Emperor Heizei opposed this and tried to have his eldest brother in his direct Imperial line, succeed to the throne, after that he passed the throne to Emperor Saga and allowed his own son, Imperial Prince Takaoka to become Crown Prince.
これに不満を抱いた平城は大兄である自分の直系に皇位継承することを企図して、一旦、嵯峨へ譲位して自身の子、高岳親王を皇太子とした。