He was favored by the Kamakura bakufu especially because of his stance he had taken during the Jokyu War, and it is believed that actual negotiations with the bakufu was exclusively handled by Sadataka working under the Kanto moshitsugi (court-appointed liaison with the bakufu), Michiie.
特に承久の変での経緯から鎌倉幕府からは好意的に見られ、関東申次であった道家の下で実際の幕府との交渉を行っていたのは全て定高であったとされている。