Emerald Champion
From L5r: Legend of the Five Rings
The Emerald Champion is the leader of the Emerald Magistrates and is responsible for the protection of the Emperor himself. Upon a vacancy in the post of Emerald Champion, the successor is decided by means of a tournament, to which samurai of all the clans are invited. While Kakita is traditionally considered to be the first Emerald Champion when he defeated Matsu, the post wasn't created until 153, with Doji Hatsuo the first official holder of the mantle.
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[edit] Succession
When the post of Emerald Champion becomes vacant upon the retirement or death of the previous Champion, a grand tournament is held to select the new Champion. The tournament is generally the same format as many others throughout Rokugan. First, the claimants to the position are given several written and verbal tests to ensure they have the legal knowledge necessary to be appointed the Chief Magistrate of the Empire. After that, a series of iaijutsu duels determine who is most fit to serve as the Emperor's Champion. The Emperor himself presides over the tournament. The new Emerald Champion is not severed from his clan and retains his original family name.[1][2][3]
[edit] The First Chosen Champion
Seppun Toshiken became the first (and to date only) Emerald Champion to be chosen directly by the Emperor Toturi I in 1132.[4] Shortly before his death, Emperor Toturi decided that a tournament should again decide who will succeed the ailing Seppun Toshiken as Emerald Champion, and ordered his son Hantei Naseru to begin with the preparations. The tournament took place even though the Emperor had died without a clear successor, and was won by Yasuki Hachi.
It should be noted that although Toshiken was the first Emerald Champion to be chosen directly, past Emperors have directly appointed Emerald Champions temporarily. The most notable example of this during the reign of Hantei III, when Emerald Champion Doji Kuzume refused to execute Togashi Kaze and committed seppuku. After Kuzume's death, the Emperor temporarily elevated Lion Clan Champion Matsu Noshin to the position and ordered him to execute Kaze, which he did.[5]
During the War Against the Shadow, another sucession crisis occured when Emerald Champion Kakita Toshimoko faked his death and disappeared, leaving the Emerald Magistrates without a leader. In Emperor Toturi's absence, a new tournament could not be called, so Shinjo Shirasu, himself a high-ranking Emerald Magistrate, took over as their leader for two years until Toturi's rescue. Shirasu, however, did not use the title of Emerald Champion.[6]
[edit] Emerald Champions of Rokugan
| Kakita | c.23 - c.43 |
| Kakita Shimizu | c.43 - ? |
| Doji Hatsuo | 153 - ? (first official champion) |
| Doji Kuzume | ? - 251 |
| Matsu Noshin | 251 - ? |
| Matsu Mochiko | ? - ? (5th century) |
| Doji Shioden | c.501 |
| Doji Komatsu | ? - ? (ca 6th century) |
| Doji Kukojin | ? - ? (6th century) |
| Doji Ryobu | c.815 |
| Doji Chuai | ? - ? |
| Doji Satsume | ? - 1123 |
| Kakita Toshimoko | 1127 - 1130 |
| Shinjo Shirasu | 1130 - 1132 (acting) |
| Seppun Toshiken | 1132 - 1158 |
| Yasuki Hachi | 1158 - 1168 |
| Shosuro Jimen | 1169 - current |
[edit] References
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