He was born as the eldest son to the couple of FUJIWARA no Asateru, who was the third son of Kanpaku (chief adviser to the Emperor) FUJIWARA no Kanemichi and regarded as Kanemichi's successor, and a daughter of Imperial Prince Shigeaki.
関白藤原兼通の三男でありその後継者と目されていた藤原朝光の長男として、重明親王の娘を母として生まれた。