As the Empress was single and had no successor, and because there was no imperial family members who were descendants of Emperor Tenmu due to the repeated purges in political changes, FUJIWARA no Nagate, Minister of the Left, KIBI no Makibi, Minister of the Right, FUJIWARA no Sukunamaro, Sangi (councilor), FUJIWARA no Tadamaro, Sangi, ISONOKAMI no Yakatsugu, Sangi, FUJIWARA no Kurajimaro, Division of Inner Palace Guard, and others had talks, which led to his accession to the imperial throne at the age of 62.
独身の女帝に後継者はなく、度重なる政変による粛清劇によって天武天皇の子孫たる皇族がなかったため、左大臣藤原永手、右大臣吉備真備、参議藤原宿奈麻呂、同藤原縄麻呂、同石上宅嗣、近衛府藤原蔵下麻呂らによる協議が行われ、その結果を受けて、62歳で即位することとなった。