Changes

{{Japanese characters}}

{{Japanese characters}}

'''Empress Go-Sakuramachi''' (<font size=3>後桜町天皇</font>'' Go-Sakuramachi-tennō'') (23 September, 1740 - 24 December, 1813), was the 117^th [[Emperor]] of [[Japan]] according to the [[List of Japanese emperors|traditional count]]. She reigned as Empress from 15 September, 1762, until she abdicated the throne, in favour of her younger brother's son, the Emperor Go-Momozono, who had come of age, on 9 January, 1771.  

'''Empress Go-Sakuramachi''' (<font size=3>後桜町天皇</font>'' Go-Sakuramachi-tennō'') (23 September 1740 - 24 December 1813), was the 117th [[Emperor]] of [[Japan]] according to the [[List of Japanese emperors|traditional count]]. She reigned as Empress from 15 September 1762, until she abdicated the throne, in favour of her younger brother's son, the Emperor Go-Momozono, who had come of age, on 9 January 1771.  

She was the eighth Empress to sit upon the [[Chrysanthemum Throne]] and most likely the last, as Japan's current [[Current Constitution of Japan (Full Text)|constitution]] only allows a male heir to ascend to the throne.

She was the eighth Empress to sit upon the [[Chrysanthemum Throne]] and most likely the last, as Japan's current [[Current Constitution of Japan (Full Text)|constitution]] only allows a male heir to ascend to the throne.

The Empress is named after her father, the Emperor Sakuramachi (<font size=3>桜町天皇</font>), and to differentiate between them, had ''go-'' (<font size=3>後</font>) added to her title. "Go-" literally means "later" and thus the Empress' name means "The Later Sakuramachi".

The Empress is named after her father, the Emperor Sakuramachi (<font size=3>桜町天皇</font>), and to differentiate between them, had ''go-'' (<font size=3>後</font>) added to her title. "Go-" literally means "later" and thus the Empress' name means "The Later Sakuramachi".

==Early Life==

==Early life==

Empress Go-Sakuramachi was born Princess Toshiko (<font size=3>智子</font>), on 23 September, 1740, the second child of Emperor [[Sakuramachi]] (<font size=3>桜町天皇</font>) and the Dowager Empress Nijō Ieko (<font size=3>二条舎子</font>). Her elder sister, Princess Moriko (<font size=3>盛子</font>) died whilst still young, and her younger brother, Prince Toohito (<font size=3>遐仁</font>), would go on to become the Emperor [[Momozono]] (<font size=3>桃園天皇</font>).

Empress Go-Sakuramachi was born Princess Toshiko (<font size=3>智子</font>), on 23 September 1740, the second child of Emperor [[Sakuramachi]] (<font size=3>桜町天皇</font>) and the Dowager Empress Nijō Ieko (<font size=3>二条舎子</font>). Her elder sister, Princess Moriko (<font size=3>盛子</font>) died whilst still young, and her younger brother, Prince Toohito (<font size=3>遐仁</font>), would go on to become the Emperor [[Momozono]] (<font size=3>桃園天皇</font>).

==Her Reign==

==Her Reign==

In 1762, as a result of a decree by her dying brother, Emperor Momozono, she ascended the throne. This was a temporary measure, as the Emperor's son, Prince Hidehito (later  Emperor Go-Momozono) was only 5 years old at the time of his father's death. Her enthronement made her the first Empress in her own right in 119 years, since the days of Empress Meishō. However, as soon as Momozono's infant son Go-Momozono was ready to take the throne, Go-Sakuramachi was induced to abdicate in his favour, which she did on 9 January, 1771.

In 1762, as a result of a decree by her dying brother, Emperor Momozono, she ascended the throne. This was a temporary measure, as the Emperor's son, Prince Hidehito (later  Emperor Go-Momozono) was only 5 years old at the time of his father's death. Her enthronement made her the first Empress in her own right in 119 years, since the days of Empress Meishō. However, as soon as Momozono's infant son Go-Momozono was ready to take the throne, Go-Sakuramachi was induced to abdicate in his favour, which she did on 9 January 1771.

However, with the looming death of Go-Momozono without an heir, Empress Go-Sakuramachi, in her role as the "Retired Emperor" (<font size=3>上皇</font> ''Jōkō'' ), was instrumental in the selection, and adoption, of Prince Morohito, who became Emperor [[Kōkaku]].   

However, with the looming death of Go-Momozono without an heir, Empress Go-Sakuramachi, in her role as the "Retired Emperor" (<font size=3>上皇</font> ''Jōkō'' ), was instrumental in the selection, and adoption, of Prince Morohito, who became Emperor [[Kōkaku]].   

===Hōreki===

===Hōreki===

''Hōreki nengō'' (<font size=3>宝暦年号</font>) spanned the years from 1751 through 1764, with ''Hōreki gannen'' (<font size=3>宝暦元年</font>, "first year of Hōreki") being declared on 27 October, 1751 to commemorate the death of the abdicated Emperor Sakuramachi, as well as the death of the former Shōgun Tokugawa Yoshimune. The name means ""Valuable Calendar".

''Hōreki nengō'' (<font size=3>宝暦年号</font>) spanned the years from 1751 through 1764, with ''Hōreki gannen'' (<font size=3>宝暦元年</font>, "first year of Hōreki") being declared on 27 October 1751 to commemorate the death of the abdicated Emperor Sakuramachi, as well as the death of the former Shōgun Tokugawa Yoshimune. The name means ""Valuable Calendar".

====Events during the Era====

====Events during the Era====

===Meiwa===

===Meiwa===

''Meiwa nengō'' (<font size=3>明和年号</font>) spanned the years from 1764 through 1772, with ''Meiwa gannen'' (<font size=3>明和元年</font>, "first year of Meiwa") being declared on 2 June, 1764 to commemorate the coronation of Empress Go-Sakuramachi. The name means "Bright Harmony".

''Meiwa nengō'' (<font size=3>明和年号</font>) spanned the years from 1764 through 1772, with ''Meiwa gannen'' (<font size=3>明和元年</font>, "first year of Meiwa") being declared on 2 June 1764 to commemorate the coronation of Empress Go-Sakuramachi. The name means "Bright Harmony".

====Events during the Era====

====Events during the Era====

* Meiwa 7 (1770) - The start of 15 straight drought years in Japan, that would culminate in the Great Tenmei Famine.

* Meiwa 7 (1770) - The start of 15 straight drought years in Japan, that would culminate in the Great Tenmei Famine.

* Meiwa 7 (1771) - the Empress Go-Sakuramachi empress abdicates in favor of her nephew, the Emperor Go-Momozono, during the ninth year of her reign.  

* Meiwa 7 (1771) - the Empress Go-Sakuramachi empress abdicates in favor of her nephew, the Emperor Go-Momozono, during the ninth year of her reign.  

* Meiwa 9 (29 February, 1772): "The Great Meiwa Fire" is one of three fires to gut Edo. 75 square miles and almost 10,000 temples, shrines and houses are destroyed, with some 6,000 deaths.<ref>Screech, Timon. Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822. 2006. RoutledgeCurzon</ref>

* Meiwa 9 (29 February 1772): "The Great Meiwa Fire" is one of three fires to gut Edo. 75 square miles and almost 10,000 temples, shrines and houses are destroyed, with some 6,000 deaths.<ref>Screech, Timon. Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822. 2006. RoutledgeCurzon</ref>

* Meiwa 9 (2 & 17 August, 1772) - Heavy storms result in flooding and the destruction of crops and dwellings in the Kantō region and Edo.<ref>Hall, JW. Tanuma Okitsugu, 1719-1788: Forerunner of Modern Japan. Harvard University Press. 1955.</ref>

* Meiwa 9 (2 & 17 August 1772) - Heavy storms result in flooding and the destruction of crops and dwellings in the Kantō region and Edo.<ref>Hall, JW. Tanuma Okitsugu, 1719-1788: Forerunner of Modern Japan. Harvard University Press. 1955.</ref>

* Meiwa 9 (1772) - People start referring to Meiwa 9  as the "Year of Trouble", using a pun on Meiwa-ku (Meiwa 9 <font size=3>明和九</font>), which has the [[homophone]] ''meiwaku'' (<font size=3>迷惑</font>), meaning "trouble", "bother" or "annoyance". <ref>Screech, Timon. Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822. 2006. RoutledgeCurzon</ref>   

* Meiwa 9 (1772) - People start referring to Meiwa 9  as the "Year of Trouble", using a pun on Meiwa-ku (Meiwa 9 <font size=3>明和九</font>), which has the [[homophone]] ''meiwaku'' (<font size=3>迷惑</font>), meaning "trouble", "bother" or "annoyance".<ref>Screech, Timon. Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822. 2006. RoutledgeCurzon</ref>   

* Meiwa 9 (11^th month of 1772) - In an attempt to improve the nation's fortunes, Meiwa nengō was changed to Anei nengō.

* Meiwa 9 (11th month of 1772) - In an attempt to improve the nation's fortunes, Meiwa nengō was changed to Anei nengō.