Emperor Tenmu, who had seized political power by force of arms from Emperor Kobun, the successor of Emperor Tenchi, began conducting Koshin politics, under which Imperial princes and other Imperial family members assumed key posts in the government, and thus strengthened the autocracy.
天智天皇を後継した弘文天皇から、軍事力によって政権を奪取した天武天皇は、政権中枢を皇子らで占める皇親政治を開始し、専制的な政治を行っていった。