Princess Yoshiko | |||||
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Empress consort of Japan | |||||
Tenure | 1780–1817 | ||||
Born | 11 March 1779 | ||||
Died | 11 August 1846 | (aged 67)||||
Burial | Senyū-ji | ||||
Spouse | Emperor Kōkaku of Japan | ||||
Issue |
Prince Masuhito Prince Toshihito |
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House | Imperial House of Japan | ||||
Father | Emperor Go-Momozono of Japan | ||||
Mother | Konoe Koreko | ||||
Religion | Shinto |
Full name | |
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Yoshikō (欣子?) |
Princess Yoshiko (欣子内親王 Yoshiko-naishinnō?, 11 March 1779 – 11 August 1846) was the empress consort of Emperor Kōkaku of Japan. She enjoys the distinction of being the last daughter of an emperor who would herself rise to the position of empress. When she was later given the title of Empress Dowager, she became the first person to be honored with that title while still living since 1168.
Princess Yoshiko (欣子内親王 Yoshiko naishinnō?) was also known as Onna-Ichi-no-Miya (女一宮 Onna-ichi-no-Miya?) in her infancy. She was the only child of Emperor Go-Momozono; and she became the wife of the Emperor's adopted heir, marrying her adoptive stepbrother who would later be known as Emperor Kōkaku. Although her own children died in infancy, she functioned as official mother to the heir who would become Emperor Ninkō.
Yoshiko's father, Emperor Go-Momozono, died without a son when she was ten months old. To avoid dynastic interregnum, Retired Empress Go-Sakuramachi and her chief adviser encouraged the dying emperor to adopt Prince Morohito, whose biological father was Prince Sukehito, the second Prince Kan'in. Morohito, who would be known as Emperor Kōkaku later, acceded to the throne at age eight.