From the fact that even Kiyomori and Goshirakawa, who were both once confronted by Tsunemune, gave him important positions and he stayed in the position of Sadaijin for twenty-four years even admist the disturbance, and was commented as 'He was used by influential persons as Sadaijin for many years' ("Gukansho"), we can infer that his existence could not be ignored.
一度は対立した清盛や後白河に重用されて、「左大臣一ノ上ニテ多年職者ニモチヰラレテゾ候ケル」（『愚管抄』）とあるように動乱の中で24年間も左大臣の地位にあり続けたことからも、その存在が無視できないものだったことがうかがわれる。