He was one of the main culprits who delivered SUGAWARA no Michizane by colluding with FUJIWARA no Tokihira during the reign of Emperor Daigo, in 901, he was appointed as Udaijin to take the place of Michizane.
醍醐天皇朝において藤原時平と結託し菅原道真を失脚させた張本人の一人とされ、延喜元年（901年）に道真の後任の右大臣に任官。