Although Emperor Gosanjo wrote in his dying will to make the younger brother Imperial Prince Sukehito the next Crown Prince after Imperial Prince Sanehito, Emperor Shirakawa opposed and in the following year promoted the Imperial Prince Taruhito (Emperor Horikawa) to crown prince.
後三条天皇は実仁親王の次には弟輔仁親王を皇太子に立てるよう遺言していたが、白河天皇はその遺志に背いて翌年皇子善仁親王（堀河天皇）を立坊・即位させた。