Taira no Takamochi

Taira no Takamochi (平高望), born Prince Takamochi (高望王), was a former member of the Imperial Family demoted to nobility of the Heian period. He is the founder of the Taira clan and the Kanmu Heishi lineage of the clan. Life Prince Takamochi was born as the son of Prince Takami, the third prince of Prince Kazurawara, and Tachibana no Harunari. Takamochi was the great-grandson of Emperor Kanmu, who reigned from 781 to 806. He was granted the court rank of Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade and served as Vice Governor (suke kokushi) of Kazusa Province. On May 13, 889, Takamochi was granted the surname Taira, thus establishing the Kanmu Heishi line of the Taira clan. This line proved to be the strongest and most dominant line during the Heian period.