Fujiwara Momokawa - Fujiwara no Momokawa

A politician in the Nara period. He was the eighth son of Umakai Shikiya and his mother was Kumenowakame. He was originally called Odamaro, and it seems that he deepened his ties with Dokyo and others after his elder brother Yoshitsugu and younger brother Kurajimaro played an active role in the Fujiwara no Nakamaro Rebellion (764). In 769 (Jingo Keiun 3), he became Uchitate Taifu under Naijukyo Yuge no Kiyondo, and in the same year when Yugenomiya was established and Kawachi Province was renamed Kawachi Office, he became Kawachi Taifu. However, after the death of Emperor Shotoku, he opposed Kibi no Makibi and others who supported an emperor of the Tenmu line, and is said to have been one of the central figures in establishing Emperor Konin of the Tenchi line. After Kōnin ascended to the throne, he was promoted to Sangi (councillor) through Udaiben (right chief minister), and was still Sangi (councillor) at the time of his death, so it seems he was not promoted much. However, he was highly trusted by the emperor and was a confidant, and was said to have been involved in all domestic and international affairs. Momokawa also had high hopes for the future Emperor Kanmu from early on, and after plotting various schemes, in 772 (Hōki 3), he deposed the empress (Imperial Princess Inoue, daughter of Shōmu) and her son, Crown Prince Osabe, and made the future Emperor Kanmu the crown prince the following year. After Emperor Kanmu ascended to the throne, he bestowed upon Momokawa the rank of Junior Second Rank Minister of the Right, and when he appointed his son, Otsugu, as Sangi (councillor), he is said to have said, "Without Otsugu's father, he would not have become emperor." Tabiko, the daughter of Momokawa, became the wife of Emperor Kanmu and gave birth to the future Emperor Junna, and was awarded the rank of Daijo Daijin Shoichii after Emperor Junna ascended to the throne.

[Toshihiko Fukui]

"Dōkyō" by Kenichi Yokota (1959, Yoshikawa Kobunkan) " ▽ "Emperor Kanmu" by Jiro Murao (1963, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)" ▽ "Wake no Kiyomaro" by Kunio Hirano (1964, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

奈良時代の政治家。式家宇合(うまかい)の第8子で母は久米若女(くめのわかめ)。初め雄田麻呂(おだまろ)と称し、藤原仲麻呂の乱（764）で兄良継(よしつぐ)、弟蔵下麻呂(くらじまろ)が大活躍したことから道鏡らとのつながりを深めたらしく、769年（神護景雲3）に内竪卿弓削清人(ないじゅきょうゆげのきよんど)のもとで内竪大輔(たいふ)となり、同年由義宮(ゆげのみや)ができ河内(かわち)国が河内職と改められたとき河内大夫(たいふ)となったが、称徳(しょうとく)天皇崩御後は天武(てんむ)系の天皇を推した吉備真備(きびのまきび)らに反対して、天智(てんじ)系の光仁(こうにん)天皇をたてた際の中心人物の1人であったらしい。光仁即位後は右大弁(うだいべん)を経て参議となり、死去したときも参議でありそれほどの昇進はなかったようであるが、天皇の信任厚く腹心として内外の機務にあずかり知らないことはなかったといわれる。また百川は早くから後の桓武(かんむ)天皇に期待し、種々の計略をめぐらして772年（宝亀3）、皇后（聖武(しょうむ)皇女井上(いのえ)内親王）と、天皇と皇后との間に生まれた皇太子他戸(おさべ)親王を廃し、翌年、後の桓武天皇を皇太子にたてたといわれる。そこで桓武天皇は即位後百川に従(じゅ)二位右大臣を贈り、その子緒嗣(おつぐ)を参議にしたとき「緒嗣の父がいなかったら天皇にはなれなかったろう」といったという。百川の女(むすめ)旅子(たびこ)は桓武天皇の夫人(ぶにん)となり、後の淳和(じゅんな)天皇を産んだので、淳和天皇即位後太政(だいじょう)大臣正一位が贈られた。

［福井俊彦］

『横田健一著『道鏡』（1959・吉川弘文館）』▽『村尾次郎著『桓武天皇』（1963・吉川弘文館）』▽『平野邦雄著『和気清麻呂』（1964・吉川弘文館）』

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