Events in Jomei's Reign
He succeeded his great aunt, Empress Suiko. Suiko did not make it clear who was to succeed her after her death. Before her death, she called Tamura and Prince Shōtoku's son, Prince Yamashiro-no-Ōe, and gave some brief advice to each of them. After her death the court was divided into two factions, each supporting one of the princes for the throne. Soga no Emishi, the head of Soga clan, supported Tamura. He claimed that Empress Suiko's last words suggested her desire that Tamura succeed her to the throne. Prince Yamashiro-no-Ōe was later attacked by the Soga clan and committed suicide along with his entire family.
- 629: In the 36th year of Empress Suiko's reign (推古天皇36年), she died, and despite a dispute over who should follow her as sovereign, contemporary scholars then construed that the succession (‘‘senso’’) was received by a grandson of Emperor Bidatsu and a great-grandson of Emperor Kimmei. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Jomei is said to have acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’).
Jomei's contemporary title would not have been tennō, as most historians believe this title was not introduced until the reigns of Emperor Temmu and Empress Jitō. Rather, it was presumably Sumeramikoto or Amenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi (治天下大王), meaning "the great king who rules all under heaven." Alternatively, Jomei might have been referred to as (ヤマト大王/大君) or the "Great King of Yamato."
During Emperor Jomei's reign, Soga no Emishi seized several political initiatives. After his death, the throne was passed to his wife and niece, Princess Takara and then to her younger brother, Emperor Kōtoku, before eventually being inherited by two of his sons, Emperor Tenji and Emperor Temmu.
Emperor Jomei's reign lasted 13 years. In the 13th year of Jomei-tennō's reign (舒明天皇13年), he died at the age of 49.
The actual site of Jomei's grave is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Nara.
The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Jomei's mausoleum. It is formally named Osaka no uchi no misasagi.
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