Page "Emperor Kammu" Paragraph 3

After his father became emperor, Kammu's half-brother, Prince Osabe was appointed to the rank of crown prince.

His mother was Princess Inoe, a daughter of Emperor Shōmu ; but instead of Osabe, it was Kammu who was later named to succeed their father.

After Inoe and Prince Osabe were confined and then died in 775, Osabe's sister – Kammu's half-sister Princess Sakahito – became Kammu's wife.

Later, when he ascended to the throne in 781, Kammu appointed his young brother, Prince Sawara, whose mother was Takano no Niigasa, as crown prince.

Hikami no Kawatsugu, a son of Emperor Temmu's grandson Prince Shioyaki and Shōmu's daughter Fuwa, attempted to carry out a coup d ' état in 782, but it failed and Kawatsugu and his mother were sent into exile.

In 785 Sawara was expelled and died in exile.