Genealogy

Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his imina) was , also known as Motsihito-shinnō.

The third son of Imperial Prince Morisada (守貞親王) (Go-Takakura-in, 後高倉院), the second son of Emperor Takakura.

• Empress (Jingū): Sanjō (Fujiwara) Ariuko (三条（藤原）有子) later Ankimon』in (安喜門院), Sanjo Kinfusa』s daughter

• Empress (Chūgū): Konoe (Fujiwara) Nagako (近衛（藤原）長子) Later Takatsukasa』in (鷹司院), Konoe Iezane』s daughter.

• Empress (Chūgū): Kujō (Fujiwara) Sonshi (九条（藤原）竴子) Later Sōhekimon』in (藻璧門院), Kujo Michiie』s daughter

　• First son: Imperial Prince Mitsuhito (秀仁親王) later Emperor Shijō

　• Fourth daughter: Imperial Princess Hoshi (暤子内親王; 1232-1237)

　• Second Son: (1233)

• Lady-in-waiting: Betto-Naishi (別当典侍), Jimyōin Ieyuki』s daughter

　• First daughter: Imperial Princess Kishi (暉子内親王; 1228-1300) later Muromachi-in (室町院)

　• Second daughter: Imperial Princess Taishi (体子内親王; 1231-1302) later Shinsenmon』in (神仙門院)

• Lady-in-waiting: Dainagon-no-Tsubone (大納言局), Fujiwara Kaneyoshi』s daughter

　• Third daughter: Imperial Princess Akiko (昱子内親王; 1231-1246)

Events of Go-Horikawas life

In 1221 CE, because of the Jōkyū Incident, an unsuccessful attempt by Emperor Go-Toba to seize real power, the Kamakura shogunate completely excluded those of the imperial family descended from Emperor Go-Toba from the Chrysanthemum throne, thus forcing Emperor Chūkyō to abdicate. After the Genpei War, he, as the grandson of the late Emperor Takakura, who was also a nephew of the then-exiled Retired Emperor Go-Toba, and Chūkyō's first cousin, was enthroned as Go-Horikawa. He ruled from July 29, 1221 CE to October 26 (?), 1232 CE.

• 1221 CE (Jōkyū 3, 9th day of the 7th month): In the 1st year of what is now considered to have been Chūkyō-tennō 's reign (仲恭天皇一年), he abruptly abdicated without designating an heir; and contemporary scholars then construed that the succession (『『senso』』) was received by a grandson of former Emperor Go-Toba.

• 1221 CE (Jōkyū 3, 1st day of the 12th month): Emperor Go-Horikawa acceded to the throne (『『sokui』』).

As Go-Horikawa was only ten-years-old at this time, his father Imperial Prince Morisada acted as cloistered emperor under the name Go-Takakura-in.

In 1232 CE, he began his own cloistered rule, abdicating to his 1-year-old son, Emperor Shijō. However, he had a weak constitution, and his cloistered rule lasted just under two years before he died.

Emperor Go-Horikawa's Imperial tomb (misasagi) is at Sennyū-ji in the .

Kugyō

Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.

In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Go-Horikawa's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:

• Sesshō, Konoe Iezane, d. 1242 CE.

• Sadaijin, Konoe Iemichi, 1204–1224 CE.

• Udaijin, Fujiwara Kintsugu, 1117–1227 CE.

• Naidaijin, Saionji Kintsune, 1171–1224 CE.

• Dainagon

Eras of Go-Horikawas reign

The years of Go-Horikawa's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō.

• Jōkyū (1219–1222 CE)

• Jōō (1222–1224 CE)

• Gennin (1224–1225 CE)

• Karoku (1225–1227 CE)

• Antei (1227–1229 CE)

• Kangi (1229–1232 CE)

家族

• 父：守貞親王（後高倉院）

• 母：持明院陳子

• 皇后：三條有子（安喜門院）

• 中宮：

　• 近衛長子（鷹司院）

　• 九條竴子（藻璧門院）

• 典侍：

　• 持明院家行女

　• 藤原兼良女

• 皇子：

　• 秀仁親王（後為四條天皇。母九條竴子）

• 皇女：

　• 暉子內親王（母持明院家行女）

　• 體子內親王（母持明院家行女）

　• 昱子內親王（母藤原兼良女）

　• 皞子內親王（母九條竴子）