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After the death of Saga-in in 842, reports surfaced of a planned coup by supporters of [[Prince Tsunesada|Crown Prince Tsunesada]], son of [[Emperor Junna]] and his queen-consort, [[Princess Masako]], later known as the [[Jowa Coup|Jôwa Coup]]. Those accused were sent into exile, including [[Tomo Kowamine|Tomo no Kowamine]] and [[Tachibana Hayanari|Tachibana no Hayanari]], and Prince Michiyasu became the new Crown Prince, eventually reigning as Emperor Montoku. There seems to have been little motive for Prince Tsunesada in this coup, and suspicion has since fallen on Michiyasu's uncle, Yoshifusa, as well as his grandmother, queen-mother [[Tachibana Kachiko|Tachibana no Kachiko]] (786-850). The resulting power vacuum left Yoshifusa the senior member of the Daijôkan. In 848, he was named Udaijin and began acting as the leader of the Council, despite the presence of [[Minamoto Tokiwa|Minamoto no Tokiwa]] as [[Sadaijin]] (Minister of the Left).  In 857 he was formally named Prime Minister. In addition to all of this, his daughter [[Fujiwara Akirakeiko|Akirakeiko]] was Montoku's queen-consort, allowing Yoshifusa a great deal of sway in the politics during Montoku's reign.

After the death of Saga-in in 842, reports surfaced of a planned coup by supporters of [[Prince Tsunesada|Crown Prince Tsunesada]], son of [[Emperor Junna]] and his queen-consort, [[Princess Masako]], later known as the [[Jowa Coup|Jôwa Coup]]. Those accused were sent into exile, including [[Tomo Kowamine|Tomo no Kowamine]] and [[Tachibana Hayanari|Tachibana no Hayanari]], and Prince Michiyasu became the new Crown Prince, eventually reigning as Emperor Montoku. There seems to have been little motive for Prince Tsunesada in this coup, and suspicion has since fallen on Michiyasu's uncle, Yoshifusa, as well as his grandmother, queen-mother [[Tachibana Kachiko|Tachibana no Kachiko]] (786-850). The resulting power vacuum left Yoshifusa the senior member of the Daijôkan. In 848, he was named Udaijin and began acting as the leader of the Council, despite the presence of [[Minamoto Tokiwa|Minamoto no Tokiwa]] as [[Sadaijin]] (Minister of the Left).  In 857 he was formally named Prime Minister. In addition to all of this, his daughter [[Fujiwara Akirakeiko|Akirakeiko]] was Montoku's queen-consort, allowing Yoshifusa a great deal of sway in the politics during Montoku's reign.

In 858, Montoku died. His successor was nine year old Korehito, later known as [[Emperor Seiwa]] (r. 856-876). Yoshifusa was designated as regent for the young Seiwa until he came of age. While the official term ''sesshô'' was not yet in use for the Imperial regent, this was effectively the office Yoshifusa now held. This regency should have ended in 864, but that was interrupted by the [[Otenmon Coup|Ôtenmon Coup]], when the Ôtenmon gate burned down. Arson was suspected, and [[Dainagon]]<ref>Need to confirm this</ref> (Senior Counselor) [[Tomo Yoshio|Tomo no Yoshio]] and Yoshifusa's son, Udaijin [[Fujiwara Yoshimi|Fujiwara no Yoshimi]] came under suspicion. Sadaijin [[Minamoto Makoto|Minamoto no Makoto]] was also suspected and agents were sent to arrest him. Yoshifusa, on learning about it, entered the royal presence and found that the agents were not sent by an imperial command. He freed Yoshio, Makoto, and others who had been arrested. Later, however, new accusations arose against Tomo no Yoshio and his son, [[Tomo Nakatsune|Nakatsune]], and their property was confiscated and they were sent into exile.

In 858, Montoku died. His successor was nine year old Korehito, later known as [[Emperor Seiwa]] (r. 856-876). Yoshifusa was designated as regent for the young Seiwa until he came of age. While the official term ''sesshô'' was not yet in use for the Imperial regent, this was effectively the office Yoshifusa now held. This regency should have ended in 864, but that was interrupted by the [[Otenmon Incident|Ôtenmon Incident]], when the Ôtenmon gate burned down. Arson was suspected, and [[Dainagon]]<ref>Need to confirm this</ref> (Senior Counselor) [[Tomo Yoshio|Tomo no Yoshio]] and Yoshifusa's son, Udaijin [[Fujiwara Yoshimi|Fujiwara no Yoshimi]] came under suspicion. Sadaijin [[Minamoto Makoto|Minamoto no Makoto]] was also suspected and agents were sent to arrest him. Yoshifusa, on learning about it, entered the royal presence and found that the agents were not sent by an imperial command. He freed Yoshio, Makoto, and others who had been arrested. Later, however, new accusations arose against Tomo no Yoshio and his son, [[Tomo Nakatsune|Nakatsune]], and their property was confiscated and they were sent into exile.

During this turbulent period, Seiwa ordered Yoshifusa to "carry out governance of the realm". He was given authority over the Daijôkan, authority that would later be codified in the office of ''kampaku''. Yoshifusa used this power to reign in independent-minded nobles.

During this turbulent period, Seiwa ordered Yoshifusa to "carry out governance of the realm". He was given authority over the Daijôkan, authority that would later be codified in the office of ''kampaku''. Yoshifusa used this power to reign in independent-minded nobles.