Since neither she nor her father Emperor Shomu had brothers, who had all died in power struggles, and there was no Imperial Prince, Prince or other descendants of Emperor Tenmu, who would have been adequate to accede to the throne, Shirakabe no okimi (Prince Shirakabe) (Emperor Konin), from the line of Emperor Tenchi, was enthroned with the recommendation from FUJIWARA no Nagate and FUJIWARA no Momokawa.
また、それまでの権力闘争の結果、兄弟もなく、父聖武天皇にも兄弟がなく、他に適当な天武天皇の子孫たる親王、王が無かったため、藤原永手や藤原百川の推挙によって天智天皇系の白壁王（光仁天皇）が即位した。