Emperor Sanjō
Sanjō's reign spanned the years from 1011 through 1016. Biography. Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name ("imina") was Iyasada"-shinnō". He was also known as Sukesada"-shinnō", and as Okisada"-shinnō" (居貞親王). Iyasada was the second son of Emperor Reizei. He was the half-brother of Emperor Kazan, who was Reizei's first-born son. Ieyasada's mother was Fujiwara no Chōshi (藤原超子) (?-982), who was the daughter of the "sesshō", Fujiwara no Kaneie. Chōshi was posthumously elevated to the rank of empress mother (Zō-Kōtaigō, 贈皇太后). In ancient Japan, there were four noble clans, the  Gempeitōkitsu (源平藤橘). One of these clans, the Minamoto clan (源氏) are also known as Genji, and of these, the Sanjō Genji (三条源氏) are descended from the 67th emperor Sanjō. Events of Sanjō's life. After his mother died when he was seven, his maternal grandfather Fujiwara no Kaneie raised him at Kaneie's mansion. Kaneie died in the early part of Ichijō's reign. His three uncles, sons of Kaneie, made their daughters consorts of Ichijo and each aimed to seize power as the grandfather of a future emperor. These courtiers therefore sought to exclude Okisada from the Imperial succession , though each of them married their daughter to him. Later Ichijō had two sons by Fujiwara no Shōshi, the daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga, and Michinaga expected his grandson to ascend to the throne as soon as possible. Michinaga became the "kampaku" (regent) of Japan during the reign of Ichijō and expected to hold this position in Sanjō's government as well. The actual site of Sanjō's grave is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine ("misasagi") at Kyoto. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Sanjō's mausoleum. It is formally named "Kitayama  no misasagi". Michinaga gifted Atsuakira a status equal to the retired emperor, with the title of Ko-ichijo-in. Although no son of Sanjō ascended to the throne, a future emperor (Emperor Go-Sanjō) was child of Princess Teishi, Sanjō's daughter, and thus his blood remained in the imperial bloodline. Kugyō. is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras. Even during those years in which the court's actual influence outside the palace walls was minimal, the hierarchic organization persisted. In general, this  elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Sanjō's reign, this apex of the "Daijō-kan included: Eras of Sanjō's reign. The years of Sanjō's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or "nengō". Consorts and children. Empress (Kōgō): Fujiwara no Seishi (藤原娍子), Fujiwara no Naritoki's 1st daughter Empress (Chūgū): Fujiwara no Kenshi (藤原妍子), Fujiwara no Michinaga‘s 2nd daughter Consort (Nyōgo): Fujiwara no Yasuko (藤原綏子; 974–1004), Fujiwara no  Kaneie‘s 3rd daughter Consort (Nyōgo): Fujiwara no "Genshi" (藤原原子; ca. 980–1002), Fujiwara no Michitaka‘s 2nd daughter