Emperor Montoku

was the 55th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō), 文徳天皇 (55); retrieved 2011-10-26. according to the traditional order of succession.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, pp. 64-65.

His reign started in 850 and ended in 858.Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, p. 112; Brown, Delmer M. (1979). Gukanshō, pp. 264-265; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 165.

Traditional narrative
Before he became the monarch, this prince's personal name (imina)Brown, pp. 264; before to Emperor Jomei, the personal names of the emperors were very long and people did not generally use them; however, the number of characters in each name were shorter after Jomei's reign. was .Titsingh,  p. 112; Brown p. 285.  He was also known as Tamura-no-mikadoVarley, p. 165. or Tamura-tei.Ponsonby-Fane, p. 8.

He was the eldest son of Emperor Ninmyō.

Montoku had six Imperial consorts and 29 Imperial sons.Brown, p. 285.

Events of Montoku's life
Before he became the monarch, he was Crown Prince for 8 years.
 6 May 850 (Kashō 3, 21st day of the 3rd month):  In the 17th year of Ninmyō-tennō 's reign (仁明天皇17年), the emperor died.  His eldest son received the succession (senso).Titsingh, p. 112; Brown, p. 284.
 850 (Kashō 3, 4th month): Emperor Montoku formally acceded to the throne (sokui).  This was confirmed in ceremonies.Varley, p. 44; a distinct act of senso is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except Jitō, Yōzei, Go-Toba, and Fushimi have senso and sokui in the same year until the reign of Emperor Go-Murakami. Compare Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō),  Ceremony of Accession (Sokui-no-Rei); retrieved 2011-12-23.
 850 (Kashō 3, 5th month): The widow of Emperor Saga, who was the mother of Emperor Ninmyō and the grandmother of Emperor Montoku, died.Titsingh, p. 112.
 850 (Kashō 3, 11th month): The emperor named Korehito-shinnō, the 4th son of Emperor Montoku as his heir.Brown, p. 286.  This 9-month-old baby was also the grandson of Fujiwara no Yoshifusa who was Minister of the Right (udaijin).Titsingh, p. 113.
 855 (Saikō 2, 1st month):  The Emishi organized a rebellion.  In response, a force of 1,000 men and provisions were sent to the north.Titsingh,  p. 114.
 855 (Saikō 2, 5th month): The head of the great statute of Buddha in the Tōdai-ji fell off.
 7 October 858 (Ten'an 2, 27th day of the 8th month): Montoku died at the age of 32.Brown, p. 285-286; Varley, p. 165.

After his death
According to the Imperial Household Agency, the mausoleum (misasagi) of Montoku is in Kyoto.  The emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine at this location.  The site is formally named Tamura no misasagi.Ponsonby-Fane, p. 420.

Eras of reign
The years of Montoku's reign are identified by more than one era name or nengō.
 Kashō   (848-851)
 Ninju  (851-854)
 Saikō  (854-857)
 Ten'an  (857-859)

Related pages
 Emperor of Japan
 List of emperors of Japan
 Japanese imperial family tree

References

 Other websites 

Category:Emperors of Japan
Category:827 births
Category:858 deaths