Empress Kōken

Empress Kōken (718–770), personal name Abe, was the 46th and 48th monarch of Japan, its only twice-reigning empress. A daughter of Emperor Shōmu, she succeeded her father in 749 and later abdicated for Junnin.

After crushing Fujiwara no Nakamaro's rebellion in 764, she deposed Junnin and retook the throne as Empress Shōtoku. Her second reign was dominated by the monk Dōkyō, whom she made Buddhist king; the 769 Usa oracle claiming Hachiman wanted him emperor was challenged by Wake no Kiyomaro. She died in 770.