Fujiwara no Yoshinaga (藤原能長)

FUJIWARA no Yoshinaga (1022 - December 6, 1082) was a Court noble in the mid- to late Heian Period. He was the third son of FUJIWARA no Yorimune, Minister of the Right. His mother was a daughter of FUJIWARA no Korechika. His wives included a daughter of Prince Akinori and a daughter of MINAMOTO no Narimasa.

He was adopted by his uncle, FUJIWARA no Yoshinobu, at a young age and made a career as Yoshinobu's successor. He was made a Sangi (Councilor) in 1043, Gon Dainagon (provisional chief councilor of state) in 1068, and Naidaijin (Minister of the Center) in 1080, becoming known as Sanjo Naidaijin. His final Ikai (Court rank) was Shonii (Senior Second Rank). He succeeded Yoshinobu as Imperial Prince Takahito's Togu-no-daibu (Master of the Crown Prince's Quarters), and when the Imperial Prince ascended the throne as Emperor Gosanjo, Yoshinaga exercised influence as the Emperor's close advisor. His daughter FUJIWARA no Michiko became a nyogo of Emperor Gosanjo's son, Emperor Shirakawa.

Career

1035: Jugoinoge (Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade); Jiju (Chamberlain)
1036: Jugoinojo (Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade); Kurodo (Chamberlain); Sahyoe no suke (Assistant Captain of the Left Division of Middle Palace Guards) as an additional post
1037: Shogoinoge (Senior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade)
1038: Jushiinoge (Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade); Jiju
1041: Jushiinojo (Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade)
1042: Kurodo no to (Head Chamberlain); Ukone no chujo (Middle Captain of the Right Division of Inner Palace Guards); Shoshiinoge (Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade)
1043: Gon no suke (Provisional Vice Governor) of Harima Province as an additional post; Sangi
1045: Gon no kami (Provisional Governor) of Harima Province as an additional post; Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank)
1046: Sachujo (Middle Captain of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards) as an additional post
1050: Shosanmi (Senior Third Rank); Junii (Junior Second Rank)
1051: Gon no kami (Provisional Governor) of Bingo Province as an additional post
1056: Gon no kami of Harima Province as an additional post
1061: Gon Chunagon (provisional vice-councilor of state)
1062: Uemon no kami (Captain of the Right Division of Outer Palace Guards) as an additional post
1064: Shonii
1065: Togu Gon no daibu (Provisional Master of the Crown Prince's Quarters) as an additional post; Kebiishi no betto (Superintendent of the Imperial Police); Saemon no kami (Captain of the Left Division of Outer Palace Guards); Togu no daibu
1068: Gon Dainagon
1080: Naidaijin; Kotaishi fu (official in charge of the Crown Prince's education) as an additional post

[Original Japanese]