Kiyomori gained political power as a result of his military exploits in the Hogen Revolt and the Heiji Revolt, both of which arose as a result of internal conflicts in the Imperial Court; however, the Taira government was not very different from a traditional regency, as can be seen by the fact that the Taira clan occupied most of the official ranks of the Imperial Court, and Kiyomori himself became a maternal relative of the Emperor.
清盛は朝廷の内紛に起因する保元の乱と平治の乱で、武功を挙げ政権を獲得したが、平氏政権は平家一門で朝廷の官位を占め、清盛自身は天皇の外戚となるなど、従来の摂関政治と大差は無かった。