During the Meiji period, an imperial decree dated March 3, 1911, established that the legitimate reigning monarchs of this period were the direct descendants of Emperor Go-Daigo through Emperor Go-Murakami, whose Southern Court (南朝, nanchō) had been established in exile in Yoshino, near Nara.[3]
Until the end of the Edo period, the militarily superior pretender-emperors supported by the Ashikaga shogunate had been mistakenly incorporated in imperial chronologies despite the undisputed fact that the imperial regalia were not in their possession.[3]
1342Kōei gannen (康永元年): The era name was changed to Kōei to mark an event or a number of events. The previous era ended and a new one commenced in Ryakuō 5.[4]
In this time frame, Kōkoku 1340–1346 was the Southern Court equivalent nengō.
1343 (Kōei 2, 4th month): Nijō Yoshimoto, the author of Masukagami, was promoted from the court position of nadaijin to udaijin; and in due course, the udaijin was promoted to sadaijin. The dainagon was promoted to nadaijin.[4]