Konoe Tadahiro

Prince Senior First Rank Konoe Tadahiro (近衛 忠熙; born 4 September 1808, died 18 March 1898) was a Japanese court noble during the late Edo period (1603–1868). He was a kugyō, a noble title assigned to high-ranking courtiers and aristocrats of the period, and held the position of regent (kampaku) from 1862 to 1863.

Konoe Tadahiro was the son of Motosaki. His marriage was to Shimazu Kyoko, an adopted daughter of Shimazu Narioki, the tenth head of the Satsuma Domain. They had at least two sons: Tadafusa and Atsumaro. Atsumaro was later adopted by Tadafusa as his son. Additionally, Konoe Tadahiro adopted Atsuhime, a daughter of Shimazu Nariakira from the Shimazu Imaizumi branch. Atsuhime changed her name to Fujiwara no Fumiko after her adoption, and she later became a consort of Tokugawa Iesada, adopting the name Tenshōin.

Following the Meiji Restoration, which began in 1868, Konoe Tadahiro was granted the title of prince, reflecting the changes in aristocratic titles and status during Japan’s transition to imperial rule.

Throughout his life, Konoe Tadahiro received several honors. He was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in March 1885. Later, on 26 September 1895, he received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers, one of the highest decorations awarded by the Japanese government.

His order of precedence progressed through several ranks during his lifetime. He was recognized as holding the senior fifth rank in 1816, then advanced to the fourth, third, and senior third ranks by the early 1820s. He attained the second rank by 1823 and the senior second rank by 1824. In 1834, he reached the first rank; however, he entered Buddhist orders and was subsequently restored to the first rank in 1862. Posthumously, in 1904, he was awarded the senior first rank.

References for his biography are available in Japanese records, including the article on the Konoe family (a prominent noble family in Japan), although specific details are primarily derived from historical texts and genealogical references.

(Note: This biography contains information collected up to 2023 and does not include subjective or evaluative language.)