Emperor Go-Horikawa
This 13th-century sovereign was named after the 10th-century Emperor Horikawa and "go-" (後), translates literally as "later"; and thus, he is sometimes called the "Later Emperor Horikawa". The Japanese word "go" has also been translated to mean the "second one;" and in some older sources, this emperor may be identified as "Horikawa, the second," or as "Horikawa II." Genealogy. Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his "imina") was , also known as Motsihito"-shinnō". The third son of Imperial Prince Morisada (守貞親王) (Go-Takakura-in, 後高倉院), the second son of Emperor Takakura. Events  of Go-Horikawa's life. In 1221 CE, because of the Jōkyū Incident, an unsuccessful attempt by Emperor Go-Toba to seize real power, the Kamakura shogunate completely excluded those of the imperial family descended from Emperor Go-Toba from the Chrysanthemum throne, thus forcing Emperor Chūkyō to abdicate. After the Genpei War, he, as the grandson of the late Emperor Takakura, who was also a nephew of the then-exiled Retired Emperor Go-Toba, and Chūkyō's first cousin, was enthroned as Go-Horikawa. He ruled from July 29, 1221 CE to October 26 (?), 1232 CE. As Go-Horikawa  was only ten-years-old at this time, his father Imperial Prince Morisada acted as cloistered emperor under the name Go-Takakura-in. In 1232 CE, he began his own cloistered rule, abdicating to his 1-year-old son, Emperor Shijō. However, he had a weak constitution, and his cloistered rule lasted just under two years before he died. Emperor Go-Horikawa's Imperial tomb ("misasagi") is at Sennyū-ji in the . Section::::"Kugyō". "Kugyō" (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras. 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 Go-Horikawa's reign, this apex of the "Daijō-kan" included: Eras of Go-Horikawa's reign. The years of Go-Horikawa's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or "nengō". References.