Michinaga total de facto rule over Japan can be seen from the fact that he was father to four (non-reigning) empresses, uncle to two emperors and grandfather to another three. He never formally took on the title of kampaku, but his word was law even after he formally retired from public life in 1019, since he continued to direct the affairs of his son and successor, Yorimichi?. Soon afterwards, emperors started to retire to a monastery early in life, put young sons on the throne and run the country from behind the scenes. They may well have gotten the idea from Michinaga.
![[Home]](wikipedia.png)