Uneasy lies the head that wears this crown

September 20 1161 — Emperor Takakura of Japan is born in Kyoto. His father, Emperor Go-Shirakawa, reigned from August 23 1155 to September 5 1158. He stepped down in favour of his son Nijo, 15, who dies on August 3 1165, aged 22. He is succeeded by his 8-month-old son Rokujo. Less than three years later, on April 9 1168, Takakura (Go-Shirakawa’s fourth son) becomes the 80th emperor. (Rokujo dies on August 23 1176, aged 11.) The Genpei War (1180-1185), a national civil war between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late-Heian period, results in the downfall of the Taira and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1192.In this turmoil, Takakura is pressured to abdicate on March 18 1180 in favour of his 2-year-old son Antoku. Takakura dies on January 30 1181, aged 19, having fathered four sons and three daughters by six different women. Minamoto forces seize Kyoto in 1183 and the young Antoku flees west with his mother Kenreimon-in and a large Taira army. His 3-year-old half-brother takes the throne on September 8 1183 as Emperor Go-Toba. The Genpei War ends on April 25 1185 at the Battle of Dan-no-ura, a naval battle on the straits of S him on oseki. Manym embers of the Taira clan, including 6- yearold Antoku and his wet-n ur se Sukeno Tsubone, leap into the water to their deaths (the official date marking the end of Antoku’s reign). Go-Toba finally breaks the cycle of the short emperorships and lives. He reigns until February 18 1198 and dies on March 28 1239, aged 58.