Editing Emperor Heizei (section)

==Traditional narrative==
Heizei was the eldest son of the [[Emperor Kanmu]] and empress [[Fujiwara no Otomuro]].<ref>Varley, p. 151; Brown, p. 279.</ref> Heizei had three empresses and seven sons and daughters.<ref name="b279">Brown, p. 279.</ref>

Heizei is traditionally venerated at his tomb; the [[Imperial Household Agency]] designates {{nihongo3|Yamamomo Imperial Mausoleum|楊梅陵|Yamamomo no Misasagi}}, in [[Nara, Nara|Nara]], as the location of Heizei's [[mausoleum]].<ref name="kunaichō" /> The site is publicly accessible.<ref>Nara City Sightseeing Information Center (''Narashikanko''): [http://narashikanko.jp/english/aria_map/map_pdf/302.pdf Heizei's ''misasagi'', map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207003146/http://narashikanko.jp/english/aria_map/map_pdf/302.pdf |date=February 7, 2012 }}</ref> Although one of the largest [[kofun]] monuments in Japan, archaeological investigations in 1962–1963 indicate that it was constructed in the early 5th century, and that portions of it were destroyed during the construction of [[Heijō-kyō]], calling into question the designation by the Imperial Household Agency.

===Events of Heizei's life===
Before he ascended to the throne, his liaison with [[Fujiwara no Kusuko]], the mother of his one consort, caused a scandal.  Because of this scandal his father considered depriving him of the rank of [[crown prince]].

* '''785''': ({{nihongo foot|''[[Enryaku]] 4, 11th month''|延暦四年十一月}}): Heizei was appointed Crown Prince at the age of 12.<ref>[[#Brown-Ishida|Brown and Ishida]], p. 279</ref>
* '''April 9, 806''' <ref>Julian dates derived from [http://web.me.com/meyer.eva/www.yukikurete.de/nengo_calc.htm NengoCalc]</ref> ({{nihongo foot|''[[Daidō]] 1, 17th day of the 3rd month''|大同一年三月十七日}}): In the 25th year of Emperor Kanmu's reign, he died; and despite an ensuing dispute over who should follow him as sovereign, contemporary scholars then construed that the succession (''senso'') was received by his son.  Shortly thereafter, Emperor Heizei is said to have acceded to the throne (''sokui'').<ref>Titsingh, p. 95; [[#Brown-Ishida|Brown and Ishida]], p. 279; Varley, p. 44; a distinct act of ''senso'' is unrecognized prior to [[Emperor Tenji]]; and all sovereigns except [[Empress Jitō|Jitō]], [[Emperor Yōzei|Yōzei]], [[Emperor Go-Toba|Go-Toba]], and [[Emperor Fushimi|Fushimi]] have ''senso'' and ''sokui'' in the same year until the reign of [[Emperor Go-Murakami]].</ref>

His title Heizei was derived from the official name of the capital in Nara, Heizei Kyō.

During Heizei's reign, the bodyguards were reorganized; the existing Imperial Bodyguards became the Left Imperial Bodyguards, while the Middle Bodyguards became the Right Imperial Bodyguards.<ref name="b280">[[#Brown-Ishida|Brown and Ishida]], p. 280</ref>  Both sides were given a new Senior Commander; at this time Heizei appointed [[Sakanoue no Tamuramaro]] (758–811) as Senior Commander of the Imperial Bodyguards of the Right.<ref name="b280"/>  Under Emperor Kanmu, Tamuramaro had been appointed as ''[[shōgun]]'' of a military expedition against the [[Emishi]].<ref>[[#Brown-Ishida|Brown and Ishida]], p. 279; Varley, p. 272; Titsingh, p. 99.</ref>

* '''809''' ({{nihongo foot|''[[Daidō]] 4, 1st month''|大同四年一月}}): After a reign of four years, Heizei fell ill; and fearing that he would not survive, Heizei abdicated in favor of his younger brother, who would later come to be known as [[Emperor Saga]].<ref name = "b280"/>  After abdicating, Heizei moved to [[Nara, Nara|Nara]] and was henceforth known as ''Nara no Mikado'', the "Emperor of Nara".<ref name = "b280"/>
* '''May 18, 809''' ({{nihongo foot|''[[Daidō]] 4, 1st day of the 4th month''|大同四年四月一日}}): Emperor Saga was enthroned at age 24.<ref name = "b280"/>
* '''810''' (''[[Kōnin (era)|Kōnin]] 1''): In Heizei's name, the former emperor's ambitious third wife, {{nihongo|Kusuko|薬子}}, and her brother Nakanari organized an attempted rebellion, but their forces were defeated. Kusuko died in poison and her brother was executed. Heizei took the tonsure and became a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] monk.<ref name="ponsonby318">Ponsonby-Fane, p. 318.  [[#Brown-Ishida|Brown and Ishida]], pp. 281</ref>
* '''August 5, 824''' ({{nihongo foot|''[[Tenchō]] 1, 7th day of the 7th month''|天長一年七月七日}}): Heizei died at age 51, 14 years after he had abdicated due to illness.<ref>[[#Brown-Ishida|Brown and Ishida]], p. 280; Varley, p. 151.</ref>

===Era of Heizei's reign===
The years of Heizei's reign are encompassed within one [[Japanese era names|era name]] (''nengō'').<ref>Titsingh, p. 96.</ref>
* ''[[Daidō]]'' (806–810)