Fujiwara no Fusasaki - The tufts of Fujiwara

Japanese: 藤原房前 - ふじわらのふささき

Year of death: April 17, 737 (May 21, 737)
Year of birth: Tenmu 10 (681)
A nobleman in the Nara period. The second son of Fuhito. His mother was Soga no Murajiko's daughter, Shoko. He was the ancestor of the Northern Fujiwara clan. One of his wives was his stepmother, Princess Muro, the daughter of Agata no Inukai Tachibana Michiyo, and their son, Madate, later became the ancestor of the Sekkan family. His first appearance in historical records was in 703 (Taiho 3), when he was dispatched to the Tokaido as one of the inspectors (Junsatsushi, Lower Sixth Rank). In 717 (Yoro 1), he was listed as a councilor along with his father, Fuhito (Minister of the Right). After his father's death, he and Minister of the Right Nagaya no Oki received the will of the retired Emperor Genmeitai together, and Emperor Gensho also appointed him to the special position of Naishin to assist in the imperial affairs, showing the deep trust placed in him by both emperors. In 724, when Emperor Shomu ascended to the throne, he was awarded the rank of Shosanmi, and in 725 he was appointed Chuei Taisho (first chief of the Chueifu), but thereafter his elder brother Muchimaro rose to a higher position in the political world. It is thought that Fusasaki's close relationship with the imperial family was reflected in the difference in treatment within the Fujiwara clan. He was the first of his four brothers to die from a smallpox epidemic in April 737. In October of the same year, he was awarded the rank of Shoichii (Left Minister), and his family was given a stipend of 2,000 households for a period of 20 years.

(Kano Hisashi)

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

Japanese:

没年：天平9.4.17(737.5.21)
生年：天武10(681)
奈良時代の公卿。不比等の第2子。母は蘇我連子の娘娼子。藤原北家の祖。妻のひとりに継母,県犬養橘三千代の娘牟漏女王がおり,その子真楯はのちの摂関家の祖となった。大宝3(703)年,巡察使のひとりとして東海道に派遣されたのが史料上の初見(正六位下)。養老1(717)年には父不比等(右大臣)と共に参議に列せられている。父の没後も元明太上天皇の遺詔を右大臣長屋王とふたりで受け,また元正天皇からも帝業を輔翼するべく内臣という特別職に任じられるなど,両天皇の房前に対する信任はことさらに厚いものがあった。神亀1(724)年,聖武天皇の即位に当たり正三位に叙せられ,同5年には中衛大将(中衛府の初代長官)に任じられることがあったが,その後は兄武智麻呂の方が政界の地位は高まった。房前の皇親たちとの距離の近さが,藤原氏内部においてこのような処遇の違いになってあらわれたものと考えられる。天平9(737)年4月流行の天然痘により4人の兄弟の中ではいちばん早く死没した。同年10月正一位左大臣を贈られ,食封2000戸を20年を限ってその家に賜った。

(狩野久)

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

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