He was born in 792^[1][2][3] in Kyoto.^[1] His parents were Emperor Heizei and Fujii no Fujiko (葛井藤子).^[1][2][3]

Following the Kusuko Incident (薬子の変, Kusuko no hen) of 810, in which he was complicit, he was exiled to Dazaifu in modern Fukuoka Prefecture,^[1][2][3] where he was made Deputy Governor of Dazaifu (太宰権帥, Dazai no gon no sochi).^[1][3] In 824, at the beginning of the Tenchō era, he received a pardon and was allowed return to the Capital.^[1][2][3]

In 826, his sons Yukihira, Narihira-both prominent poets- Morihira (守平) and Nakahira (仲平) were given the surname Ariwara.^[1] Among his other children was the scholar and poet Ōe no Otondo (大江音人, 811–877).^[2]

The Jōwa Incident (承和の変, Jōwa no hen), an 842 rebellion plot, was uncovered thanks to an anonymous report by Prince Abo.^[1] He died in the same year,^[1][2][3] on the twenty-second day of the tenth month.^[1]

His father was Emperor Heizei and his mother was a court lady Fujii no Fujiko/Tōshi , Fujii no Michiyori's daughter

• Wife: Imperial Princess Ito (伊都内親王), eighth daughter of Emperor Kanmu
  • Third son: Ariwara no Yukihira (在原 行平, 818 – 6 September 893)
  • Fifth son: Ariwara no Narihira (在原業平, 825 – 9 July 890)
• Unknown concubine
  • Eldest son: Prince Kanemi (兼見王)
  • Second son: Ariwara no Nakahira (在原仲平)
  • Fourth son: Ariwara no Morihei (在原守平)
  • Sixth son: Gyokei (行慶)
  • First daughter: Wife of Minamoto no Hiromu (源弘), son of Emperor Saga
  • Second daughter: Unknown

• Abo-shinnō on Kotobank.