Emperor Shirakawa vs Rothari

Shirakawa abdicated the throne but continued to rule from a monastery as a cloistered emperor, creating the Insei system. This allowed retired emperors to wield real political power, bypassing the Fujiwara regents and dominating court politics for decades.

Shirakawa forced his son Horikawa to succeed him, overriding Fujiwara preferences. This conflict solidified the cloistered emperor's control over succession and reduced Fujiwara influence, leading to decades of political tension.

Shirakawa appointed Taira no Masamori as military governor of Ise Province, elevating the Taira clan's status. This move strengthened the imperial court's military capacity and laid the foundation for the Taira's later rise to power.

Shirakawa sponsored the construction and renovation of numerous Buddhist temples, including the Hossho-ji and Ensho-ji. This patronage strengthened the imperial family's religious authority and influenced Heian-period Buddhist art and architecture.

Rothari became king of the Lombards after the death of King Arioald. He was a member of the Arodus dynasty and his reign marked a period of consolidation and legal reform for the Lombard Kingdom in Italy.

Rothari led military campaigns against Byzantine forces in the Po Valley, capturing several cities including Oderzo and Altino. These victories consolidated Lombard control over northern Italy and reduced Byzantine influence to the coastal areas of Ravenna and Venice.

Rothari conquered the Byzantine-held region of Liguria, including the city of Genoa. This expansion extended Lombard control over the northwestern coast of Italy and further weakened Byzantine power in the peninsula.

Rothari issued the Edict of Rothari, a written code of Lombard law. It was the first codification of Germanic customary law in Italy, written in Latin and covering criminal, civil, and family matters. The Edict helped unify the Lombard tribes and established a legal framework for the kingdom.

Some later sources claim Rothari converted to Catholicism, but this is disputed. He was originally an Arian Christian, and his Edict shows no clear shift in religious policy. The conversion of the Lombards to Catholicism occurred more fully under later kings.