(January 11, 1359 – June 6, 1393) was the
5th of the
Ashikaga Pretenders during the period of two courts. According to pre-Meiji scholars, his reign spanned the years from 1371 through 1382.
This
Nanboku-chō "sovereign" was named after the 10th century
Emperor En'yū and
go- (後), translates literally as "later;" and thus, he may be called the "Later Emperor En'yū". The Japanese word "
go" has also been translated to mean the "second one;" and in some older sources, this would-be emperor may be identified as "En'yū, the second," or as "En'yū II."
Genealogy
His personal name was Ohito (緒仁).
He was the second son of the fourth Northern Pretender
Emperor Go-Kōgon. His mother was Fujiwara no Nakako (藤原仲子), daughter of Hirohashi Kanetsuna (広橋兼綱).
- Consort: Itsuko (厳子), daughter of Sanjō Kintada (三条公忠)
- *First daughter: Imperial Princess Keiko (珪子内親王)
- Lady-in-waiting Fujiwara no Imako (藤原今子)
- *Second son: Imperial Prince Dōchō (道朝法親王)
Events of Go-En'yū's life
In his own lifetime, Go-En'yū and those around him believed that he occupied the
Chrysanthemum Throne from April 9, 1371 to May 24, 1382.
In 1371, by Imperial Proclamation, he received the rank of
shinnō (親王), or Imperial Prince (and potential heir). Immediately afterwards, he became emperor upon the abdication of his father,
Emperor Go-Kōgon. There was said to be a disagreement between Go-Kōgon and the retired Northern Emperor
Emperor Sukō over the Crown Prince. With the support of Hosokawa Yoriyuki, who controlled the
Bakufu, Go-Kōgon's son became the Northern Emperor.
Until 1374, Go-Kōgon ruled as
cloistered emperor. In 1368,
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was named
Shōgun, and with his guardianship, the Imperial Court was stabilized. In 1382, upon abdicating to
Emperor Go-Komatsu, his
cloistered rule began. Having no actual power, he rebelled, attempting suicide and accusing
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and his consort Itsuko of adultery.
In 1392, peace with the Southern Court being concluded, the
Period of the Northern and Southern Courts came to an end. On June 6, 1393, Go-En'yū died. He is enshrined with other emperors at the imperial tomb called
Fukakusa no kita no misasagi (深草北陵) in
Fushimi-ku, Kyoto.
Eras of Go-En'yū's reign
The years of Go-En'yū's
Nanboku-chō reign are more specifically identified by more than one
era name or
nengō.
Nanboku-chō Southern court
- Eras as reckoned by legitimate Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
Nanboku-chō Northern court
- Eras as reckoned by pretender Court (as determined by Meiji rescript)
Southern Court Rivals
