When the scheme of Prince Mochihito and his foster father, MINAMOTO no Yorimasa, to mobilize the army and suppress the Taira clan was found out in May 1180, he hid in the Ninna-ji Temple but was ordered to report with his legal son, Nakamitsu (Kujo-in hogandai).
治承4年（1180年）5月、以仁王と養父源頼政の平家打倒の挙兵計画が露見して、仁和寺にこもった際に、嫡男の仲光（九条院判官代）とともに馳せ参じた。