Emperor Go-Kogon of Japan
Emperor Go-Kōgon (後光厳天皇) (lived 1338-1374) was the fourth of what are now called the northern Ashikaga pretenders to the the throne of Japan. Go-Kōgon was supported by the Ashikaga shogunate during a period when there were two rival imperial courts claiming the throne: Go-Kōgon's northern court and a southern court which opposed the shoguns. In 1392, the southern court emperor was defeated and abdicated in favor of Go-Kōgon's grandson, Go-Komatsu, ending the divide. Because they were the ancestors of all the subsequent emperors, the northern court was for centuries afterward officially described as the true imperial family. However, since 1911, the Japanese government has declared the southern claimants were actually the rightful emperors, making Suko officially a pretender.
Go-Kōgon was proclaimed emperor in 1351 when the previous northern court claimant, Go-Kōgon's brother Suko, abdicated in his favor. In 1371, Go-Kōgon himself abdicated nineteen years later in favor of his son Go-En'yū. Go-Kōgon's southern court rivals were Emperor Go-Murakami from 1351 to 1369, and Emperor Chōkei from 1369 to 1371.
