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Revision as of 11:47, 2 August 2005 by Jefu (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Empress Genmei (or Gemmyo 元明天皇) (661–722) was the 43rd imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, and the fourth woman to hold such a position. She was a daughter of Emperor Tenji of Japan and the wife of Kusakabe no miko, who was the son of Emperor Tenmu of Japan and Empress Jito of Japan. Kusakabe was also Genmei's first cousin and her nephew. After their son, Emperor Monmu died in 707, she succeeded to the throne, in hopes of holding it until her grandson, Shomu, reached maturity. However, in 715, Genmei abdicated in favor of Monmu's sister Genshō. Shomu later succeeded Genshō.
In 708 she moved the capital city of Japan from Fujiwara to Heijo-Kyo, west of the modern city of Nara, thus giving the Nara period of Japanese history its name.
| Preceded byMonmu | Empress of Japan 707-715 |
Succeeded byGenshō |