The Kusuko Incident: The Order of Heian an Old General Protected, 810

In the ninth month of 810 (Kōnin 1), in Heian-kyō. The Retired Emperor Heizei, who had abdicated, and his younger brother Emperor Saga fell into fierce conflict over the leadership of government.

The Retired Emperor Heizei sought to transfer the capital to the old capital of Heijō-kyō and moved to rely on the soldiers of the eastern provinces.

It is called the Kusuko Incident. In this crisis, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, who had entered old age, was employed as a general on Emperor Saga's side and bore the grave responsibility of blocking the retired emperor's move to the east.

The Retired Emperor Heizei had abdicated to his younger brother Emperor Saga on the grounds of illness, but after recovering he again strengthened his involvement in government.

The retired emperor's favored courtier Fujiwara no Kusuko and her elder brother Nakanari pushed for the retired emperor's return to power.

Over the transfer of the capital to Heijō-kyō, the court split into two — the retired emperor's side and the emperor's side.

It was a critical situation in which two centers of power arose in a single court.

The possibility of armed clash grew real.

Emperor Saga struck first and ordered Tamuramaro and other powerful commanders to hold down the retired emperor's side.

The Retired Emperor Heizei headed for the eastern provinces, seeking to gather provincial soldiers and resist.

Tamuramaro led an army and blocked the route of the retired emperor's move to the east.

The retired emperor's reckoning, which relied on the military strength of the east, was cut off by Tamuramaro's swift deployment.

Before resorting to force, the retired emperor's side's strategy collapsed, and the retired emperor abandoned the raising of troops.

The retired emperor took Buddhist orders, Kusuko took her own life, and Nakanari was executed, and the coup was brought to a close.

Behind the settling of the matter almost without armed clash was the swift action of Tamuramaro and the other commanders.

The following year, 811 (Kōnin 2), Tamuramaro died of illness. He was fifty-four.

He is transmitted to have been buried standing and in armor, and was made a guardian deity protecting the capital.

From the campaigns against the Emishi to the quelling of the coup in the capital, his life was one that supported the order of the early Heian period by the power of arms.