When Takauji ASHIKAGA defected from the new restoration and he attacked Kyoto in 1336 after he won from the Battle of Minatogawa, Prince Tsuneyoshi/Tsunenaga, who escaped to Mt. Hiei, was given the Imperial rank and three sacred emblems of the Imperial Family, he was asked by the father and son, Yoshisada NITTA and Yoshiaki NITTA, to go to Kanegasaki-jo Castle in Echizen province (Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture), together with Imperial Prince Takayoshi/Takanaga who was his half older brother, under the pretext of ruling Hokuriku district,
足利尊氏が新政から離反し、建武3年（1336年）の湊川の戦いに勝利して京都へ迫ると、比叡山に逃れていた恒良は後醍醐天皇から皇位と三種の神器を譲られ、異母兄の尊良親王とともに新田義貞・新田義顕父子に奉じられて北陸地方統治を名目に越前国金ヶ崎城（福井県敦賀市）に下向する。