There are few known episodes of Princess Nakatsu's life, but she is venerated as a goddess at Hachiman shrines.[1]
Princess Nakatsu was the daughter of Hondamawaka no Ō (also known as Hondamawaka no Mikoto), a descendant of Emperor Kōshō and her mother was Kana-taya hime. Princess Nakatsu was the sister of Takano-iri hime and Otohime. She married Ōjin and had two children, Arata-hime no Mikoto and Emperor Nintoku.[1]
Princess Nakatsu is believed to have become empress consort to Emperor Ōjin in the 2nd year of his reign.[2][1] According to the Nihon Shoki, her sisters Takano-iri hime and Otohime also became consorts of Emperor Ōjin.[2] This was a common practice during this period for sisters to be consorts of the emperor.[1]
After the death of Emperor Ōjin, Princess Nakatsu became empress dowager and the mother of the new emperor, Emperor Nintoku.[1]
The tomb of Princess Nakatsu is believed to be located at Nakatsu-yama no Misasagi in Nara Prefecture.[1]
Unless otherwise noted (as BC), years are in CE / AD1 individuals that were given the title of empress posthumously
2 individuals elevated to the rank of empress due to their position as honorary mother of the emperor
3 Shōshi served briefly as honorary empress for her younger brother Emperor Go-Daigo
Unless otherwise noted (as BC), years are in CE / AD1 individuals that were given the title of empress dowager posthumously
2 title removed in 896 due to a suspected affair with head priest of the Toko-ji Temple; title posthumously restored in 943
3 was made High Empress or de jure empress dowager during her husband's reign
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