Madenokoji Nobufusa (万里小路宣房)

Nobufusa MADENOKOJI (1258 - November 11, 1348) was a court noble during the Kamakura period to the period of the Northern and Southern Courts. His father was Sukemichi MADENOKOJI. His children were Fujifusa MADENOKOJI and Suefusa MADENOKOJI. He was initially named Michitoshi.

He worked during the reigns of Emperor Kameyama and Emperor Godaigo of Daikakuji-to (imperial lineage starting with Emperor Kameyama), and he was appointed Kurodo (Chamberlain) and promoted to Kurodo no to (Head Chamberlain) and Sangi (councillor). In 1324, during the Shochu Disturbance when the anti-shogunate plot by Emperor Godaigo was uncovered, he went to Kamakura himself to defend the emperor's action. Thereafter, he was promoted to Dainagon (chief councilor of state). During the Genko War, he was retained by Rokuhara Tandai (an administrative and judicial agency in Rokuhara, Kyoto), because his two sons were involved in the anti-shogunate movement.

After the fall of the Kamakura Bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun), he was promoted to Juichii (Junior First Rank) in the Kenmu Restoration, and then held responsibility as Tonin (the director) for Zasso-Ketsudansho (agency of Kenmu government to file lawsuits). This same year (1336) he was forced to join priesthood along with Tadaaki CHIGUSA. His son, Fujifusa, also was forced to retire for criticizing the system of rule by the Emperor. For this reason, when Takauji ASHIKAGA followed Emperor Godaigo, Nobufusa remained in Kyoto with the young bereaved child of Suefusa (Suefusa was killed at his place of exile during the fall of the Kamakura Bakufu). The Madenokoji family, which had held power in the Daikakuji-to for many years, became active as the Kuge of Jimyoin-to (imperial lineage from Emperor Gofukakusa to Emperor Gokomatsu) (the Northern Court).

He was called one of the 'Nochi no Sanbo (three attendants to Emperor with the word 'fusa' attached to their names)' along with other personal attendants to Emperor Godaigo, Chikafusa KITABATAKE and Sadafusa YOSHIDA. Nobufusa wrote a diary called "Madenokoji Ipponki," of which a fragment still remains. Leaving behind a diary was considered, at the time, a requirement for court nobles as a means of leaving behind a reference to duties to be performed by court nobles and for the descendants who would carry on the family name; therefore, his father, Sukemichi, who was given a leisurely post, did not write a diary. Therefore, duties of Kuge left in the Madenokoji family were written by Nobufusa, and he was respected as the head of the Madenokoji family.

History of Official Rank
February 22, 1271: Investiture as Jugoinoge (Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade)

May 7, 1274: Appointed to the post of Hyobushoyu (dupty minister of military arm)
May 9, 1274: Reassigned to the post of Hyobu Gonno Shobu (Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War)

March 12, 1277: Promoted to Jugoinojo (Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade); retained the post of Hyobu Gonno Shobu

March 15, 1279: Assumed the additional post of Echigo no Suke (Assistant Provincial Governor of Echigo)
December 5, 1279 Assumed the additional post of Hida no kami (Provincial Governor of Hida)
Resigned from his position as Echigo no suke.

May 4, 1283 Promoted to Shogoinoge (Senior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade); retained the post of Hyobu Gonno Shobu
Changed his name to Nobufusa.

October 11, 1298: Reassigned to the post of Togu (Imperial Prince Kuniharu, the future Emperor Gonijo) Gonno Daishin (Office Secretary)

July 11, 1299: Reassigned to the post of Togu-daishin (Senior official of the Crown Prince's Quarters)

March 10, 1301: Enthronement of the new Emperor (Emperor Gonijo)
Office of Togu was abolished in line with the Imperial succession of the Imperial Prince
The Togu-daishin system was abolished. May 21, 1301: Reassigned to the post of Kurodo (Chamberlain), which he held concurrently with the position of Hyobushoyu.

March 6, 1302: Reassigned to the post of Ushoben (Minor Controller of the Right)
Retained the post of Kurodo
September 28, 1302: Reassigned to the post of Gonno Uchuben (Provisional Middle Controller of the Right)
Retained the post of Kurodo
October 28, 1302: Promoted to Jushiinoge (Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade); retained the post of Gonno Uchuben
January 22, 1303: Promoted to Jushiinojo (Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade); retained the post of Gonno Uchuben
January 26, 1303: Assumed the additional post of Okurakyo (Minister of the Ministry of the Treasury)

April 10, 1305: Appointed Kurodo no to (Head Chamberlain)
Retained the post of Okurakyo
April 20, 1305 Assigned additional post of Gonno Uchuben
May 7, 1305: Assigned the additional post of Sachuben (Middle Controller of the Left)
Resigned from the post of Gonno Uchuben
May 21, 1305: Appointed Shuri sagujo shi (Secretary of the left Office of Palace Repairs)
December 21, 1305 Appointed Sangi
Retained the post of Okurakyo

February 26, 1306: Promoted to Shoshiinoge (Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade); retained the posts of Sangi and Okurakyo
May 21, 1306: Assumed the additional post of Izumo Gonno Kami (Provisional Provincial Governor of Izumo)
January 10, 1307: Assigned the additional post of danjo-daihitsu (senior assistant President of the Board of Censors)
January 24, 1307: Assigned the additional post of Sadaiben (Major Controller of the Left)
Resigned from the post of Sadaiben

April 12, 1307: Appointed Zo Todaiji Chokan (Director of Construction of Todai-ji Temple)
Retained the posts of Sangi, Okurakyo, Sadaiben, Danjo-daihitsu, and Izumo Gonno Kami
September 9, 1307: Resigned from the post of Okurakyo.
December 4, 1307: Resigned from the post of Danjo-daihitsu

November 8, 1308: Resigned from the post of Sangi
Retained the posts of Sadaiben and Izumo Gonno Kami
January 3, 1309: Promoted to Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank); retained the post of Izumo Gonno Kami

1310: Resigned from the post of Izumo Gonno Kami

May 11, 1318: Promoted to Shosanmi (Senior Third Rank)
January 3, 1319: Appointed Gon Chunagon (provisional vice-councilor of state)

April 8, 1319: Resigned from the post of Gon Chunagon
April 14, 1319: Promoted to Junii (Junior Second Rank)
Given formal permission to attend court
July 2, 1319: Appointed Dazai gon no sochi (Provisional Governor-General of the Dazai-fu offices)

January 28, 1322: Promoted to Shonii (Senior Second Rank); resigned from the post of Dazai gon no sochi
April 29, 1322: Reassigned to the post of Gon Chunagon

1324: Reassigned to the post of Gon Dainagon (provisioanl chief councilor of state)

March 31, 1326: Resigned from the post of Gon Dainagon

September 2, 1328: Transferred to the post of Gon Dainagon

August 2, 1329: Resigned from the post of Gon Dainagon

December 9, 1330: Reassigned to the post of Gon Dainagon

March 18, 1331: Reassigned to the post of Dainagon
October 5, 1331: Resigned from the post of Dainagon

July 7, 1333: Reassigned to the post of Dainagon

August 17, 1334: Resigned from the post of Dainagon and promoted to Juichii (Junior First Rank)

May 8, 1335: Reassigned to the post of Dainagon
August: Resigned from the post of Dainagon

February 1336: Joined Priesthood

[Original Japanese]