Fujiwara no Maro (藤原麻呂)
FUJIWARA no Maro (695 - August 17, 737) was a court noble who lived during the Nara period. He was the fourth son of Udaijin (Minister of the Right) FUJIWARA no Fuhito, and the youngest of the Fujiwara four brothers. Jusanmi Sangi (councilor in the Junior Third Rank). He was the founder of the Capital House of the Fujiwara clan.
Career
717: Mino no suke (assistant governor of Mino Province), Jugoinoge (Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade). 721: Jushiinojo (Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade), Sa-Ukyo no daibu (Master of the Western and Eastern Capital Offices). 726: Shoshiinojo (Senior Fourth Rank Upper Grade). 729: Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank). 731: Sangi (councillor), Hyobukyo (Minister for Military Affairs), and the repression delegate to the Sanin region.
737: Became Jisetsu taishi (Ambassador Bearing the Sword of Authority), and together with ONO no Azumahito, Mutsu no Azechi (inspector of Mutsu Province) and also a Commander-in-Chief of the Defense, he carried out a road-laying project between Mutsu and Dewa Provinces which started from Taga-jo Castle and went through Ogachi Village. In the same year, he returned to the capital, and died of smallpox, which was widespread in those days. As the Fujiwara four brothers died one after another within a short period of time, it is considered that they became infected when they visited each other.
He was a brilliant speaker, and loved sake liquor and music. Three of his poems were collected in "Manyoshu" (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves), and five were selected for "Kaifuso" (Fond Recollections of Poetry).
The Capital House of the Fujiwara clan came from the fact that Maro was Kyoshiki no daibu (Master of the Capital Bureau).