Fujiwara no Nagate

Fujiwara no Nagate (714–771), a son of Fusasaki, belonged to the family branch later known as the Northern House. His court career included setbacks as well as advancement. In 757, he supported Prince Shioyaki as a replacement for the deposed crown prince Funado. The court instead chose Prince Ōi, backed by Fujiwara no Nakamaro, an influential minister from another Fujiwara branch. [S01, S02]

When Nakamaro rebelled in 764, Nagate helped oppose him and gained senior office under the reigning sovereign Shōtoku. By 766 he was minister of the left, one of the government's leading posts. During Shōtoku's final illness in 770, Nagate supervised several palace guard units. Kibi no Makibi, minister of the right, supervised others. The succession therefore involved officials with control of armed forces at the capital, as well as princes with claims to the throne. [S01, S02]

After Shōtoku died, Nagate joined Fujiwara no Yoshitsugu and Momokawa in supporting Prince Shirakabe, who became Emperor Kōnin. Nagate died in 771 while still minister of the left; the higher chief-ministerial title was granted after his death. His career helped carry the court through a change of sovereign. The later supremacy of the Northern House, however, belonged to subsequent generations. [S01, S02]