Empress Kayako
Kayako | |
---|---|
Official portrait of Empress Kayako in 1875 | |
Empress of Yamatai | |
Reign | 25 December 1853 - 7 January 1892 |
Predecessor | Chinami |
Successor | Hinata |
Crown Princess of Yamatai | |
Tenure | 29 November 1830 - 24 December 1853 |
Empress | Chinami |
Born | Kayako 29 November 1830 Summer Palace, Aoyama, Yamatai |
Died | 7 January 1892 Edo Imperial Palace, Edo |
Burial | Chiburi Imperial Graveyard, Oki Islands |
Spouse | Lord Saionji no Keigo |
Issue | Saionji no Nana Saionji no Takeo Empress Hinata Saionji no Tsuruya Saionji no Kenji |
Father | Takatsukasa no Tomomi |
Mother | Chinami |
Religion | Michi |
A major figure in Yamataian history, Kayako was the third child and only daughter of Chinami.
She is credited as the monarch that caused great societal change in Yamatai, placing the monarchy in a position of absolute power and driving Yamatai on a path of imperialist ambition. Under Kayako, the nation quickly changed from a feudal, slowly-developing nation into a capitalist and imperial world power, characterised by the Sakura Revolution. At the time of Kayako's birth in 1830, Yamatai was only beginning its foreign colonial exploits and had a massive degree of development inequality. By the time of Kayako's death in 1892, Yamatai had undergone a political, social, and industrial revolution at home and emerged as one of the great powers on the world stage.
Background
Prior to Kayako's reign, Yamatai was controlled by a decentralised system with many
Childhood
As a child, Kayako was sickly and it was believed that she would not survive past childhood. She managed to do so, and despite still being frail into her teenage years, she managed to survive several assassination attempts by her aunt, who hoped to attain the throne. She later managed to kill her aunt when she was 17.