The first member of the Fujiwara Clan was Nakatomi no Katamari. He was a close friend of Emperor Tenji and supported him in his efforts of further centralizing and increasing the authority of the imperial government. Because of this, the Emperor granted him the highest charge in his court and gave him the Fujiwara surname. This clan managed to dominate the Japanese Imperial power for centuries by the practice of marrying their daughters to every emperor. Because of the family tradition of future emperors being raised in the household of the mother and having to be loyal to their maternal grandfather, they were always able to perpetuate their dominance through marriages with every future Emperor.