Immediately after the Battle of Sekigahara, his older brother, Emperor Goyozei planned to dismiss his son, monk-Imperial Prince Kakujin who was supposed to be the heir and transfer the imperial throne to his younger brother, Imperial Prince Toshihito.
さて、関ヶ原の戦い直後、兄の後陽成天皇は当初皇位継承者とされていた実子の覚深法親王を廃して弟に当たる智仁親王に皇位を譲ろうと考えた。