In July 1183, the Taira clan, who lost the battle against MINAMOTO no Yoshinaka, were forced to move out of the city, Tokuko escaped to the country with Emperor Antoku carrying the three sacred emblems of the Imperial Family.
寿永2年（1183年）7月、源義仲に敗れた平家は京都からの撤退を余儀なくされ、徳子は安徳天皇とともに三種の神器を携えて都落ちした。