Podcasts about Crown prince

We went in hard on this one… you're getting a 2 for 1. A live spectacular on Kaiser Wilhelm II and his mother Empress Frederick AND some musings from us afterwards because we couldn't get enough of this German/British collab that ended, well… terribly.Follow Vicky, daughter of Queen Victoria and liberal reformer Prince Albert, as she dives into the absolute viper's nest that was the 19th Century court of Prussia ruled over by the Hohenzollerns. She's got a gorgeous, kind husband, representing the hopes of German reformers. But first born Kaiser Wilhelm will fall terribly far from the tree and ruin a lot.If you get to the end, you will be rewarded with the scandal of how Empress Frederick was possibly buried  and the traditional British cure for cancer… smiling at it. (Sorry that some of the sound goes up and down and that you can occasionally Pip fanning herself dramatically. It was hot)++++++  

The last time Yamato was heavily involved on the continent, they were defeated militarily, and they returned to fortify their islands.  So how are things looking, now? This episode we will talk about some of what has been going on with Tang and Silla, but also touch on the Mishihase, the Hayato, the people of Tamna and Tanegashima, and more! For more information and references, check out:  https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-140   Rough Transcript   Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is episode 140: Improving Diplomatic Ties Garyang Jyeongsan and Gim Hongsye looked out from the deck of their ship, tossing and turning in the sea.  The waves were high, and the winds lashed at the ship, which rocked uncomfortably beneath their feet.  Ocean spray struck them from below while rain pelted from above. Through the torrential and unstable conditions, they looked out for their sister ship.  It was their job to escort them, but in these rough seas, bobbing up and down, they were at the mercy of the elements.  One minute they could see them, and then next it was nothing but a wall of water.  Each time they caught a glimpse the other ship seemed further and further away.  They tried calling out, but it was no use—even if they could normally have raised them, the fierce winds simply carried their voices out into the watery void.  Eventually, they lost sight of them altogether. When the winds died down and the seas settled, they looked for their companions, but they saw nothing, not even hints of wreckage on the ocean.  They could only hope that their fellow pilots knew where they were going.  As long as they could still sail, they should be able to make it to land—either to the islands  to which they were headed, or back to the safety of the peninsula. And so the escort ship continued on, even without a formal envoy to escort.  They would hope for the best, or else they would explain what would happen,  and hope that the Yamato court would understand. The seas were anything but predictable, and diplomacy was certainly not for the faint of heart.   We are going through the period of the reign of Ohoama, aka Temmu Tennou.  It started in 672, with the death of his brother, Naka no Oe, remembered as the sovereign Tenji Tenno, when Temmu took the throne from his nephew, Ohotomo, aka Kobun Tenno, in what would become known as the Jinshin no Ran.  From that point, Ohoama continued the work of his brother in creating a government based on a continental model of laws and punishments—the Ritsuryo system.  He accomplished this with assistance from his wife, Uno, and other members of the royal family—his own sons, but also nephews and other princes of the time.  And so far most of our focus has been on the local goings on within the archipelago. However, there was still plenty going on in the rest of the world, and though Yamato's focus may have been on more local affairs, it was still engaged with the rest of the world—or at least with the polities of the Korean Peninsula and the Tang Dynasty.  This episode we are going to look at Yamato's foreign relations, and how they were changing, especially as things changed on the continent. Up to this point, much of what had been happening in Yamato had been heavily influenced by the mainland in one way or another.  And to begin our discussion, we really should backtrack a bit—all the way to the Battle of Baekgang in 663, which we discussed in Episode 124.  That defeat would lead to the fall of Baekje, at the hands of the Silla-Tang alliance.  The loss of their ally on the peninsula sent Yamato into a flurry of defensive activity.  They erected fortresses on Tsushima, Kyushu, and along the Seto Inland Sea.  They also moved the capital up to Ohotsu, a more easily defended point on the shores of Lake Biwa, and likewise reinforced various strategic points in the Home Provinces as well.  These fortresses were built in the style and under the direction of many of the Baekje refugees now resettled in Yamato. For years, the archipelago braced for an invasion by the Silla-Tang alliance.  After all, with all that Yamato had done to support Baekje, it only made sense, from their perspective, for Silla and Tang to next come after them.  Sure, there was still Goguryeo, but with the death of Yeon Gaesomun, Goguryeo would not last that long.  With a unified peninsula, then why wouldn't they next look to the archipelago? And yet, the attack never came.  While Yamato was building up its defenses, it seems that the alliance between Silla and Tang was not quite as strong as their victories on the battlefield may have made it seem.  This is hardly surprising—the Tang and Silla were hardly operating on the same scale.  That said, the Tang's immense size, while bringing it great resources, also meant that it had an extremely large border to defend.  They often utilized alliances with other states to achieve their ends.  In fact, it seems fairly common for the Tang to seek alliances with states just beyond their borders against those states that were directly on their borders.  In other words, they would effectively create a pincer maneuver by befriending the enemy of their enemy.  Of course.  Once they had defeated said enemy well, wouldn't you know it, their former ally was now their newest bordering state. In the case of the Silla-Tang alliance, it appears that at the start of the alliance, back in the days of Tang Taizong, the agreement, at least from Silla's perspective, was that they would help each other against Goguryeo and Baekje, and then the Tang dynasty would leave the Korean peninsula to Silla.  However, things didn't go quite that smoothly.  The fighting against Goguryeo and Baekje can be traced back to the 640s, but Tang Taizong passed away in 649, leaving the throne to his heir, Tang Gaozong.  The Tang forces eventually helped Silla to take Baekje after the battle of Baekgang River in 663, and then Goguryeo fell in 668, but the Tang forces didn't leave the peninsula.  They remained in the former territories of Baekje and in Goguryeo, despite any former agreements.  Ostensibly they were no doubt pointing to the continuing revolts and rebellions in both regions.  While neither kingdom would fully reassert itself, it didn't mean that there weren't those who were trying.  In fact, the first revolt in Goguryeo was in 669.  There was also a revolt each year until 673.  The last one had some staying power, as the Goguryeo rebels continued to hold out for about four years. It is probably worth reminding ourselves that the Tang dynasty, during this time, had reached out on several occasions to Yamato, sending diplomatic missions, as had Silla.  While the Yamato court may have been preparing for a Tang invasion, the Tang perspective seems different.  They were preoccupied with the various revolts going on, and they had other problems.  On their western border, they were having to contend with the kingdom of Tibet, for example.  The Tibetan kingdom had a powerful influence on the southern route around the Taklamakan desert, which abuts the Tibetan plateau.   The Tang court would have had to divert resources to defend their holdings in the western regions, and it is unlikely that they had any immediate designs on the archipelago, which I suspect was considered something of a backwater to them, at the time.  In fact, Yamato would have been much more useful to the Tang as an ally to help maintain some pressure against Silla, with whom their relationship, no longer directed at a common enemy, was becoming somewhat tense. In fact, just before Ohoama came to the throne, several events had occurred that would affect the Silla-Tang alliance. The first event is more indirect—in 670, the Tibetan kingdom attacked the Tang empire.  The fighting was intense, and required serious resources from both sides.  Eventually the Tibetan forces were victorious, but not without a heavy toll on the Tibetan kingdom, which some attribute to the latter's eventual demise.  Their pyrrhic victory, however, was a defeat for the Tang, who also lost troops and resources in the fighting.  Then, in 671, the Tang empire would suffer another loss as Silla would drive the Tang forces out of the territory of the former kingdom of Baekje. With the Baekje territory under their control, it appears that Silla was also working to encourage some of rebellions in Goguryeo.  This more than irked the Tang court, currently under the formal control of Tang Gaozong and the informal—but quite considerable—control of his wife, Wu Zetian, who some claim was the one actually calling most of the shots in the court at this point in time.  Silla encouragement of restoration efforts in Goguryeo reached the Tang court in 674, in and in 675 we see that the Tang forces were sent to take back their foothold in the former Baekje territory.  Tang defeated Silla at Gyeonggi, and Silla's king, Munmu, sent a tribute mission to the Tang court, apologizing for their past behavior. However, the Tang control could not be maintained, as they had to once again withdraw most of their troops from the peninsula to send them against the Tibetan kingdom once more.  As soon as they did so, Silla once again renewed their attacks on Tang forces on the peninsula.  And so, a year later, in 676, the Tang forces were back.  They crossed the Yellow Sea to try and take back the Tang territories on the lower peninsula, but they were unsuccessful.  Tang forces were defeated by Silla at Maeso Fortress in modern day Yeoncheon.  After a bit more fighting, Silla ended up in control of all territory south of the Taedong River, which runs through Pyongyang, one of the ancient capitals of Goguryeo and the capital of modern North Korea.  This meant that the Tang dynasty still held much of the territory of Goguryeo under their control. With everything that was going on, perhaps that explains some of the apparently defensive measures that Yamato continued to take.  For example, the second lunar month of 675, we know that Ohoama proceeded to Takayasu castle, likely as a kind of formal inspection.  Then, in the 10th lunar month of 675 Ohoama commanded that everyone from the Princes down to the lowest rank were to provide the government with weapons.  A year later, in the 9th month of 676, the Princes and Ministers sent agents to the capital and the Home Provinces and gave out weapons to each man.  Similar edicts would be issued throughout the reign.  So in 679 the court announced that in two years time, which is to say the year 681, there would be a review of the weapons and horses belonging to the Princes of the Blood, Ministers, and any public functionaries.  And in that same year, barrier were erected for the first time on Mt. Tatsta and Mt. Afusaka, along with an outer line of fortifications at Naniwa. While some of that no doubt also helped to control internal movements, it also would have been useful to prepare for the possibility of future invasions.  And the work continued.  In 683  we see a royal command to all of the various provinces to engage in military training.  And in 684 it was decreed at that there would be an inspection in the 9th month of the following year—685—and they laid out the ceremonial rules, such as who would stand where, what the official clothing was to look like, etc.  Furthermore, there was also an edict that all civil and military officials should practice the use of arms and riding horses.  They were expected to supply their own horses, weapons, and anything they would wear into battle. If they owned horses, they would be considered cavalry soldiers, while those who did not have their own horse would be trained as infantry.  Either way, they would each receive training, and the court was determined to remove any obstacles and excuses that might arise.   Anyone who didn't comply would be punished.  Non compliance could mean refusing to train, but it could also just mean that they did not provide the proper horses or equipment, or they let their equipment fall into a state of disrepair.  Punishments could range from fines to outright flogging, should they be found guilty.  On the other hand, those who practiced well would have any punishments against them for other crimes reduced by two degrees, even if it was for a capital crime.  This only applied to previous crimes, however—if it seemed like you were trying to take advantage of this as a loophole to be able to get away with doing your own thing than the pardon itself would be considered null and void. A year later, the aforementioned inspection was carried out by Princes Miyatokoro, Hirose, Naniwa, Takeda, and Mino.  Two months later, the court issued another edict demanding that military equipment—specifically objects such as large or small horns, drums, flutes, flags, large bows, or catapults—should be stored at the government district house and not kept in private arsenals.  The "large bow" in this case may be something like a ballista, though Aston translates it to crossbow—unfortunately, it isn't exactly clear, and we don't necessarily have a plethora of extant examples to point to regarding what they meant.  Still, these seem to be focused on things that would be used by armies—especially the banners, large bows, and catapults.  The musical instruments may seem odd, though music was often an important part of Tang dynasty military maneuvers.  It was used to coordinate troops, raise morale, provide a marching rhythm, and more.  Granted, much of this feels like something more continental, and it is unclear if music was regularly used in the archipelago.  This could be more of Yamato trying to emulate the Tang dynasty rather than something that was commonplace on the archipelago.  That might also explain the reference to the Ohoyumi and the catapults, or rock throwers. All of this language having to do with military preparations could just be more of the same as far as the Sinicization of the Yamato government is concerned; attempts to further emulate what they understood of the civilized governments on the mainland—or at least their conception of those governments based on the various written works that they had imported.  Still, I think it is relevant that there was a lot of uncertainty regarding the position of various polities and the potential for conflict.  Each year could bring new changes to the political dynamic that could see military intervention make its way across the straits.  And of course, there was always the possibility that Yamato itself might decide to raise a force of its own. Throughout all of this, there was continued contact with the peninsula and other lands.  Of course, Silla and Goguryeo were both represented when Ohoama came to the throne—though only the Silla ambassador made it to the ceremony, apparently.  In the 7th lunar month of 675, Ohotomo no Muraji no Kunimaro was sent to Silla as the Chief envoy, along with Miyake no Kishi no Irishi.  They likely got a chance to witness first-hand the tensions between Silla and the Tang court.  The mission would return in the second lunar month of the following year, 676.  Eight months later, Mononobe no Muarji no Maro and Yamashiro no Atahe no Momotari were both sent.  That embassy also returned in the 2nd lunar month of the following year. Meanwhile, it wasn't just Yamato traveling to Silla—there were also envoys coming the other way.  For example, in the 2nd lunar month of 675 we are told that Silla sent Prince Chyungweon as an ambassador.  His retinue was apparently detained on Tsukushi while the actual envoy team went on to the Yamato capital.  It took them about two months to get there, and then they stayed until the 8th lunar month, so about four months in total. At the same time, in the third month, Goguryeo and Silla both sent "tribute" to Yamato.  And in the 8th month, Prince Kumaki, from Tamna, arrived at Tsukushi as well.  Tamna, as you may recall, refers to nation on the island known today as Jeju.  The late Alexander Vovin suggested that the name originated from a proto-Japonic cognate with "Tanimura", and many of the names seem to also bear out a possible Japonic influence on the island nation. Although they only somewhat recently show up in the Chronicles from our perspective, archaeological evidence suggests that they had trade with Yayoi Japan and Baekje since at least the first century.  With the fall of Baekje, and the expansion of Yamato authority to more of the archipelago, we've seen a notable uptick in the communication between Tamna and Yamato noted in the record.  A month after the arrival of Prince Kumaki in Tsukushi, aka Kyushu, it is noted that a Prince Koyo of Tamna arrived at Naniwa.  The Tamna guests would stick around for almost a year, during which time they were presented with a ship and eventually returned in the 7th lunar month of the following year, 676.   Tamna envoys, who had also shown up in 673, continued to be an annual presence at the Yamato court through the year 679, after which there is an apparent break in contact, picking back up in 684 and 685. 676 also saw a continuation of Silla representatives coming to the Yamato court, arriving in the 11th lunar month.  That means they probably passed by the Yamato envoys heading the other way.  Silla, under King Mumnu, now had complete control of the Korean peninsula south of the Taedong river.  In the same month we also see another mission from Goguryeo, but the Chronicle also points out that the Goguryeo envoys had a Silla escort, indicating the alliance between Silla and those attempting to restore Goguryeo—or at least the area of Goguryeo under Tang control.  The Tang, for their part, had pulled back their commandary to Liaodong, just west of the modern border between China and North Korea, today.  Goguryeo would not go quietly, and the people of that ancient kingdom—one of the oldest on the peninsula—would continue to rise up and assert their independence for years to come. The chronicles also record envoys from the somewhat mysterious northern Mishihase, or Sushen, thought to be people of the Okhotsk Sea culture from the Sakhalin islands.  There were 11 of them, and they came with the Silla envoys, possibly indicating their influence on the continent and through the Amur river region.  Previously, most of the contact had been through the regions of Koshi and the Emishi in modern Tohoku and Hokkaido.  This seems to be their only major envoy to the Yamato court recorded in this reign. Speaking of outside groups, in the 2nd lunar month of 677 we are told that there was an entertainment given to men of Tanegashima under the famous Tsuki tree west of Asukadera.  Many people may know Tanegashima from the role it played in the Sengoku Period, when Europeans made contact and Tanegashima became a major hub of Sengoku era firearm manufacturing.  At this point, however, it seems that it was still a largely independent island in the archipelago off the southern coast of Kyushu.  Even southern Kyushu appears to have retained some significant cultural differences at this time, with the "Hayato" people being referenced in regards to southern Kyushu—we'll talk about them in a bit as they showed up at the capital in 682.  Tanegashima is actually closer to Yakushima, another island considered to be separate, culturally, from Yamato, and could be considered the start of the chain of islands leading south to Amami Ohoshima and the other Ryukyuan islands.  That said, Tanegashima and Yakushima are much closer to the main islands of the archipelago and show considerable influence, including Yayoi and Kofun cultural artifacts, connecting them more closely to those cultures, even if Yamato initially saw them as distinct in some way. A formal Yamato envoy would head down to Tanegashima two years later, in the 11th lunar month of 679.  It was headed up by Yamato no Umakahibe no Miyatsuko no Tsura and Kami no Sukuri no Koukan.  The next reference to the mission comes in 681, when the envoys returned and presented a map of the island.  They claimed that it was in the middle of the ocean, and that rice was always abundant. With a single sowing of rice it was said that they could get two harvests.  Other products specifically mentioned were cape jasmine and bulrushes, though they then note that there were also many other products that they didn't bother to list.  This must have been considered quite the success, as the Yamato envoys were each awarded a grade of rank for their efforts.   They also appear to have returned with some of the locals, as they were entertained again in Asuka—this time on the riverbank west of Asukadera, where various kinds of music were performed for them. Tanegashima and Yakushima would be brought formally under Yamato hegemony in 702 with the creation of Tane province, but for now it was still considered separate.  This was probably just the first part of the efforts to bring them into Yamato, proper. Getting back to the Silla envoys who had arrived in 676, they appear to have remained for several months.  In the third lunar month of 677 we are told that they, along with guests of lower rank—thirteen persons all told—were invited to the capital.  Meanwhile, the escort envoys and others who had not been invited to the capital were entertained in Tsukushi and returned from there. While this was going on, weather out in the straits drove a Silla boat to the island of Chikashima.  Aboard was a Silla man accompanined by three attendants and three Buddhist priests.  We aren't told where they were going, but they were given shelter and when the Silla envoy, Kim Chyeonpyeong, returned home he left with those who had been driven ashore, as well. The following year, 678, was not a great one for the Silla envoys.  Garyang Jyeongsan and Gim Hongsye arrived at Tsukushi, but they were just the escorts.  The actual envoys had been separated by a storm at sea and never arrived.  In their place, the escort envoys were sent to the capital, probably to at least carry through with the rituals of diplomacy.  This was in the first month of the following year, 679, and given when envoys had previously arrived, it suggests to me that they waited a few months, probably to see if the envoys' ship eventually appeared and to give the court time to figure out what to do.  A month later, the Goguryeo envoys arrived, still being accompanied by Silla escorts, also arrived. Fortunately the Yamato envoys to Silla and elsewhere fared better.  That year, 679, the envoys returned successfully from Silla, Goguryeo, and Tamna.  Overall, though, I think it demonstrates that this wasn't just a pleasure cruise.  There was a very real possibility that one could get lost at sea.  At the same time, one needed people of sufficient status to be able to carry diplomatic messages and appropriately represent the court in foreign lands.  We often seen envoys later taking on greater positions of responsibility in the court, and so you didn't have to go far to find those willing to take the risk for later rewards. That same year, another tribute mission from Silla did manage to make the crossing successfully.  And in this mission we are given more details, for they brought gold, silver, iron, sacrificial cauldrons with three feet, brocade, cloth, hides, horses, dogs, mules, and camels.  And those were just the official gifts to the court.  Silla also sent distinct presents for the sovereign, the queen, and the crown prince, namely gold, silver, swords, flags, and things of that nature. This appears to demonstrate increasingly close ties between Silla and Yamato. All of that arrived in the 10th lunar month of 679, and they stayed through the 6th lunar month of 680—about 7 to 9 months all told, depending on if there were any intercalary months that year.  In addition to entertaining the Silla envoys in Tsukushi—it is not mentioned if they made it to the capital—we are also told that in the 2nd lunar month, halfway through the envoys' visit, eight labourers from Silla were sent back to their own country with gifts appropriate to their station. Here I have to pause and wonder what exactly is meant by this.  "Labourer" seems somewhat innocuous.  I suspect that their presence in Yamato may have been less than voluntary, and I wonder if these were captured prisoners of war who could have been in Yamato now for over a decade.  If so, this could have been a gesture indicating that the two sides were putting all of that nastiness with Baekje behind them, and Yamato was accepting Silla's new role on the peninsula.  Or maybe I'm reading too much into it, but it does seem to imply that Silla and Yamato were growing closer, something that Yamato would need if it wanted to have easy access, again, to the wider world. Speaking of returning people, that seems to have been something of a common thread for this year, 680, as another mission from Goguryeo saw 19 Goguryeo men also returned to their country.  These were condolence envoys who had come to mourn the death of Takara Hime—aka Saimei Tennou.  They must have arrived in the midst of all that was happening peninsula, and as such they were detained.  Their detention is somewhat interesting, when you think about it, since technically Baekje and Goguryeo—and thus Yamato—would have been on the same side against the Silla-Tang alliance.  But perhaps it was just considered too dangerous to send them home, initially, and then the Tang had taken control of their home.  It is unclear to me how much they were being held by Yamato and how much they were just men without a country for a time.  This may reflect how things on the mainland were stabilizing again, at least from Yamato's perspective.  However, as we'll discuss a bit later, it may have also been another attempt at restoring the Goguryeo kingdom by bringing back refugees, especially if they had connections with the old court.  The Goguryeo envoys—both the recent mission and those who had been detained—would remain until the 5th lunar month of 681, when they finally took their leave.  That year, there were numerous mission both from and to Silla and Goguryeo, and in the latter part of the year, Gim Chyungpyeong came once again, once more bearing gives of gold, silver, copper, iron, brocade, thin silk, deerskins, and fine cloth.  They also brought gold, silver, flags of a rosy-colored brocade and skins for the sovereign, his queen, and the crown prince. That said, the 681 envoys also brought grave news:  King Munmu of Silla was dead.  Munmu had reigned since 661, so he had overseen the conquest of Silla and Goguryeo.  His regnal name in Japanese might be read as Monmu, or even "Bunbu", referencing the blending of literary and cultural achievements seen as the pinnacle of noble attainment.  He is known as Munmu the Great for unifying the peninsula under a single ruler—though much of the Goguryeo territory was still out of reach.  Indeed he saw warfare and the betterment of his people, and it is no doubt significant that his death is recorded in the official records of the archipelago.   He was succeeded by his son, who would reign as King Sinmun, though the succession wasn't exactly smooth. We are told that Munmu, knowing his time was short, requested that his son, the Crown Prince, be named king before they attended to Munmu's own funerary arrangements, claiming that the throne should not sit vacant.  This may have been prescient, as the same year Munmu died and Sinmun ascended to the throne there was a revolt, led by none other than Sinmun's own father-in-law, Kim Heumdol.  Heumdol may, himselve, have been more of a figurehead for other political factions in the court and military.  Nonetheless, the attempted coup of 681 was quickly put down—the envoys in Yamato would likely only learn about everything after the dust had settled upon their return. The following year, 682, we see another interesting note about kings, this time in regards to the Goguryeo envoys, whom we are told were sent by the King of Goguryeo.  Ever since moving the commandery to Liaodong, the Tang empire had claimed dominion over the lands of Goguryeo north of the Taedong river.  Originally they had administered it militarily, but in 677 they crowned a local, Bojang as the "King of Joseon", using the old name for the region, and put him in charge of the Liaodong commandery.  However, he was removed in 681, and sent into exile in Sichuan, because rather than suppressing revolt, he had actually encouraged restoration attempts, inviting back Goguryeo refugees, like those who had been detained in Yamato.  Although Bojang himself was sent into exile, his descendants continued to claim sovereignty, so it may have been one of them that was making the claim to the "King of Goguryeo", possibly with Silla's blessing. Later that year, 682, we see Hayato from Ohosumi and Ata—possibly meaning Satsuma—the southernmost point of Kyushu coming to the court in 682.  They brought tribute and representatives of Ohosumi and Ata wrestled, with the Ohosumi wrestler emerging victorious.  They were entertained west of Asukadera, and various kinds of music was performed and gifts were given. They were apparently quite the sight, as Buddhist priests and laiety all came out to watch. Little is known for certain about the Hayato.  We have shields that are attributed to them, but their association may have more to do with the fact that they were employed as ceremonial guards for a time at the palace.  We do know that Southern Kyushu had various groups that were seen as culturally distinct from Yamato, although there is a lot of overlap in material culture.  We also see early reports of the Kumaso, possibly two different groups, the Kuma and So, in earlier records, and the relationship between the Kumaso and the Hayato is not clearly defined. What we do know is that southern Kyushu, for all that it shared with Yamato certain aspects of culture through the kofun period, for example, they also had their own traditions. For example, there is a particular burial tradition of underground kofun that is distinct to southern Kyushu.  A great example of this can be found at the Saitobaru Kofun cluster in Miyazaki, which contains these unique southern Kyushu style burials along with more Yamato style keyhole shaped and circular type kofun.  Miyazaki sits just north of the Ohosumi peninsula, in what was formerly the land of Hyuga, aka  Himuka.  This is also where a lot of the founding stories of the Heavenly grandchild were placed, and even today there is a shrine there to the Heavenly Rock Cave.  In other words there are a lot of connections with Southern Kyushu, and given that the Chronicles were being written in the later 7th and early 8th centuries, it is an area of intense interest when trying to understand the origins of Yamato and Japanese history. Unfortunately, nothing clearly tells us exactly how the Hayato were separate, but in the coming century they would both come under Yamato hegemony and rebel against it, time and again.  This isn't the first time they are mentioned, but it may be the first time that we see them as an actual people, in a factual entry as earlier references in the Chronicles are suspect. Continuing on with our look at diplomacy during this period, the year 683 we see a continuation of the same patterns, with nothing too out of the ordinary.  Same with most of 684 until the 12th lunar month.  It is then that we see a Silla ship arrive with Hashi no Sukune no Wohi and Shirawi no Fubito no Hozen.  They had both, previously been to the Tang empire to study, though we don't have a record of them leaving for that or any other purpose.  They are accompanied by Witsukahi no Muraji no Kobito and Tsukushi no Miyake no Muraji no Tokuko, both of whom had apparently been captured and taken by the Tang dynasty during the Baekje campaign.  Apparently they had all traveled back from the Tang empire together to Silla, who then provided them passage to Yamato. The timing of this suggests it may have had something to do with the changes going on in the Tang empire—changes that I desperately want to get into, but given that we are already a good ways into this current episode, I think I will leave it for later.  But I will note this:  Emperor Gaozong had passed away and his wife, Empress Wu Zetian, was now ruling as regent for her sons.  Wu Zetian is probably the most famous empress in all of Chinese history, and while she held de facto power as a co-regent during her husband's reign and as a regent during her sons' reigns, she would actually ascend the throne herself in 690.  Her reign as a woman during a time of heightened patriarchal tradition is particularly of note, and it leads us to wonder about the vilification that she received by the men who followed her rule.  And I really want to get into all of that but, thematically, I think it better to wait.  Those of you reading ahead in the syllabus—which is to say the Chronicles—probably know why.  So let us just leave it there and say that the Tang was going through a few things, and that may explain why students were returning back in the company of former war captives. A few months later, the Silla escort, Gim Mulyu, was sent home along with 7 people from Silla who had been washed ashore—presumably during a storm or other such event, again illustrating the dangers of taking to the ocean at this time.  Perhaps related to that theme is the entry only a month later, which merely stated that Gim Jusan of Silla returned home.  Gim Jusan was an envoy sent to Yamato in the 11th lunar month of 683.  He was entertained in Tsukushi, and we are told that he returned to his own country on the 3rd month of 684.  Now we are seeing an entry in the 4th month of 685 that this same person apparently returned home. It is possible that something got mixed up, and that the Chroniclers were dealing with a typo in the records that made it seem like this took place a year later than it did.  This was certainly an issue at this time, given all the math one had to do just to figure out what day it was.  There is also the possibility that he returned on another embassy, but just wasn't mentioned for some reason.  The last possible explanation is that he somehow got lost and it took him a year to find his way back.  Not entirely impossible back then, though I am a bit skeptical.  Among other things, why would that note have found its way into the Chronicles in Yamato?  While they were certainly using some continental sources, this seems like something they were talking about as far as him leaving the archipelago, rather than discussion of something happening elsewhere. Speaking of happening elsewhere, I'm wondering about another event that happened around this time as well.  In fact, it was while Gim Mulyu was still in the archipelago.  For some reason the Yamato court granted rank to 147 individuals from Tang, Baekje, and Goguryeo.  Interestingly, they don't mention Silla.  Furthermore, there is no real mention of any Tang envoys during this reign.  In fact, there is hardly mention of the Tang dynasty at all.  There is a mention of some 30 Tang men—captives, presumably—being sent to the Yamato court from Tsukushi.  Those men were settled in Toutoumi, so there were men of Tang in the archipelago.  But beyond that, there are only three other mentions of the Tang dynasty.  One was when the students and war captives came back.  Another was this note about giving rank to 147 individuals.  Finally there is a similar record in 686, at the very end of the reign, where it is 34 persons who were given rank.  This time it was to carpenters, diviners, physicians, students from Tang—possibly those who had just come back a year or so earlier.  So if there weren't envoys from Tang, Goguryeo, and Baekje, who were these people and why were they being granted Yamato court rank?  My assumption is that it was foreigners living in the archipelago, and being incorporated into the Yamato court system.  Still, it is interesting that after the overtures by the Tang in the previous reign we have heard virtually nothing since then.  Again, that is likely largely due to the conflicts between Tang and Silla, though now, things seem to be changing.  The conflicts have settled down, and new rulers are in place, so we'll see how things go. Speaking of which, let's finish up with the diplomatic exchanges in this reign.  I'm only hitting some of the highlights here.  First is the return from Silla, in the 5th month of 685, of Takamuku no Asomi no Maro and Tsuno no Asomi no Ushikahi.  They had traveled to Silla in 684, and they did not come back emptyhanded.  The new King of Silla presented them with gifts, including 2 horses, 3 dogs, 2 parrots, and 2 magpies.  They also brought back the novice monks Kanjou and Ryoukan.  Not bad, overall. Then, 6 months later, another tribute mission came, but this one has an interesting—if somewhat questionable—note attached to it.  It is said that the envoys Gim Jisyang and Gim Geonhun were sent to request "governance" and to bring tribute.  This certainly go the court's attention.  They didn't bring the envoys all the way to the capital, but they did send to them, in Tsukushi, Prince Kawachi, Ohotomo no Sukune no Yasumaro, Fujiwara no Asomi no Ohoshima, and Hodzumi no Asomi no Mushimaro. About three months later they send the musical performers from Kawaradera to provide entertainment during a banquet for the Silla envoy, and in payment some 5,000 bundles of rice rom the private lands attached to the queen's palace were granted to the temple in gratitude. The Silla tribute was then brought to the capital from Tsukushi.  This time it was more than 100 items, including one fine horse, one mule, two dogs, a gold container inlaid with some kind of design, gold, silver, faint brocade, silk gauze, tiger and leopard skins, and a variety of medicines.  In addition, as was now common, the envoys, Gim Jisyang and Gim Geonhun, apparently had personal gifts to give in the form of gold, silver, faint brocade, silk gauze, gold containers, screens, saddle hides, silk cloth, and more medicine.  There were also gifts specifically for the sovereign, the queen, the Crown Prince, and for the various princes of the blood. The court returned this favor with gifts to the envoys, presented at a banquet just for them, before sending them on their way. A couple of notes.  First off, it is interesting that they are entertained at Tsukushi rather than being invited to the capital, and I wonder if this was because the sovereign, Ohoama, wasn't doing so well.  This was all happening in 685 and 686, and the sovereign would pass away shortly afterwards.  So it is possible that Ohoama just was not up to entertaining visitors at this time.  Of course, the Chronicles often don't tell us exactly why a given decision was made, only that it was.  And sometimes not even that. The other thing that seems curious is the mention of a request for governance.  That almost sounds like Silla was asking to come under Yamato hegemony, which I seriously doubt.  It may be that they were asking something along the lines of an alliance, but it is also possible that the scribes recording things for Yamato heard what they wanted to hear and so wrote it down in the light most favorable to Yamato laying claim to the peninsula. Or perhaps I'm misunderstanding exactly what they were asking for.  Maybe "governance" here means something else—perhaps just some kind of better relationship. And with that, we'll leave it for now.  There is more developing in the next reign, but I think we want to wait until we get there.  There are still a lot more things to cover in this reign before we move on—we haven't even touched on the establishment of the new capital, on the various court events, not to mention some of the laws and punishments that this period is named for.  And there is the minor issue of a rebellion.  All of that will be dealt with.  And then, after that, we get to the final reign of the Chronicles: the reign of Jitou Tennou.  From there?  Who knows. It is the winter holiday season, so I hope everyone is enjoying themselves.  Next episode will be the New Year's recap, and then we should finish with this reign probably in January or early February. Until then, if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.

Cristiano Ronaldo BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Cristiano Ronaldo has been commanding headlines over the past few days with multiple significant developments. On December first, the Portuguese superstar achieved a historic milestone by scoring his nine hundred fifty-fourth career goal, breaking the all-time record and setting the internet ablaze with celebrations from Portugal to Saudi Arabia and beyond.Just weeks earlier in mid-November, Ronaldo made a high-profile diplomatic appearance at a White House dinner on November nineteenth alongside Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince. The formal photo from the Oval Office with former U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, posted with his fiancée Georgina Rodríguez, became a cultural moment on social media. The post garnered twenty-six point nine million likes and marked a significant brand elevation for the football icon, positioning him as a global statesman while seamlessly weaving his personal narrative into a high-diplomacy context.On the personal front, wedding bells are ringing. Reports from Jornal da Madeira confirm that Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez plan to marry this coming summer in Madeira, once the World Cup concludes. The couple has selected the Cathedral of Funchal as their venue, a temple more than five hundred years old that sits less than two miles from the hospital where Ronaldo was born. The choice carries profound symbolism for the Portuguese legend who has carried his island's name around the world.Ronaldo and Rodríguez met in two thousand sixteen in Madrid when she was working at a Gucci store and he played for Real Madrid. Together they have two daughters, Alana Martina and Bella Esmeralda, and they are also raising Ronaldo's three older children from previous relationships. The footballer recently revealed that his children encouraged him to propose, marking a moment long awaited by fans worldwide.Beyond these personal milestones, Ronaldo continues to dominate social media engagement. His posts consistently rank among the most-liked on Instagram, with everything from motivational messages to family tributes resonating deeply with his global audience. His Portugal World Cup qualification post and casual lifestyle content continue performing exceptionally well, cementing his status as a global icon who transcends sports to appeal across politics, lifestyle, and entertainment sectors.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

In this special episode of The TWENTY30 Presented by Bechtel Saudi Arabia, hosts Lucien and Hanaa dedicate the full episode to analyze the significance and future impact of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince to Washington as a new era in US-Saudi relations begins. This episode features three separate interviews from experts to break down the visit's meaning and to speak to a changing and enhanced relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia.  After a full recap of the visit and the various agreements and deals signed between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, the hosts first welcome onto the show Dr. Mansour Almarzoqi, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies and Director of the Center for American Studies at Riyadh's Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies to talk about the visit within the context of the long history between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, and how Saudi Arabia, now emerging as a global "middle power" is of strategic and economic importance to the United States - which was recognized in the welcoming for HRH the Crown Prince.  Next, the hosts welcome on Saudi businessman Bader Alreziza, joining the show from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, to break down the reception and impact from the business community and speak to the existing and new opportunities that will emerge from the landmark meeting.  Then, the hosts speak to the Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Riyadh (AMCHAM) and Partner at PWC, Darrell McGraw, on how Saudi Arabia is changing as a business and investment landscape, why the energy on the ground in Saudi Arabia is palpable and vibrant now, and how technology cooperation is the new big opportunity for the two countries to further grow their tight bilateral relationship.   After the three interviews, Lucien and Hanaa distill their conversations and provide their take on the new dynamic, business opportunities, and how enduring players in Saudi Arabia -- like U.S.-based Bechtel -- show a model for success in doing business in Saudi Arabia.  The TWENTY30 team is honored to collaborate with Bechtel, whose enduring projects built the Saudi Arabia of today, and whose work today building the Saudi Arabia of tomorrow makes the company an integral part of the Kingdom's transformation and story of change, which is the subject of The TWENTY30 media channels. Bechtel's partnership with the TWENTY30 on this episode reflects the company's over 8 decades of building infrastructure, major projects, transportation systems, mining and minerals, energy and renewable energy, ports, and giga-projects in Saudi Arabia, proving itself time and again not only as the go-to partner for Saudi Arabia's ambitious vision, but also a steady partner for Saudi Arabia dedicated to the Kingdom's enduring national prosperity. To learn more about Bechtel's work in Saudi Arabia, go to https://www.bechtel.com/regions/middle-east/.

Mayor Tom cuts ribbon on Hammond, Indiana Sportsplex expansion; IN Governor Mike Braun to send National Guard troops to Washington D.C.; Indiana's redistricting efforts muddle on; Trump's "Quiet, piggy" remark to a female reporter; Trump hosts Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia; guests Corinne Straight, Timmychews, and Dr. Inna Husain discuss social media and more. 

I discuss the importance of the Board of Peace, the Saudi Prince's visit, and some never-asked questions by the media.  I cover a few stories regarding American education and the lack of accountability, and how the DOE's dismantling is upon us; and an example of how Big Pharma drives their product to the bitter end.   Book Websites: https://www.moneytreepublishing.com/shop PROMO CODE: “AEFM” for 10% OFF, or https://armreg.co.uk PROMO CODE: "americaneducationfm" for 15% off all books and products. (I receive no kickbacks).  https://www.thriftbooks.com/ Q posts book: https://drive.proton.me/urls/JJ78RV1QP8#yCO0wENuJQPH

Hey BillOReilly.com Premium and Concierge Members, welcome to the No Spin News for Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Stand Up for Your Country.  Talking Points Memo: During the Crown Prince's White House visit, Trump allowed the press to ask questions. Bill explains why that decision was a mistake. Criminal defense attorney Joseph Tully joins the No Spin News to weigh in on the latest developments in the Epstein files and allegations that the FBI may have suppressed evidence. Bill reviews the deals made this week between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Why did Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reject Trump's offer of military intervention against the cartels? Final Thought: Bill looks back on his time as an ABC News correspondent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is visiting the United States this week to discuss U.S.–Saudi security partnerships and business relations. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump welcomed MBS to the White House for a private conversation and Oval Office meeting where they took questions from the press. The next day, MBS met privately with Democratic and Republican members of Congress, and Trump spokeat the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum. Throughout the visit, Trump and MBS expressed optimism about future U.S.–Saudi relations, including Saudi Arabia's participation in peace negotiations in Gaza and the potential for bilateral business agreements.Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “Under the Radar” story ⁠here and today's “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: How do you think U.S.–Saudi relations should advance? Let us know.Disagree? That's okay. My opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast was written by: Will Kaback and edited and engineered by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Is opportunity really always there—or do you have to be listening for it to knock?" That's the question Kent Hance poses as he opens this episode, setting the stage for a journey through Texas legends, political intrigue, and stories of resilience that only the best storyteller in Texas can deliver. In this episode, Kent Hance shares unforgettable tales from his time in the Lone Star State, weaving together personal anecdotes and historical insights. Listeners will meet characters like Fastball Walker, whose nickname outlived his real name, and CQ Brown, the first African American to head a branch of the U.S. military, whose rise through the ranks was marked by bipartisan respect and a unanimous Senate confirmation vote. Hance dives deep into the complexities of political appointments, revealing the behind-the-scenes battles between the White House and the Senate, and the personal toll these processes take. He reflects on the Supreme Court nomination wars, the brutal Kavanaugh hearings, and the shifting landscape of American politics. Notable moments include Hance's recollection of attending a state dinner with President Reagan and Anwar Sadat, and his friendship with the Crown Prince of Iran during his flying lessons at Texas Tech. Memorable quotes abound, such as: "Opportunity's always there. You gotta be listening for it to knock." "You can take a bad situation and make it something that's really positive." "LBJ will twist your arm so badly to get you to vote for something that you don't realize it didn't break your arm, it ruins your career." Themes of perseverance, the power of reputation, and the impact of political decisions on everyday lives run throughout the episode. Hance's storytelling brings history to life, making listeners feel as if they're right there in the room with presidents, generals, and Texas legends. Call-to-Action If you enjoyed these stories and insights, don't forget to subscribe to "Kent Hance, The Best Storyteller in Texas." Leave a review, share the episode with friends, and help us keep these incredible tales alive. Your support helps us bring more Texas-sized stories to your ears!  

What a masterful world-changing speech President Trump delivered today Nov. f9, 2025, before the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, D.C. Seated right in front of President Trump, and rolling in the aisles laughing, was the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. While President Trump had many of the most powerful people on Earth in stitches for an hour, Crown Prince Mohammed was signing his check for one trillion dollars, to be spent to the benefit of American workers and America. In classic Trump style, the President asked whether the Crown Prince could make it out for one-and-a-half trillion.

Hey BillOReilly.com Premium and Concierge Members, welcome to the No Spin News for Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Stand Up for Your Country.  Talking Points Memo: Bill discusses Trump's plans to regulate cartel behavior as the U.S. shifts resources to fight drug trafficking. The Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia's visit to the White House today. The U.S. House of Representatives votes on forcing the DOJ to release all case files related to Jeffrey Epstein. SNAP is back with new restrictions, Bill provides the latest. Former Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill appears on the No Spin News to discuss his lawsuit against two podcast hosts over claims that he lied about killing Osama bin Laden. Final Thought: Watch the full interview of Bill on Howie Mandel Does Stuff here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Muhammad bin Salman's first visit to the White House in seven years earned the Saudi crown prince new weapons, giant tech deals and a burnished reputation. Our correspondent explains Trump's warm welcome. Why gay rights in Hong Kong are going backwards. And how snail farms help Britons dodge tax.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Muhammad bin Salman's first visit to the White House in seven years earned the Saudi crown prince new weapons, giant tech deals and a burnished reputation. Our correspondent explains Trump's warm welcome. Why gay rights in Hong Kong are going backwards. And how snail farms help Britons dodge tax.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

-Rob cheers Trump bringing in “another trillion” from Saudi Arabia, high-fiving the Crown Prince like a buddy at a tailgate party while ABC News gets roasted as “fake news” and “terrible reporters.” -Legal analyst Thane Rosenbaum pops in to talk Saudi Arabia, Iran, Hamas and New York's new socialist mayor, while Rob insists the “anti-capitalist just discovered he needs capital.” Today's podcast is sponsored by :QUINCE : Seasonal clothing and home accessories at discounted prices! Visit http://Quince.com/Newsmax for FREE SHIPPING and 365 day returns… BIRCH GOLD - Protect and grow your retirement savings with gold. Text ROB to 98 98 98 for your FREE information kit! WEBROOT : Live a better digital life with Webroot Total Protection. Rob Carson Show listeners get 60% off at http://webroot.com/Newsmax  To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday…E-mail Rob Carson at : RobCarsonShow@gmail.com Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (www.patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB  -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX  -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax  -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Saudi Crown Prince paid a visit to the Oval Office yesterday, and Donald Trump did what he always does when he's in the presence of killers & dictators - he praised the Crown Prince, bowed to him, sucked up to him, and lied for him. Disgusting & embarrassing. And yes, a shit stain on the presidency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(November 19, 2025) President Trump claims slain journalist Khashoggi was ‘extremely controversial’ and defends Saudi Crown Prince. ‘Everyone is Hunkering Down’: Affordability crisis rattles mom-and-pop shops. New LAFD chief slams media ‘smear’ of firefighters who battled Palisades Fire. Judge blocks Texas from using new U.S. House map in 2026. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PATRIOTS, THIS IS MASSIVE—@intheMatrixxx and @shadygrooove unleash pure FIRE on Season 7, Episode 221: "President Trump Hosts Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince; Democrat Epstein Boomerang", celebrating President Trump's historic Oval Office triumph as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ups Saudi investments from $600B to nearly $1 TRILLION in America—pouring into AI, tech, manufacturing, unbreakable defense pacts, F-35 jet sales, and Abraham Accords momentum that crushes globalist weakness and supercharges U.S. jobs, security, and dominance while fake news seethes in defeat! Then the Epstein boomerang SLAMS Democrats like never before: explosive file drops reveal Stacey Plaskett texting Epstein during a 2019 hearing for anti-Trump dirt, Hakeem Jeffries' campaign soliciting fundraiser invites and cash from the convicted predator post-2008 plea, Clinton ties unraveling as the House votes overwhelming release despite Speaker Johnson's victim privacy warnings—and Trump calls it the Democrat distraction hoax it is, demanding FULL transparency to expose the swamp! Loaded with real-time intel breakdowns, undeniable proofs, and America-First fury against internal MAGA dividers and deep-state PSYOPs trying to fracture the movement. The truth is learned, never told—the constitution is your weapon. SMASH LIKE for Trump's trillion-dollar wins, SUBSCRIBE for daily live truth nukes at noon-0-five Eastern, turn NOTIFICATIONS ON, SHARE to wake the masses, and COMMENT who the real Epstein enablers are—LET'S MAKE THIS GO VIRAL NATIONWIDE!

Today on the show: we'll go live to D.C. for the latest on the Epstein files. Karen Travers from ABC News breaks down the Crown Prince's visit. Political Analyst Stephen Lawson joins us live. Plus, we'll chat with Clark Gregg from The Avengers! 9am-noon on 95.5 WSB.

Today on the show: we'll go live to D.C. for the latest on the Epstein files. Karen Travers from ABC News breaks down the Crown Prince's visit. Political Analyst Stephen Lawson joins us live. Plus, we'll chat with Clark Gregg from The Avengers! 9am-noon on 95.5 WSB.

Today on the show: we'll go live to D.C. for the latest on the Epstein files. Karen Travers from ABC News breaks down the Crown Prince's visit. Political Analyst Stephen Lawson joins us live. Plus, we'll chat with Clark Gregg from The Avengers! 9am-noon on 95.5 WSB.

We discuss The Crown Prince, Piggy? Clay Higgens, Those Pesky Epstein Files, His 33% approval, FEMA head is OUT, The impending car loan bubble and so much more

Join Badlands Media for special coverage of President Trump and The First Lady participate in a dinner with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS)  

Listen to Daily Global #News from Grecian Echoes WNTN 1550 AM - Saudi Arabia to invest over $1T in US, Trump defends Mohammed bin Salman - Bill passed to release all of the Epstein files - Russia carried out a massive overnight attack across Ukraine

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for November 18, 2025. 0:30 We break down a major federal court decision with sweeping implications for the Constitution and the balance of power between states and Washington. A federal judge has dismissed the Department of Justice’s challenge to New York’s law blocking federal immigration agents from making arrests inside state courthouses—raising an urgent question: Can a state legally obstruct the enforcement of federal law? 9:30 Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. Mohammed Bin Salman arrived in Washington D.C. today for a state visit at the White House.The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia came to the US to finalize several trade deals with the Trump administration. A judge in Tennessee has ruled the Governor of the state does not have the legal right or power to deploy the National Guard to fight crime in the state. A three judge panel has ruled that Texas' newly redrawn congressional districts are unconstitutional because they were racially gerrymandered. 12:30 Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 13:00 We take a look at a growing internal revolt inside the Democratic Party—one that could spell the end of Chuck Schumer’s leadership. Schumer is being pushed out by a party base that has moved far to the left of him. With Senator Cory Booker publicly framing Schumer’s generation of Democrats as the past, we break down what that political language really signals: an impending transfer of power. 16:00 We ask the American Mamas what happened to Marjorie Taylor Greene. Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson dive into the sudden and dramatic shift in Marjorie Taylor Greene’s public persona—why she’s showing up on left-wing media, apologizing on CNN, clashing with fellow MAGA Republicans, and now openly feuding with President Trump himself. From her failed push to oust Speaker Mike Johnson to her sharp turn toward “unity” messaging, the mamas sort through the contradictions and speculate about the ambition, pressure, and possible political maneuvering behind it all. They also explore why so many once-rising conservative stars—from Dan Crenshaw to MTG—seem to lose their footing in Washington, and whether a shaky ideological foundation makes politicians vulnerable to shifting with the political winds. If you'd like to ask our American Mamas a question, go to our website, AmericanGroundRadio.com/mamas and click on the Ask the Mamas button. 23:00 We react to Northwestern University’s newest “well-being initiative”: a free vending machine stocked with everything from Narcan and fentanyl test strips to condoms and Plan B. By placing life-saving tools, basic necessities, and abortion-inducing medication side-by-side—accessible at the push of a button—the university is sending a troubling moral message: that all choices carry the same weight and all consequences can be conveniently erased. 26:30 We tackle an unexpected moment of honesty from longtime media insider Fareed Zakaria. Despite his résumé across some of the nation’s most left-leaning outlets, Zakaria used his CNN platform to spotlight a politically inconvenient truth: America’s affordability crisis is overwhelmingly concentrated in places governed by Democrats. We Dig Deep into into why policies in deep-blue states like New York and California consistently deliver higher costs and poorer outcomes, even as voters continue re-electing the same leaders. 32:00 Get TrimROX from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 32:30 We talk about the misnamed Affordable Care Act that has made healthcare less affordable by adding layers of bureaucracy. Costs could be lowered through greater price transparency from hospitals and clinics, and by eliminating “concierge” health insurance that covers routine, guaranteed services like checkups. Instead, insurance should function like car or home insurance—covering unexpected, high-cost events, not routine maintenance. 35:30 Plus, Nicki Minaj publicly supported President Trump’s comments about global Christian persecution, and that's a Bright Spot. Though known for explicit music and public feuds, Minaj identifies as a Christian, and Christianity is about grace, not perfection. After Minaj reposted Trump’s message, UN Ambassador Mike Walz invited her to speak at the United Nations, where she thanked Trump for drawing attention to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. 40:00 After years of positioning herself as one of Trump's strongest allies, Marjorie Taylor Greene is calling Trump a "traitor." She's leaning into fringe conspiracy theories like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson with their theories about Charlie Kirk. At some point, we just have to say, "Whoa." 41:30 And we finish off with a day in 1883 that changed the way we keep time. Follow us: americangroundradio.com Facebook: facebook.com / AmericanGroundRadio Instagram: instagram.com/americangroundradioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump warmly welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House, dismissing U.S. intelligence findings that MBS approved Jamal Khashoggi’s 2018 killing. Trump said the prince “knew nothing”, rebuking reporters for raising the issue during talks focused on defense deals and investments. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Broeske & Musson' on all platforms: --- The ‘Broeske & Musson Podcast’ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you listen to podcasts. --- ‘Broeske & Musson' Weekdays 9-11 AM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Facebook | Podcast| X | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan opens the show properly questioning why Aftyn Behn left the Democrat voter event in Nashville before Kamala got there, and why she wasn't endorsed + highlights from Trump's meeting with the Crown Prince | aired on Wednesday, November 19th, 2025 on Nashville's Morning News with Dan MandisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on America in the MorningCongress Unanimously Approves Epstein Vote The House nearly unanimously passed a resolution forcing the Justice Department to release all of the Jeffrey Epstein files, and the Senate agreed to approve the legislation once the House sends it over.  So what's next?  John Stolnis has more from Washington.   Trump-bin Salman Meeting It was a big day Tuesday at the White House where President Trump hosted the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, touting massive investments announced for the United States, and the president defending Mohammed bin Salman over the 2018 murder of a journalist.  Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports.  North Carolina Federal Agents Expansion As members of the Border Patrol are operating in Charlotte where more than 130 people, either with criminal records or in the country illegally have been taken into custody, federal agents could start showing up in another North Carolina city.   Correspondent Mike Hempen reports.   NTSB Bridge Collapse Report The National Travel Safety Board has identified a cause that led to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore.  Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.  Family Member Under Investigation A surprising twist into the death of a teenager aboard a Carnival Cruise.    Perdue Pharma Settlement A judge is taking OxyContin maker Perdue Pharma to task, approving a multi-billion dollar settlement, and forcing the family behind the company to give up ownership of the opioid maker.  Correspondent Marcela Sanchez reports.     House Epstein Vote Reaction The US Senate unanimously agreed to send a bill demanding the Department of Justice to release all of their files related to its investigation into the late-convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which came hours after the House, with only one “no” vote, passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act.  Jennifer King reports on the House vote, including a press conference with survivors of Epstein, and members of Congress who supported them.   Judge Blocks Texas Redistricting Texas' recently approved new Congressional maps have now been blocked by a panel of Federal judges, a ruling that could have national implications for states who adopted similar measures.  Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.   Woman Set On Fire It may have started as an argument, but it escalated into a horrific attack.  Sue Aller reports a person is under arrest after a woman was set on fire on a Chicago commuter train.   Latest On Interest Rates With the recent drop in the stock market and lingering concerns about high consumer prices and the economy, there are questions as to what the Federal Reserve might do next when it comes to interest rates.  Correspondent Ed Donahue reports.   Judge Says No To Tennessee Deployment A judge has ruled on the Trump administration's National Guard deployment in Tennessee.  Correspondent Haya Panjwani reports.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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This week, President Donald Trump told reporters that he would be willing to hold talks with Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro. His statements came as the Navy's largest aircraft carrier arrived in the Caribbean Sea. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has conducted weeks of attacks on alleged drug boats off the coast of the South American country. But these drug trafficking allegations might just be a distraction from the real focus of Trump's Venezuela ire. Over the weekend, Politico published a piece alleging that White House officials have begun planning for a “post-Maduro” Venezuela, including different options for countries to exile him to. To talk more about Venezuela, regime change, and the perils of war in South America, we spoke with Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, former National Security Council Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere under President Joe Biden.And in headlines, President Trump is meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince at the White House, the United Nations Security Council approves Trump's plan for the future of Gaza, and the criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey may be faltering.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today's MeidasTouch Podcast, we break down the escalating fallout from the newly uncovered Epstein emails asa sickly Donald Trump spirals through another chaotic day, now suddenly claiming he wants to release whatever files Congress is “legally entitled to,” a desperate dodge that fools no one. We dig into the explosive misconduct revelations inside the Trump DOJ, where Lindsey Halligan's fiascos in the grand jury room have put the Comey case and the Letitia James “retaliation” case on the brink of dismissal. Then we expose Trump's corrupt plans with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia as the Trump family cuts even more corrupt deals, this time involving F-35s, nuclear technology, and a suspicious new Trump Organization venture with the Saudis in the Maldives. Ben, Brett, and Jordy break it all down. Subscribe to Meidas+ at https://meidasplus.com Get Meidas Merch: https://store.meidastouch.com Deals from our sponsors!  Done with Debt: Visit https://DoneWithDebt.com and talk to a strategist for FREE. ZBiotics: Go to https://zbiotics.com/MEIDAS and use MEIDAS at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. Remi: Save your smile and your bank account with Remi! Get up to 50% off your custom-fit mouth guard at https://ShopRemi.com/MEIDAS today! MS NOW: Learn more at https://MS.NOW Home Chef: Home Chef is offering 18 FREE Meals PLUS Free Dessert for Life and FREE Shipping on your first box! Go to https://HomeChef.com/MEIDAS Qualia: Take control of your cellular health today. Go to https://qualialife.com/meidas and save 15% to experience the science of feeling younger. Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Headlines: – Welcome To Mo News (02:00) – Trump Says He Would Sign Epstein Files Bill If Congress Passes It (05:20) – The Screen That Ate Your Child's Education (12:00) – White House Welcoming Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince  (21:40) – In Major Breakthrough, U.N. Security Council Adopts U.S. Peace Plan for Gaza (28:20) – FAA Takes First Steps To Restore Flights After Shutdown Strain, But Some Limits Remain (29:40) – White House Scraps Cash Payments for Delayed or Canceled Flights (30:30) – ​​This Could Be The Worst Job Market For New College Grads In Years (33:30) – The Job Market Is Heating Up — for Jobs That People Usually Don't Want (35:30) – Ken Burns Talks To Mo News About New Documentary About The American Revolution (36:20) – On This Day In History  (42:30) Thanks To Our Sponsors:  – ⁠LMNT⁠ - Free Sample pack with any LMNT drink mix purchase –⁠ Industrious⁠ - Coworking office. 50% off day pass | Promo Code: MONEWS50 – Surfshark - 4 additional months of Surfshark VPN | Code: MONEWS – Factor Meals – 50% your first box plus free shipping | Promo Code: monews50off – ⁠Boll & Branch⁠ – 25% off, plus free shipping | Code: MONEWS– Aura Frames -  $45 off best-selling Carver Mat frames | Promo Code: MONEWS

Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse have met on Capitol Hill, ahead of the House vote to release related case files. The immigration blitz in North Carolina has shifted to Raleigh. We explain why the affordability crisis is rattling small businesses. President Donald Trump is welcoming Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince at the White House. Plus, why flu season could get really bad this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince walked into the White House today, just years after being labelled an international pariah. President Trump welcomed Mohammed Bin Salman, the man increasingly seen as the Kingdom's most consequential leader in recent history. Few Americans know and understand MBS better than Princeton scholar Bernard Haykel. Haykel has interviewed the Crown Prince more than 20 times for his forthcoming book "The Realm" and he joins Christiane from Washington.  Also on today's show: international reporter Steffano Pozzebon; former NSC Senior Director Juan Gonzalez; director Geeta Gandbhir ("The Perfect Neighbor")  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump just delivered one of his most intense media smackdowns yet — going after an ABC News reporter who he says disrespected the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) during a foreign-policy press exchange.The moment was immediate, fiery, and impossible to ignore.Trump didn't hold back — and the reporter was left stunned.In this video, we break down:

President Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Bin Salman to the White House today. The Crown Prince announced how pleased he is with what President Trump is doing and the investment in the United States could reach $1 trillion. The House is expected the vote to pass to release the Epstein files. With the protection of Congress, will the victims be more inclined to actually name names of who did what and where? A judge is not happy with the prosecution of former FBI director James Comey but this does not rule out the fact that he lied to Congress. Operation Southern Spear is tackling narco terrorist in the Gulf of America and President Trump is considering going after terrorist inside Venezuela. The Supreme Court will hear cases on mail-in ballots, the voting rights act and tariffs. Will Chamberlain, Senior Council at Article III Project is here to unpack it all. Featuring: Will Chamberlain Senior Council | Article III Project https://www.article3project.org/ Today's show is sponsored by : Firecracker Farms Everything's better with HOT SALT. Firecracker Farms hot salt is hand crafted on their family farm with Carolina Reaper, Ghost and Trinidad Scorpion peppers. This is a balanced, deep flavor pairs perfect with your favorite foods. Whether it's eggs, steaks, veggies or even your favorite beverage, Firecracker Farms hot salt is what you've been missing. Just head to https://firecracker.farm/ use code word: SEAN for a discount. Unlock the flavor in your food now! Boll & Branch The key to wellness starts with a good night's sleep. Making your night's sleep better starts with quality sheets. Boll & Branch's sheets start unbelievably soft and get softer over time. Boll & Branch sheets are made with the finest 100% organic cotton in a soft, breathable, durable weave. If you're looking for sheets that last, feel amazing, and help you sleep better, Boll & Branch is where it's at. Feel the difference an extraordinary night's sleep can make with Boll & Branch. Just head to https://www.bollandbranch.com/SPICER for 20% OFF and FREE SHIPPING. Concerned Women For America Concerned Women For America focuses on seven core issues: family, sanctity of life, religious liberty, parental choice in education, fighting sexual exploitation, national sovereignty, and support for Israel. CWA knows what a woman is. CWA trains women to become grassroots leaders, speak into the culture, pray, testify, and lobby. If you donate $20 you will get CEO & President Penny Nance's new book  A Woman's Guide, Seven Rules for Success in Business and Life. Head to ⁠https://concernedwomen.org/spicer/⁠to donate today! ------------------------------------------------------------- 1️⃣ Subscribe and ring the bell for new videos: https://youtube.com/seanmspicer?sub_confirmation=1 2️⃣ Become a part of The Sean Spicer Show community: https://www.seanspicer.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We look at the AI boom in detail, in the wake of comments by Sundar Pichai, the Google boss, in a BBC interview. He acknowledges the risks of a potential AI bubble. We hear the thoughts of the Nobel Prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu as well as from a future of work strategist and a campaigner for tighter AI regulation.Also, what has Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince gained from a visit to the White House? And TotalEnergies faces war crime allegations over a Mozambique massacre.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Join Badlands Media for special coverage of President Trump bilateral meeting with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). 

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, returns to the White House for the first time since 2017, eyeing a deal for fighter jets. Then: Peru’s plans to cement itself as a tourist hub. Plus: we pop the cork on the latest sparkling-wine ventures. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited the White House this afternoon to meet with President Donald Trump after the announcement that the U.S. military will be selling F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.  Greg and Holly discuss what this business deal means for the U.S.

Cloudflare's flame goes out: Tuesday's internet shake-up SLC parking ticket hot spots US House to vote on release of Epstein Files today Regularly listening to music can help brain health, new research shows Nuclear power on its way to Brigham City Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince visits the White House ...and more!

Following President Trump's flip flop on the Epstein files, will Congress finally vote to release them today? ... The White House rolls out the red carpet for the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, who's visiting for the first time since he was accused of killing an American journalist ... President Trump promises refund checks to every American, but can he really afford to do that?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Swedish officials are pitching a big defence deal to Canada. Officials are courting Ottawa to supply the military with fighter jets — which could mean thousands of jobs here in Canada. But any deal could collapse a long-standing agreement with the United States.And: Fighter jets were also on the agenda in Washington. The White House hosted Saudi's Crown Prince on his first trip to the U.S. since the high profile murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Also: Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives vote overwhelmingly to release all files related to late child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. And their colleagues in the Senate promised to quickly follow suit. It is a dramatic turn of events — after the president tried to stop the release, then changed his mind.Plus: West Bank violence, budget aftermath, lack of Canadians hurting Florida tourism, Alberta uses notwithstanding clause again, and more.

With the House set to vote on a measure forcing the release of the Epstein Files, Ryan breaks down what the bill would actually do. Plus, the latest on Trump's $2,000 tariff checks, the military buildup in the Caribbean, and a preview of the president's White House meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince.

Today on America in the MorningHouse Plans Epstein Vote The House is scheduling a vote on a resolution that would compel the Justice Department to release all of its files dealing with the late sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein, and President Trump says he's ready to sign it. Correspondent Rich Johnson reports Senate Republicans are also on board.   More ICE Arrests In Charlotte The number of people detained has surpassed 130 in Charlotte, North Carolina after the Border Patrol's Operation Charlotte's Web was started.  The name chosen for the immigration raid has angered the granddaughter of E.B. White, the author of the children's book, Charlotte's Web.  Now, North Carolina's Democrat Governor is weighing in on federal immigration activities in Charlotte.  Correspondent Ed Donahue reports the Latino population in the Tar Heel State's largest city is on edge, but DHS is saying that all of those arrested have either criminal records, are in the country illegally, or both.  Saudi Crown Prince To The White House Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince is scheduled to visit President Trump today (Tuesday). Correspondent Clayton Neville has a preview of the White House meeting.    Trouble For The Comey Investigation The Justice Department is facing serious concern by the Federal judge overseeing the case bring brought against former FBI Director James Comey.  Lisa Dwyer reports a judge's order is taking issue with US Attorney Lindsey Halligan, and the grand jury proceedings that led to Comey's indictment.   Flight Cancellations Easing Normalcy is starting to return to the nation's airports following the end of the government shutdown.  Correspondent Mike Hempen has the latest.   A Day To Forget Normally, the day you make your NFL debut is a day you will never forget, but for one quarterback, it's a day he'd rather not remember.     Trump's Tariff Check Plans President Trump is doubling down on his pledge to issue $2-thousand-dollar tariff dividend checks amid high prices.  Correspondent Clayton Neville reports there's questions from the administration as to exactly who would be eligible for the checks, and would also need approval from Congress.   UN Approves Trump Gaza Plans The United Nations Security Council on Monday approved President Trump's peace plan for Gaza, providing a legal U.N. mandate for the administration's vision of how to move past the cease-fire and rebuild the war-ravaged Gaza Strip after years of conflicts.  However, as America in the Morning's Jeff McKay reports, strong opposition to the Trump plan came from one of the signers of the ceasefire agreement.   Charges In Indiana Cleaner Killing An Indiana homeowner has been charged in the shooting death of a housecleaner who showed up at the wrong door.  It's a case that could test the limits of the state's Castle Doctrine, a part of the Indiana Stand Your Ground law.  Joan Jones has the story.   Summers Stepping Back Saying he is deeply ashamed, former Treasury Secretary and Harvard professor Larry Summers announced he's stepping back from public life after troubling emails between him and the late-convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein emerged.    Finally   An arrest has been made in the case surrounding the weekend murder of a beloved football coach in Oakland, California who became famous thanks to a Netflix documentary.  Correspondent Gethin Coolbaugh reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince promises President Trump he'll invest a trillion dollars in US; Australia's scientific research agency slashes hundreds of jobs; And in sport, injured Melbourne Storm player Eli Katoa to miss an entire NRL season.

For years, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, was shunned on the world stage. But President Biden visited him in Riyadh three years ago, and now President Trump will bestow on the 40-year-old pomp and pageantry usually reserved for an official state visit. Nick Schifrin reports and Geoff Bennett has views on the visit from Tom Malinowski and Kirsten Fontenrose. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As the White House gears up to host Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, President Trump is ready to make another 'big' deal. Managing Director and Partner at Beacon Global Strategies, Michael Allen unpacks the President's current foreign policy plans. Dana and Michael discuss global issues and the complex state of geopolitics. I Wish Someone Had Told Me: Michael highlights the high amounts of fentanyl entering through the U.S. Southern border.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For years, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, was shunned on the world stage. But President Biden visited him in Riyadh three years ago, and now President Trump will bestow on the 40-year-old pomp and pageantry usually reserved for an official state visit. Nick Schifrin reports and Geoff Bennett has views on the visit from Tom Malinowski and Kirsten Fontenrose. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

This episode we cover the first silver mine in Japan, as well as the way that this sovereign is approaching offerings to the kami and handling family matters. For more check out: https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-138   Rough Transcript: Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is Episode 138: Offerings and Covenants   A gentle summer breeze blew through the cherry-tree-covered hills of Yoshino valley.  The royal residence, a kind of summer home for the royal family, normally somewhat quiet, was suddenly abuzz with activity.  The regular groundskeepers and those who tended the site throughout the year mingled with servants sent from the capital to make it ready for a royal visit.  Rooms were aired out and swept. Metal fixtures were polished.  The kitchen was stocked and ready to go. It had been some years since the prince—now sovereign—had resided in the valley as an attempt to proclaim he had retired from the world.  Now he was sitting at the top of the state government, but as such, he was more often than not living in the grand palace in Asuka, which he had renovated at the start of his reign. This, the Yoshino palace, was left as more of a vacation home—though "home" hardly did it justice given its majesty compared to the meager dwellings that otherwise surrounded it. And now there was a massive royal procession on their way.  Sure, it was the sovereign and his queen, and only a handful of princes, but they would each need their own quarters and likely have their own household staff that would no doubt need to be fed and housed.  In such a way a "simple" outing for the royal family was so often anything but for those who had to make it happen. And yet, such labor was much preferred to toiling in the fields, especially as the heat of the day started to rise, and the height of summer loomed large in the all-too-immediate future.   Alright, so we are in the midst of the reign of Ohoama, aka Temmu Tennou, the brother of Naka no Ohoe, who came to power through the use of military force—purportedly used in self-defense—and the sovereign who would have a profound effect on solidifying the Ritsuryo state, as well as the Chronicles and the history of the archipelago as we know it.  We've talked about Ohoama's ascension to the throne, and even his first year.  We mentioned how, during his reign, he rewarded those who helped him, tweaked the rank system, and we talked a bit about what we know of the clothing and the material culture of the period. This episode, we continue looking at what occurred during Ohoama's reign.  Specifically we'll be covering some of the ways in which Ohoama and his court were shaping the government and the structures of power to serve him and his family.  This includes everything from ritual, such as making offerings to various kami, to the way that he seems to have centralized power to himself and his family, which would have lasting impacts through the Asuka and Nara periods. First, though, a tiny little digression about silver.  We start in the 3rd lunar month of the second year since Ohoama ascended the throne, or the year 674 by the western calendar.  We are told that Woshiumi no Miyatsuko no Ohokuni, the governor of Tsushima, the island that formed the main border between the archipelago and the mainland, reported that silver had been produced there for the first time, and sent in some as tribute.  This is the first recorded instance of silver being produced in Japan. At this time, silver mining was mostly limited to finding a vein of silver on the surface and digging it out as far as one could possibly go into the rock and stone.  Still, silver would eventually become an important resource for the archipelago.  Tsushima would continue to produce silver through modern times.  Granted, production was limited until new refining techniques were introduced from Joseon Korea in the 16th century.  This was just as Ming dynasty deposits were declining, and as such, silver would become a major export from the archipelago to the mainland.  Indeed, by the 17th century, it is said that Japan accounted for one quarter to one third of the entire world's silver production. For now, however, the discovery of native silver was certainly a good start, but the Yamato court wasn't switching to a silver coin currency just yet—rice and cloth were still the major currencies for tax and trade purposes.  Still this find seems not insignificant, and clearly the chroniclers thought so as well -- as did the court.  They granted Ohokuni, the governor of Tsushima, the rank of Lower Shoukin.  The silver produced by the mine was offered to the various kami of heaven and earth, and presents were made to the high ministers and others of the rank of Shoukin and above. Now back to the Chronicles, and to the meat of what I'll be talking about this episode. On the 3rd day of the 8th lunar month of 674, we are told that the Royal Prince Wosakabe was sent to Isonokami shrine to polish up the divine treasures, at which point the sovereign made a rather spectacular decree:  he declared that all of the precious things originally deposited in the sacred treasuries by the various houses should be returned to their descendants. This appears to be a reference to the long-standing practice by Yamato of demanding that those they had gained some level of hegemony over turn over their sacred objects for Yamato's keeping.    We talked about this back in episodes 19 and 29, for example, when we talked about how Mimaki Iribiko, aka Sujin Tenno, and Ikume Iribiko, aka Suinin Tenno, had both requested treasures from Izumo and elsewhere, to be stored in the treasure house of Isonokami. We aren't told what all of these treasures were, but we can deduce that these were sacred treasures of the different houses and localities, much as the mirror, jewel, and sword were sacred treasures of Yamato.  These were items that early on distinguished the elite class in the archipelago, and had come to be gathered in the divine store houses.  You may recall how, early on, we saw mentions in the Chroncles that ships sent out to meet with others from different lands would place such treasures on a makeshift tree on the deck as a way of depicting who they were—who they represented. It would seem that these sacred objects came to represent the divine ancestors of the elites, and so eventually were associated with the idea of power and authority.  As Yamato spread its influence, possibly as much through the spiritual authority of Mt. Miwa as through its economic and military capability, it seems to have demanded that the various lands that came under its sway place their sacred treasures in Yamato's storehouse—a powerful image of Yamato's authority.  In a sense, this was a kind of hostage situation: recognize our authority, or your most sacred treasures, representing your ancestors, will be at risk .  One wonders if this isn't part of the reason that we find buried caches of bronze ritual items, including weapons, bells, and other such things, perhaps as a means of keeping them safe from those who would steal them away. However, in the new era of the Ritsuryo system, those objects, while still considered divine and sacred, did not hold the same value as they once had.  Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but this really seems to me to be particularly illustrative of the idea that the cultural imaginary of state power and authority had shifted.  Yamato's power and authority was no longer based on its role as a spiritual powerhouse as much as it was centered on the continental framework of a heavenly mandate and a system of laws and punishments.   And so, the sovereign could return the sacred items back to their descendants, because to do so did not cost him anything, and at the same time would no doubt earn him goodwill.  He could appear magnanimous and, in so doing, solidify his position as the supreme hegemon of this new state.  In many ways this acknowledged the importance of the divine treasures to the people and to the kami while also no doubt reinforcing Confucian stereotypes of the benevolent ruler. More importantly, this shows how Ohoama was restructuring the rituals of the state.  After all, he had the Jingikan, an entire governmental department dedicated to administering the various shrines and sacred rituals; so even if the sacred treasures were returned, they were still technically under the control of the state apparatus.  We've already talked about the Daijosai, the Feast of First Fruits for a new reign, a central ritual to which Ohoama had added further pomp and circumstance.  But as no less a scholar than Herman Ooms has written about, Ohoama also initiated the practice of ordering regular centralized offerings to not just one particular kami, but to several or even a number of kami, or shrines, at any given time.  We see this in the following year, on the 23rd day of the first lunar month of 675, in an almost off-hand remark. Later, in the 10th month of 676 offerings were made to all of the "Ahimbe" kami of Heaven and Earth—that is all of kami that were part of the festival of first fruits held on the first day of the rabbit on the 11th lunar month.  Offerings were also made to all of the Heavenly and Earthly kami on the second day of the year in 681. Of course, these offerings would not just be enriching the shrines of these various kami, but it would also reflect on the various uji connected to each of those shrines, as well. Another example of the court's involvement in these ritual innovations appears to be the worship of the deities at Tatsuta and Hirose.  The first example of that is also in 675, in the 4th month of that year.  Prince Mino and Saheki no Muraji no Hirotari were sent to the Wind-gods at Tateno, in Tatsuta.  Aston notes that there is a litany to the Wind-gods mentioned in the Engishiki, a 10th century collection of information on various rituals of the time, so this practice seems to have taken hold, at least enough to persist over 3 centuries later.  Also in the 4th month of 675, Hashibito no Muraji no Ohobuta and Sone no Muraji no Karainu were sent to worship the Oho-imi deity at Kahawa, in Hirose. The Oho-imi appears to be a "big abstinence" deity, whom Aston identifies with Waka'ukahime, responsible for food.  Worship is again paid twice in the year 676, once in 677, then twice again in 679, continuing twice a year, almost exclusively in the 4th and 7th lunar months, through the end of the reign.  Why were these particular deities chosen for special worship by the court?  Ooms notes that these shrines were built downstream along the Yamato river, which, along with its tributaries, was responsible for the irrigation of the crops in the Nara basin.  This mirrors, in some ways, the responsibility of rulers in the Yellow River and Yangzi river regions to help ensure the flow of the rivers while preventing devastating flooding – a very continental idea of the responsibilities of the sovereign, though expressed here with a particularly Japanese style. Indeed, Aston associates the deity at Hirose, with the deity of food.   Likewise, the Wind-deities at Tatsuta were also related to helping to grow crops.  After all, Tatsuta would have been situated near the break in the mountains that surrounds the Nara basin, where the Yamato River flows out towards the Kawachi plain.  As anyone who lives near a mountain gap is no doubt familiar, those areas are notorious for channeling weather phenomena, including storms, which can bring rain, but could also bring terrible winds.  So it does seem a natural point to pray for good weather for your harvest or otherwise, given the geography that made up the sovereign's world. We also have, in this reign, considerably more discussion of Ise than we've seen, previously.  In 673 we have the Royal Princess Ohoku no Himemiko entering the Saigu, the Abstinence, or Purification, Palace, where she was to be purified before going to Ise, which she did in the 10th lunar month of 674.  Ohoku is said to have been the first official Saiou, the unmarried royal princess sent to oversee shrine operations, of Ise Shrine.  This is a practice we see at multiple shrines, although it's most prominent at Ise. The term for the position in general is Saiou, although at Ise the royal princess would also be known as the Saiguu, after the purification palace.  Although Ohoku is said to have been the first Saiguu at Ise, this is muddied somewhat by some earlier mentions in the Chronicles.  There are those who are said to have been sent as Shrine Princesses to Ise back in the time of Mimaki Iribiko and Ikume Iribiko, but the process was largely discontinued—or at least rarely mentioned—until this period.  There are certainly several named individuals who are said to have served the Deity of Ise previously, starting with the presumably mythical Yamato Hime, who is credited with founding the shrine.  There are also various royal princesses are noted as either having served or as having been made ineligible due to their indiscretions. However, those earlier mentions rarely go into the detail we see here —starting with the abstinence hall, where the would-be Shrine Princess must purify herself prior to approaching the shrine, a process that took some time.  Certainly we first really see this put into action with Ohoku, and from that time the position of Saiguu or Saiou at Ise does appear to have been regularly filled.  That Ohoku was actually the first "Saiguu" shrine princess appears to be confirmed by the "Fusou Ryakki", which states that the first Saiou was appointed when then Prince Ohoama, in the midst of the Jinshin war, made a prayer to Ise and offered the royal princess Ohoku no Himemiko in exchange for victory.  In fact, a lot of the focus on Ise seems to stem from its apparent involvement, at the behest of either Ohoama or his consort, Uno no Sarara Hime, in the conflict. The following year we are told that the Royal Princesses Towochi and Abe proceeded to Ise Shrine as well, though presumably just for a brief visit.  Towochi, you may recall, was Ohoama's daughter who had been married to Ohotomo, aka Koubun Tennou, whom Ohoama had defeated to take the throne.  Abe was a daughter of Naka no Oe, half-sister to Ohoama's queen, Uno, and would eventually go on to marry the Crown Prince, Kusakabe.  That gives you some idea of the position of those were going to the shrine. Princess Towochi herself would fall ill a few years later in 678.  In fact, it was just as the sovereign himself was preparing to go pay a visit to the abstinence palace, perhaps so that he could also head out to Ise.  The court had a divination to figure out when he would leave, officers had cleared the roads, and the public functionaries were in a line of procession when word came that Princess Towochi, suddenly took ill and died within the palace.  This stopped everything in its tracks, and in that year there was no sacrifice made to the kami of heaven and earth.  I suspect that this was in part due to mourning and in part due to the pollution more generally associated with death. Two weeks later, she was buried at Akaho, and Ohoama raised a lament for her. Later, in 686, we are told that the Royal Princess Taki, the Princess Yamashiro no Hime, and the Lady Ishikawa were all sent to Ise Shrine, though Princess Taki returned in less than a fortnight. Why all this focus on Ise?  Remember that the Chronicles were begun in this era, and so the "truth" they would tell would be the truth that Ohoama and his immediate successors orchestrated. The focus on Amaterasu, her shrine at Ise, and the role of the sovereign as Heavenly Descendant was thus part of the overarching narrative that the Chroniclers tried to promote.  Still, hints that the focus on Ise shrine may have been something largely created in this era, however, are scattered throughout the existing literature, despite the Chroniclers' best efforts. For one thing, it is fairly clear that early on, the focus in the Chronicles is on  Mt. Miwa and the deity  Ohomononushi, rather than Amaterasu.  We also see the fingerprints of deities like Takami no Musubi, who in one story is the one who is actually responsible for sending the Heavenly Grandchild down to earth in the first place. It also seems telling that Amaterasu is not mentioned in earlier court rituals.  Worship of Amaterasu by the royal family takes place at Ise shrine.  Meanwhile, there are various rituals preserved within the traditions of the palace that include many other, seemingly older deities. I have also noted in the past how Ise shrine isn't even the primary shrine of Ise no Kuni.  In fact, that is claimed by Tsubaki shrine, the shrine to Saruta Hiko no Ohokami, with a separate shrine to Ame no Uzume, who are both said to have met the heavenly grandchild on his descent. None of this is to say that Ise Jingu was brand new at the time of the Chronicles' writing —there does seem to have been a shrine on that spot for some time, though even the Chronicles suggest that it might have been moved from a shrine originally housed in the Nara basin.  It is also possible, and even likely, that the rise of Ise and Amaterasu coincided with other trends at the time.  Even if the Sun Goddess had not always been centered in Yamato ritual, she was not a new deity, and it may have been the case that her prominence, and that of her shrine in Ise had been growing in prominence before this time, and so the court was now adopting that popularity for themselves.  Of course, Ohoama and Uno don't exactly spell out what they were attempting to achieve, beyond the unification of the archipelago, more broadly.  How, exactly, their focus on Ise Shrine was meant to play into that I don't know that I could fully state, but it certainly seems to have allowed the sovereign to create a new cultic focus for kami worship with a story that touched on regions from Kyushu all the way to the eastern shore of the Kii peninsula. Given the decentralized nature of kami worship, I don't believe it was possible to completely rewrite all of the stories—hence the numerous and conflicting accounts given in the Chronicles.  However, that is also what would have made it easier to hide newly fabricated—or perhaps simply exaggerated—stories in the mix.  And of course, it wasn't necessarily that the Chroniclers were creating things out of whole cloth, but they were able to choose those things that people would remember and what would be lost and forgotten over time.  They had to make the decision, for instance, which story they told was the "main" storyline, and which were listed as coming from "other books", implying a degree of separation from the truth. Through all of this, it certainly seems that propping up the royal family and its lineage was a central focus—even if that lineage was largely something that had recently been created.  As a reminder, we see a lot heavier reliance at this point on royal princes as opposed to other elite families, and an actual or implied reliance, in particular, on the royal family, as that is where Ohoama was consolidating most of the power and authority. Kitayama Shigeo coined the term "Koushin Seiji" to refer to this idea of a consolidated royal—or imperial—family managing the affairs of state.  Literally it is something like "Imperial Family Government".   In Shigeo's concept this was specifically an autocratic authority executed by the sovereign, and those of his immediate family.  Of course, writing in the post-war era, it is more than a little likely that Shigeo and others were looking at the concept of Tennou in the 20th century compared with many other world monarchs.  In that vein, the Asuka and Nara periods do seem to have been one of the rare times—perhaps even the last time—that the sovereigns had such a direct hand in the government and the making and establishment of law and tradition. That said, not everyone ascribes entirely to the idea that Ohoama was a completely autocratic despot—after all, it was clear that there were still plenty of powerful families in the archipelago, and the Ritsuryo state itself was also being strengthened.  Still, it does seem that Ohoama had brought his queen, Uno no Sarara, and his descendants into government.  And they would not only assist him, but continue his work for the next generations, such that even though the histories would not be finished until well after Ohoama's death, they would still show his influence on events. The dedication of the royal family to work as one is perhaps most clearly demonstrated in the events of the 5th lunar month of 679.  It was then that the sovereign, and his family, proceeded to the Yoshino Palace.  Now Ohoama had plenty of offspring—among them 10 sons.  And as long as he was around, there would be a certain amount of civility, but he knew all too well how things could break down after a sovereign's death.  And so he brought them together and he made them enter into a pact, which we know as the Yoshino Covenant, or Yoshino no Meiyaku.  Besides Ohoama himself, there were several others in attendance, presumably those who might stand to one day inherit the realm.  These included his partner and queen, Uno no Sarara Hime, as well as her son, Prince Kusakabe, who would be named Crown Prince, only a couple of years later.  It also included the Royal princes Ohotsu, Takechi, Kawashima, Osakabe, and Shiki.  All of these individuals were made to swear an oath to support each other, even though they were all from different mothers, and they agreed. But so what?  Why does it matter?  It is all well and good that Ohoama brought them together for a bit of kumbaya in his old digs away from the capital, but was there anything really to this covenant. This covenant is significant in several ways.  First off, it is clear that Ohoama was pulling in his family and trying to ensure they were onboard with what he was doing and what was planned.  Furthermore, it set out a clear line of succession, something that had not really been done up to this point. We have ideas on what would have made a candidate eligible, but other than naming a particular crown prince there hasn't exactly been any clear process or rules of precedence for who would assume the throne.  Here, though, we have a list that appears to be in order of precedence, since it otherwise may not seem to make sense, at least from a modern perspective. A key clue in the Chronicles is often the order of the names.  The most important or highest ranking person is usually given first, and then names are typically given in descending order of precedence.  There are clues that this is the case, but it becomes even more stark when we actually see reference to an individual's court rank or the size of their fief.  Since this period brings about court rank even for royal princes, we have some of that, at least in later records.  As such, there is the idea that this order was actually providing for a line of succession.   As I mentioned, up to this point, the contest for the throne was a toss up with each monarch's death.  Claims from competing princes were often considered equally valid until one proved their claim through a political or military victory.  Ohoama appears to have been trying to add greater structure to this.  Specifically, we see that Uno no Sarara's son, Kusakabe, is given pride of place.  In fact, throughout the Chronicle it is typical that we see the Chroniclers designate a queen—a Kougou—that is considered the primary wife.  This queen is almost always found to be the descendant of previous royalty, granting their child a doubly royal lineage, through both the maternal and paternal lines.   There has been plenty of reason to doubt that this was actually the case, and it often seems like the Chroniclers stretched things more than a bit to make it all work out.  However, now we are almost more concerned with the very *truth* that the Chroniclers were attempting to burn into the social consciousness rather than the historical facts, because that gives us direct insight into how the court of the day viewed succession and legitimacy.And that does lead to another possible thought:  since the Chroniclers knew how things turned out it is possible that they were the ones ensuring that the order was as we have it.  So we cannot definitively say that this exactly mirrors's Ohoama's idea, but it certainly seems in line with his history and intentions and helps set the stage for us, at least, regarding what would later transpire in regards to succession.. Getting back to the covenant, as I noted, the first person listed, after Ohoama and Uno no Sarara Hime, is Prince Kusakabe.  He would be about 17 or 18 years old at this time, which is probably why he wasn't formally named Crown Prince until a couple of years later.  He isn't the eldest son, however.  Rather he was the second son.  Ohoama's eldest son, Prince Takechi, was actually third in line. Takechihad been with his father helping to lead the troops during the Jinshin War. While he was some 8 years senior to Kusakabe, he was nonetheless a son of Amago no Musume, one of Ohoama's consorts from a powerful clan, but not a royal princess like Uno no Sarara, Kusakabe's mother. Between Kusakabe and Takechi, in the second place spot for succession, was actually Prince Ohotsu, whom we also mentioned during the Jinshin War.  Ohotsu was likely 16-17 years old around this time.  While he was the third eldest child, he, like Kusakabe, was the son of a Royal Princess, Princess Ota, daughter of Naka no Oe, giving him greater bonafides than Takechi, apparently. So, in the top three slots, we have: Ohoama's eldest son by a royal mother, Ohoama's second eldest son by a royal mother, and finally Ohoama's eldest son by a non-royal mother. Fourth in line, and the 4th eldest, presumably, though I don't know that we have an actual age for him, is Prince Wosakabe.  He likely wasn't too young, however, as he had been given the task, previously, to polish the divine treasures in Isonokami's storehouse. It would appear that six of Ohoama's other sons didn't even get a mention.  That includes Princes Naga and Yuge, born to another daughter of Naka no Ohoe, Ohoye no Himemiko.  Then there is Prince Toneri, son of Royal Princess Nittabe, not to be confused with Royal Prince Nittabe, Ohoama's son by way of a daughter of Fujiwara no Kamatari.  Finally there was Royal Prince Hodzumi, a maternal grandson of Soga no Akaye, and Prince Shiki, a full brother to Prince Wosakabe. Prince Toneri is particularly conspicuous in his absence.  We know that he held the 5th rank, and two positions in government—that of Nagon, or Councillor, as well as the Minister of the Household, our Kunaikyou.  This may be because he was not doing so well.  We aren't told the story until the following year, on the 2nd day of the 7th lunar month of 680, when we are told that Prince Toneri took ill and was on the point of death.  His half-brother, Prince Takechi, went to check on him, and a day later Toneri passed away.  The way these are written it would be easy to believe that it all happened in a pretty short timeframe, but it is also just as likely that illness lingered, especially without modern medicine.  So it is possible that Prince Toneri was too sick at the time of the original covenant, though there could be some other reason we weren't told. This doesn't necessarily hold for all of the others, though.  For instance, we have the Princes Naga and Yuge mentioned in 693, well over a decade later, being granted the 2nd Broader Pure Rank at the same time that Prince Takechi is granted the 1st Broader Pure Rank.  So we can at least see that they were ranked below Takechi.   Similarly we see Prince Hodzumi likewise attained 2nd Broader Pure Rank at some point, and was still around to have his own fief and to receive houses to it in the following reign.  Hozumi even ranked above some of the others were in Yoshino, and yet was not present. It is possible that the princes not mentioned, assuming they had not met with an untimely end that was not mentioned in the record somewhere, could have been too young or too junior at the time of the meeting.  After all, when we look at the known ages of those who were there, we see that Prince Takechi may have been 25 years old, but Prince Kusakabe and Prince Otsu were just under 20, and it is unclear if others were older or younger than they were. There are two other princes who were part of the covenant who were not, perhaps surprisingly, sons of Ohoama.  Rather they were his nephews, sons of Ohoama's brother, Naka no Ohoe.  They were the princes Kawashima and Shiki. Kawashima is mentioned several times throughout the record.  Kawashima's mother was from a high ranking noble family, but given that Kawashima was married to his cousin, one of Ohoama's daughters, that may have brought him closer to the family.  He was about 22 years old at the time, too.  We see him often teaming up with Prince Osakabe on various projects, including the project to compile together the history of the royal household.  In fact, Prince Kawashima always precedes Prince Osakabe when they are mentioned together.  That said, we have evidence of Kawashima only being awarded up to 3rd Greater Pure rank, below even that of some who were not present, such as Prince Hodzumi.  His importance and impact, however, is noted through his numerous appearances in the record. In contrast, Prince Shiki has almost no mentions in the record.  It doesn't help that there are two Princes Shiki, one born to Naka no Ohoye and one born to Ohoama.  Their names are spelled differently, however, and although the first character of "Shiki" used in the Yoshino record matches neither name, the second character suggests that this was the son of Naka no Ohoye and not the Shiki that was brother to Prince Osakabe—though given that one followed the other in the record, there may have been some confusion on this point. And with all of that we have our apparent line of succession, as well as an idea of who the movers and shakers might be within the royal family.  From Ohoama and Uno no Sarara, we have Princes Kusakabe, Ohotsu, Takechi, Kawashima, Osakabe, and Shiki.  Six princes, four directly descended from the current sovereign, Ohoama, and two from the Naka no Ohoe lineage. Obviously, promoting the idea of a strictly patrilineal succession of father to son would have caused some problems for Ohoama's own legitimacy, not that anyone was going to gainsay him while he was on the throne.  However, with Kusakabe they seem to have established that in a de facto format, at least.  Furthermore it provided a blueprint for succession might fall to the other lines should the main line not work out.  This put Prince Ohotsu as next in line, should anything happen to Kusakabe, followed by Takechi.  That Kawashima may have had a shot over Osakabe and then Shiki is interesting as it suggests that it wasn't strictly about who descended from whom. We'll have to wait for Ohoama's death before we can fully appreciate how well this worked, of course.  Throughout history, agreements and covenants amongst powerful interests are often only as permanent as long as all of the interests remain aligned with one another, whether through mutual benefit or threat of consequences.  Once the power shifts, as it always does, those promises and treaties are almost always up for renegotiation, unless they are supported by some higher authority, whatever that might be. Following the royal family's off-site, they returned to the palace in Asuka.  There they had a formal ceremony in the Great Hall, the Ohodono, where the six princes all demonstrated their allegiance and paid respects to Ohoama.  Given the timing of this event, one can likely assume that it was a kind of public acknowledgement of the covenant and the agreement that they would all be working together as a united front on the project of the government. And with that, I think we can bring it to  a close for now.  There is plenty more about this reign to discuss before we move on, but we'll get there. Until then, if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.