According to "Heiji Monogatari" (The Tale of Heiji), at the time of the Heiji War which happened in 1159, he scolded his brother Korekata who joined the war following his nephew FUJIWARA no Nobuyori, which led to the remote cause of his disaffection.
『平治物語』によれば、平治元年（1159年）に勃発した平治の乱に際しては、甥に当たる藤原信頼に与同して軍事行動を起こした弟の惟方を叱責し、その離反の遠因を作ったとされる。