Biography

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (imina) was Taruhito-shinnō (善仁親王). He was also known as Yoshihito-tennō.

Horikawa was the son of Emperor Shirakawa. His mother was Fujiwara no Kenshi (藤原賢子), adopted daughter of Fujiwara Morozane (藤原師実). His wet nurse was a different namesake Fujiwara no Kenshi (藤原兼子).

Empresses, consorts, and issue

• Empress (Chūgū): Imperial Princess Tokushi (篤子内親王), Emperor Go-Sanjo』s daughter

• Consort (Nyōgo): Fujiwara no Ishi (藤原苡子; 1076-1103), Fujiwara no Sanesue』s daughter

　• Imperial Prince Munehito (宗仁親王) later Emperor Toba

• Lady-in-waiting (Naishi): Princess Jinshi (仁子女王; d.1126), Prince Yasusuke』s daughter

　• Imperial Princess Soshi (悰子内親王, 1099–1162)

• Lady-in-waiting (Naishi): Fujiwara Muneko (藤原宗子; d.1129), Fujiwara Takamune』s daughter

　• Kangyō (寛暁; 1103–1159)

• Lady-in-waiting (Naishi): Fujiwara Tokitsune』s daughter

　• Imperial Prince Priest Saiun (最雲法親王; 1105–1162) head priest of the Tendai sect

• Mother Unknown

　• Imperial Princess Kishi (喜子内親王)

　• Imperial Princess Kaishi (懐子内親王)

Rule

After becoming crown prince, he acceded to the throne upon the abdication of his father Emperor Shirakawa on January 3, 1087 (Ōtoku 3). His father's kampaku Fujiwara Morozane became regent, and Horikawa's reign was overshadowed by the cloistered rule of his father. Horikawa filled his reign with scholarship, poetry, and music.

When Horikawa's empress-consort Fujiwara no Ishi (藤原苡子) died in 1103, his son the Imperial Prince Munehito was taken to be raised by the retired Emperor Shirakawa. This son later succeeded Horikawa to the throne and was later known as Emperor Toba.

Horikawa died at the age of 28 on August 9, 1107 (Kajō 2). He is among the seven emperors entombed near Ryōan-ji in Kyoto. He is traditionally venerated at the Nochi no Yenkyō-ji no misasagi memorial Shinto shrine; this site has been designated as Horikawa's mausoleum by the Imperial Household Agency.

Eras

The years of Horikawa's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.

• Ōtoku (1084–1087)

• Kanji (1087–1094)

• Kahō (1094–1096)

• Eichō (1096–1097)

• Jōtoku (1097–1099)

• Kōwa (1099–1104)

• Chōji (1104–1106)

• Kajō (1106–1108)

Kugyō

During Horikawa's reign, the high-ranking kugyō of the imperial court included:

• Sesshō/Daijō-daijin Fujiwara Morozane (1043–1101)

• Kampaku/Nidaijin Fujiwara Moromichi (1062–1099)

• Kampaku/Udaijin/Dainagon Fujiwara Tadazane

Ancestry

系譜

白河天皇第二皇子、母親藤原師實養女・中宮賢子。准母及同母媞子內親王（鬱芳門院）。

家族

• 父：白河天皇（1053-1129）

• 母：藤原賢子（1057-1084，藤原師實養女）

• 中宮：篤子內親王（1013-1094，藤原師實養女）

• 女御：藤原苡子（1076-1103，之女）

• 典侍：

　• 仁子女王（之女）

　• 藤原宗子（之女）

• 宮人：藤原氏（之女）