Arisugawa-no-miya

The Arisugawa-no-miya (有栖川宮) was one of the shinnōke, branches of the Imperial Family of Japan which were, until 1947, eligible to succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne in the event that the main line should die out.

History

The Arisugawa-no-miya house was founded by Prince Yoshihito, seventh son of Emperor Go-Yōzei (d. 1638), and was originally named Takamatsu-no-miya. The house changed its name to Arisugawa-no-miya after its second head, Prince Nagahito was elevated to the throne as Emperor Go-Sai.

The Arisugawa-no-miya house traditionally served as instructors in calligraphy and waka composition to successive generations of Emperors. After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, when Emperor Meiji was restored, his uncle, Prince Arisugawa Taruhito (1835–1895), became commander-in-chief, and in 1875 Chancellor of the Realm. After his suppression of the Satsuma Rebellion in 1875 he was made a field-marshal, and he was again commander-in-chief in the First Sino-Japanese War. His younger brother, Prince Arisugawa Takehito (1862–1913), was from 1879 to 1882 attached to the British navy, as a military attaché and later as a cadet. He went on to command positions in the Japanese Navy, and represented Japan in formal visits to England.[1]

The Arisugawa line ended early in the twentieth century when no male heirs remained. However, the Imperial Household Agency revived the original title of Takamatsu-no-miya for the third son of Emperor Taishō. The line again became extinct on Prince Takamatsu Nobuhito’s death, as he had no children.

In 2003, an impostor to the Arisugawa line appeared, and stole a great deal of money.[2]

Dynasty
NameBornSucceededResignedDied
1Takamatsu-no-miya Yoshihito Shinnō (高松宮 好仁親王)16031625.1638
2Hanamachi-no-miya Nagahito Shinnō (花町宮 良仁親王)1638164716541685
3Arisugawa-no-miya Yukihito Shinnō (有栖川宮 幸仁親王)16561667.1699
4Arisugawa-no-miya Tadahito Shinnō (有栖川宮 正仁親王)16941699.1716
5Arisugawa-no-miya Yorihito Shinnō (有栖川宮 職仁親王)17131716.1769
6Arisugawa-no-miya Orihito Shinnō (有栖川宮 織仁親王)17551769.1820
7Arisugawa-no-miya Tsunahito Shinnō (有栖川宮 韶仁親王)17841820.1845
8Arisugawa-no-miya Takahito Shinnō (有栖川宮 幟仁親王)1813184518711886
9Arisugawa-no-miya Taruhito Shinnō (有栖川宮 熾仁親王)18351886.1895
10Arisugawa-no-miya Takehito Shinnō (有栖川宮 威仁親王)18621895.1913
※Takamatsu-no-miya Nobuhito Shinnō (高松宮 宣仁親王)19051913.1987

※In Imperial Household Law at that time, the house of an imperial prince was not admitted to be succeeded to by taking away the adopted son. Prince Nobuhito newly founded the Takamatsu-no-miya. Therefore, Prince Nobuhito is not the eleventh generation but the first Takamatsu-no-miya.

References
  • Keene, Donald. Emperor Of Japan: Meiji And His World, 1852-1912. Columbia University Press (2005). ISBN 0-231-12341-8
  • Lebra, Sugiyama Takie. Above the Clouds: Status Culture of the Modern Japanese Nobility. University of California Press (1995). ISBN 0-520-07602-8

Notes
  1.  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Arisugawa". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 522–523.
  2. "The prince of conmen who lost his crown". The Times. London. 2006-09-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
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