Yoshinori began attacking the HATAKEYAMA Clan in 1441 and Mochikuni was forced to step down and hand over the family estate to his younger brother, Mochinaga HATAKEYAMA.
1441年には、義教の矛先は畠山氏に向けられ、持国は家督を弟畠山持永に譲らされ隠居を余儀なくされる。