Site of Takamatsu Palace (Takamatsu-Dono)

Takamatsu Palace was built in 920 for Minamoto no Takaakira (914-982), the son of Emperor Daigo and Minister of the Left for Nishinomiya. The Shugaisho Encyclopedia records it as “Home of Imperial Prince Takaakira, North of Aneyakoji Street, East of Nishinotoin Avenue.”
Takaakira’s daughter Meishi lived here and was known as Takamatsu-dono (“Lady Takamatsu” or “Takamatsu Palace”). Later, she married Fujiwara no Michinaga. Their daughter Kanshi married the son of Emperor Sanjo, Koichijo-in, and they then lived here. However, records state that the mansion was burned down once in 1021 and then again a hundred years later in 1120.
In 1146, during the period when retired emperors exercised power behind the scenes, the palace was rebuilt by order of Retired Emperor Toba, and became the imperial palace for Emperor Konoe. Construction was entrusted to Minamoto no Moroyuki, who later became the Lord of the Treasury. In 1155, Emperor Goshirakawa was enthroned here and, renamed Takamatsu Imperial Palace, it served as the imperial residence until 1157.
During the Hogen Disturbance (1156), the palace functioned as the main base for Emperor Goshirakawa, with the rival forces of Retired Emperor Sutoku based at Shirakawakita Palace. Soldiers under Minamoto no Yoshitomo, Taira no Kiyomori and others gathered here before setting out to invade the Shirakawa district, in a famous episode of the Disturbance.
Later, in the Heiji Disturbance (1159), the palace was burned to the ground, but the guardian shrine inside the grounds, Takamatsu Myojin, survives to this day as the Takamatsu Shimmei-jinja Shrine.
Thus, this site played a major role in the politics and culture of the Heian period.
Kyoto City