Empress Jitō (統天皇 Jitō-tennō, 645 - 13 January 703) was the 41st monarch of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Jitō's reign spanned the years from 686 through 697. In the history of Japan, Jitō was the third of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The two female monarchs before Jitō were (1) Suiko and (2) Kōgyoku/Saimei. The five women sovereigns reigning after Jitō were (3) Gemmei, (4) Genshō, (5) Kōken/Shōtoku, (6) Meishō, and (7) Go-Sakuramachi. Jitō took responsibility for court administration after the death of her husband, Emperor Temmu, who was also her uncle. She acceded to the throne in 687 in order to ensure the eventual succession of her son, Kusakabe-shinnō. Throughout this period, Empress Jitō ruled from the Fujiwara Palace in Yamato. Prince Kusabake was named as crown prince to succeed Jitō, but he died at a young age. Kusabake's son, Karu-no-o, was then named as Jitō's successor. He eventually would become known as Emperor Mommu. In