Taira no Tokitada

Japanese: 平時忠 - たいらのときただ

Year of death: Bunji 5.2.24 (1189.3.12)
Year of birth: 1127
A nobleman in the late Heian period. Born into the Takami line of the Kanmu Taira clan. Son of the daughter (or grandson) of Hyobu Gon Daifu Tokinobu and Fujiwara Ienori. His older sister Tokiko became the wife of Taira no Kiyomori, so he had close ties with the warrior Taira clan. After serving as a chamberlain and other positions, he was ennobled in 1149, and became Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Right Junior Bench. In 1161, he attempted to make the prince (later Emperor Takakura), born to his younger sister Shigeko, who was favored by the retired Emperor Goshirakawa, crown prince, and was dismissed from his post, but the following year he was exiled to Izumo for cursing Emperor Nijō. After the death of Emperor Nijō in 1165, he was allowed to return to Kyoto, and his official rank rose steadily. After serving as chamberlain chief, he became councillor in 1167, and the following year he became Chunagon and Kebiishi betto. In 1169, he was dismissed from his post in connection with the Enryaku-ji Kyoso scandal, but was reinstated to his original post the following year. In 1172, he was appointed as Gon no Daifu (provisional attendant) of the Empress Taira Tokuko. Two years later, he was promoted to Junior Second Rank, surpassing four other people. In 1180, he was appointed as the head priest of Takakura no In, and in 1183, he became Gon Dainagon (provisional chief counselor), but was dismissed from his post after accompanying the Taira clan when they fled the capital. He was captured in the Battle of Dannoura, but planned to avoid exile by taking Minamoto no Yoshitsune as his son-in-law. However, due to pressure from Minamoto no Yoritomo, he was exiled to Noto, where he died. Tokitada was known for his arrogant behavior, such as saying, "Anyone who is not of this clan (the Taira clan) must be a monster," and was also called "Taira Kanpaku" (the Chief Minister of the Taira Clan), backed by Kiyomori's authority. However, he was appointed as Kebiishi betto three times, and helped to spread the influence of the Taira clan among the Kebiishi. He also served in court meetings and played the role of spokesman for the military Taira clan, making a great contribution to the Taira government from the position of a noble. Furthermore, despite being a nobleman, he was described as a man of "fierce heart and strong principles."

(Yasushi Motoki)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：文治5.2.24(1189.3.12)
生年：大治2(1127)
平安末期の公卿。桓武平氏高見王流の出身。兵部権大輔時信,藤原家範の娘(あるいは孫)の子。同母姉時子が平清盛の正室となったため,武門平氏と密接な関係を持つ。蔵人などを経て久安5(1149)年叙爵,正五位下右少弁に至る。応保1(1161)年に,後白河上皇の寵愛を受けていた妹滋子が生んだ皇子(のちの高倉天皇)の立太子を図り解官,翌年には二条天皇を呪詛したとして出雲に配流。永万1(1165)年,二条天皇の死後,帰京を許されてから官位は順調に上昇。蔵人頭を経て仁安2(1167)には参議,翌年中納言・検非違使別当となった。嘉応1(1169)年,延暦寺強訴問題に関連して一旦解官されるが,翌年本官に復した。承安2(1172)年,平徳子の中宮権大夫に就任。2年後,4人を超越し従二位に昇進した。治承4(1180)年に高倉の院別当に就任,寿永2(1183)年,権大納言に至るが,平氏都落ちに同道して解官。壇の浦の戦で捕虜となるが,源義経を婿に迎えて配流回避を画策。しかし源頼朝の圧迫によって能登に配流され同地で死去した。時忠は,「此一門(平氏一門)にあらざらむ人は皆人非人なるべし」と揚言したり,「平関白」とも称されたように,清盛の権威を背景に高慢な言動が目立ったが,3度検非違使別当に就任し,検非違使に平氏の影響力を浸透させたり,公卿議定に出仕して武門平氏の代弁者の役割も果たすなど,公卿の立場から平氏政権に大きく貢献した。また公家ながら「心猛ク理ツヨキ」人と評されている。

(元木泰雄)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

<<: Tomomori Taira

>>: Taira no Tadamori - Taira no Tadamori