According to "Azuma Kagami", Masako ordered the suppression of the Hiki clan and the confinement of Yoriie as well as she was actively involved in making Ichiman and Senman govern separate parts of the country as shugo after Yoriie's death, with which the incident started.
『吾妻鏡』の記述によれば、比企氏討伐も頼家の幽閉も政子の「仰」であったとされるし、事件の発端となった頼家死後の一幡と千幡の諸国守護の分掌も政子の積極的な関与が見て取れる。