# Go-Toba

> Emperor of Japan

**Wikidata**: [Q316658](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316658)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Go-Toba)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/go-toba

## Summary
Go-Toba was the Emperor of Japan and a writer who served during the late 12th and early 13th centuries. He is historically significant for instigating the Jōkyū War of 1221, a civil conflict in which he, as a Retired Emperor, attempted to overthrow the ruling Hōjō clan of the Kamakura shogunate. His legacy also includes literary contributions, evidenced by his association with the *Hyakunin Isshu* anthology and his authorship of a testament.

## Biography
- **Born:** August 6, 1180
- **Nationality:** Japan
- **Known for:** Reigning as Emperor of Japan; leading the Jōkyū War against the Hōjō clan; literary works including the *Hyakunin Isshu* and his testament.
- **Employer(s):** Imperial Court of Japan
- **Field(s):** Politics, Literature

## Contributions
Go-Toba's life was defined by two major areas of contribution: political leadership and literary production.

*   **The Jōkyū War (1221):** As a Retired Emperor (Jōkō), Go-Toba led a civil war against the Hōjō clan, who acted as regents of the Kamakura shogunate. This conflict represents a direct challenge to the military government's authority over the Imperial court.
*   **Literary Works:** Recognized officially as a writer, Go-Toba contributed to Japanese literature. He is associated with poem 99 of the *Hyakunin Isshu* (indicated by the image property *Hyakuninisshu 099.jpg*). Additionally, he authored a testament (referenced as *Go-Toba testament.jpg*), which serves as a historical record of his instructions and legacy.

## FAQs
**Who was Go-Toba?**
Go-Toba was the Emperor of Japan and a writer, born in 1180 and known for his conflict with the Kamakura shogunate.

**What was the Jōkyū War?**
The Jōkyū War was a Japanese civil war fought in 1221 between Retired Emperor Go-Toba and the Hōjō clan, the regents of the Kamakura shogunate.

**When did Go-Toba live?**
He lived from August 6, 1180, to March 28, 1239.

**What are Go-Toba's notable literary works?**
He is associated with the *Hyakunin Isshu* anthology (specifically poem 99) and authored a testament known as the "Go-Toba testament."

**What titles was Go-Toba known by?**
He was known by several aliases, including Go-Toba-tennō, Gotoba Tennō, Gotoba Jōkō, and Gotoba-in.

## Why They Matter
Go-Toba matters because his actions marked a critical turning point in the power dynamics between the Imperial Court and the military government (Bakufu) in Japan. By leading the Jōkyū War, he represented the last major effort by the Imperial establishment to reclaim political power from the samurai class during that era. His failure in this conflict solidified the dominance of the Kamakura shogunate and the Hōjō regents. Culturally, his status as a writer and his inclusion in the *Hyakunin Isshu* ensure his lasting relevance in the canon of Japanese classical poetry and literature.

## Notable For
*   **Instigating the Jōkyū War:** Leading the 1221 civil war against the Hōjō clan while serving as Retired Emperor.
*   **Imperial Reign:** Serving as the 82nd Emperor of Japan (implied by position in history and list context).
*   **Literary Output:** Authoring works included in the *Hyakunin Isshu* and a personal testament.
*   **Historical Aliases:** Known by multiple titles including *Go-Toba-tennō*, *Gotoba Jōkō*, and *Gotoba-in*.
*   **Longevity:** Living nearly 59 years (1180–1239) during a turbulent period of Japanese history.

## Body

### Imperial Identity and Names
Go-Toba held the primary position of Emperor of Japan and is classified as a human. His name is recorded in various forms across different historical and administrative contexts. Aliases associated with him include Go-Toba-tennō, Emperor Go-Toba, Empereur du Japon Go-Toba Tennō, Emperor of Japan Gotoba, Gotoba Tennō, Emperor GoToba, Gotoba Jōkō, and Gotoba-in. In Japanese, his name is written as 後鳥羽天皇, and he is referred to as ごとば てんのう in Hiragana.

### The Jōkyū War
The most significant political event of Go-Toba's life was the Jōkyū War. Occurring in 1221, this conflict was a Japanese civil war waged between Go-Toba and the Hōjō clan. At the time of the war, Go-Toba was a Retired Emperor (Jōkō), having left the throne, yet he retained significant influence and ambition. The Hōjō clan served as the regents of the Kamakura shogunate, the dominant military government of the era. The war represented a direct confrontation between the traditional authority of the Imperial Court and the rising military power of the shogunate.

### Literary Contributions
Beyond his political endeavors, Go-Toba was a writer. His contributions to literature are documented through specific works and associations. He is linked to the *Hyakunin Isshu*, a classical Japanese anthology of 100 poems by 100 poets, specifically associated with poem 99 (referenced by the image file *Hyakuninisshu 099.jpg*). Furthermore, he authored a testament, known as the "Go-Toba testament" (referenced by the image file *Go-Toba testament.jpg*), which provides insight into his personal views and legacy.

### Life and Death Timeline
Go-Toba was born on August 6, 1180. His life spanned nearly six decades, a period that saw the consolidation of samurai rule in Japan. He died on March 28, 1239. His life and actions are cataloged in numerous international library and authority systems, including the Library of Congress and the National Diet Library of Japan, reflecting his enduring historical footprint.

## References

1. Union List of Artist Names
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. Japan Search
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. [Source](https://lingualibre.org/wiki//Q508103)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File