Unlike Agata no nushi, who were highly loyal to the Yamato Kingdom, each Kuni no miyatsuko was originally the regional powerful clan called Kuninushi (lord of the country), and was later appointed as kuni no miyatsuko of his 'country' by the Yamato Kingdom when the 'country' submitted to the Kingdom, being granted to use one of the official family titles of the Kingdom, such as Omi (臣), Muraji (連), Kimi (君), Kimi (公), or Atai (直); and thus each of the district governed by kuni no miyatsuko was autonomous accordingly.
ヤマト王権への忠誠度が高い県主とは違い、元々、国主（くにぬし）と言われていた有力な地方の豪族がヤマト王権に服したときに、そのまま国造に任命され、臣・連・君・公・直などの姓が贈られ、かなりの自主性の下にその地方の支配を任されていた。