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Information About

Empress Meisho





GENEALOGY

She was the 2nd daughter of Emperor Go-Mizunoo . Her mother was Tokugawa Kazuko, daughter of the 2nd Shōgun , Tokugawa Hidetada . She had no children of her own.


NAME

Her name was derived by combining the names of two previous empresses, Empress Gemmei (707-715) and her daughter Empress Genshō (715-724).


LIFE

In 1629, she became Empress after her father, Emperor Go-Mizunoo suddenly abdicated in the Purple Clothes Incident. By her enthronement, she became the first woman to occupy the throne since Empress Shōtoku , who died in 770 .
During her reign, her father ruled in her name.
In 1643, she abdicated in favor of her younger half-brother, who became Emperor Go-Kōmyō .


ERAS OF HER REIGN