Furthermore, both the Aizu and Kuwana Domains were harrassed by the new government; therefore, at the domain's local level, chief retainers decided to submit to the new government and appointed the bereaved child of the former family head, Mannosuke (later Sadanori), head of the family, out of fear that the new government force would attack.
更に桑名藩は会津と並んで新政府側からは敵視されており、国元では新政府軍が押し寄せてくる懸念から先代当主の遺児・万之助（後の定教）をかついで恭順する事を家老達が決めていた。