Fujiwara no Michinaga

Fujiwara no Michinaga (966–1028) was the Heian statesman under whom Fujiwara power reached its height. After his brothers Michitaka and Michikane died in 995, he defeated his nephew Korechika in the struggle for power, rising from minister of the right to minister of the left by 996.

Though never kampaku, he ruled as the Mido Kampaku, marrying four daughters to Emperors Ichijō, Sanjō and Go-Ichijō and the future Go-Suzaku, and serving as sesshō from 1016. He yielded the regency to his son Yorimichi, took vows in 1019 and died in 1028.