He opposed Emperor Goshirakawa, who was resisting the power of the Taira clan, and therefore started Jisho-sannen no seihen (The Coup in 1179: the third year of the Jisho era) to confine the cloistered Emperor, seized Emperor Antoku to whom Tokuko had given birth, and seized political power; however, the Taira clan's dictatorship faced strong resistance from aristocrats, temples, shrines, and warriors, resulting in the gathering of warriors by Kawachi-Genji (Minamoto clan) to defeat the Taira clan.
平氏の権勢に反発した後白河天皇と対立し、治承三年の政変で法皇を幽閉して徳子の産んだ安徳天皇を擁し政治の実権を握るが、平氏の独裁は貴族・寺社・武士などから大きな反発を受け、河内源氏による平氏打倒の兵が挙がった。