Fujiwara no Nagayoshi

Fujiwara no Nagara 藤原長良
Illustration by Kikuchi Yōsai, from Zenken Kojitsu
Family	Fujiwara Hokke
Father	Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu
Born	802
Died	August 6, 856

Fujiwara no Nagara (藤原長良^?, 802 – August 6, 856), also known as Fujiwara no Nagayoshi, was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician of the early Heian period. He was the grandfather of Emperor Yōzei.

Nagara was born as the eldest son of the sadaijin Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu, a powerful figure in the court of Emperor Saga. He was well trusted by Emperor Ninmyō since his time as crown prince, and attended on him frequently. However, after Ninmyō took the throne, Nagara's advancement was overtaken by his younger brother Fujiwara no Yoshifusa. He served as director of the kurōdo-dokoro (蔵人所^?) and division chief (督^?) in the imperial guard before finally making sangi and joining the kugyō in 844, ten years after his younger brother.

In 850, Nagara's nephew Emperor Montoku took the throne, and Nagara was promoted to shō shi-i no ge (正四位下^?) and then ju san-mi (従三位^?), and in 851 to shō san-mi (正三位^?). In the same year, though, Nagara was overtaken once more as his brother Fujiwara no Yoshimi, more than ten years his junior, was promoted to chūnagon. In 854, when Yoshimi was promoted to dainagon, Nagara was promoted to fill his old position of chūnagon. In 856 he was promoted to 従二位 (ju ni-i), but died shortly thereafter at the age of 55.