito Otomo, an antagonist of him. Tsuguhito was captured and put to death in 785. The Otomos were against the removal of the capital. Crown Prince Hayanaga who was involved in the assassination was deposed. He was accorded the title of Da jo Daijin (Prime Minister) posthumously.