After the Cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa died, Go-Toba-in, as a Chiten no kimi, ruled the government directly or started a cloister government, whereupon he forced Emperor Tsuchimikado to abdicate from the throne and let his favorite (the future Emperor Juntoku) assume the throne, followed by Emperor Juntoku's descendants as successors; thus it is needless to say that the lords and princes were hostile against him due to this incident.
後白河法皇の死後は自ら親政及び院政を行ったが、治天の君として土御門天皇を退かせて寵愛する順徳天皇を立てその子孫に皇位継承させた事には貴族社会からは勿論、他の親王達からの不満を買った。