Although the retired Emperor Gokomatsu ruled the cloistered government at that time, since he was not well and did not have any children, he adopted Emperor Gohanazono from the Fushimi no Miya family to allow him to succeed to the Imperial throne.
後小松上皇が院政を行っていたが、生来病気がちであり、嗣子に恵まれなかったことから、後小松上皇は、伏見宮家より後花園天皇を猶子に迎え後継者とした。