Name: Emperor Antoku (安徳天皇)
Birth/ Death: (1178 - 1185) Reign: (1180-1185)
Appearance: Book 7 Episode 13, 20; Book 8 Episode 1, 3, 4; Book 9 Episode 1, 18; Book 11 Episode 2, 9
Bio:
Antoku is the son of Emperor Takakura and Kenreimon-in, and the grandson of Taira no Kiyomori. His birth was the subject of Book 3, episode 3. Antoku ascended the throne after his father Takakura was forced to abdicate in episode 1 of Book 4; the child was named emperor in 1180 at only 2 years old. He served as the emperor during the Taira's control of the capital, and continued to be considered emperor by them after they fled the capital, although Go-Shirakawa appointed a new emperor (Go-Toba) when Antoku left the capital. He drowned during the Battle of Dan-No-Ura along with his grandmother, Taira no Tokiko. Antoku is one of the only emperors to die in war, and he is enshrined at the Kurume-Suitengū in Kurume, Fukuoka.
In Book 7, Fujiwara no Hirotsugi was subdued by Ono no Azumōdo in defense of Emperor Shômu. The young emperor Antoku followed the precedent of Emperor Shômu and also made a progress to the Grand Shrine of Ise.
In Book 11, Emperor Antoku drowns with his grandmother Lady Nii at the battle of Dan-no-ura.