After the Kamakura period, the Northern House of the Fujiwara clan split into Gosekke (the five families of the Fujiwara clan whose members were eligible for the positions of Sessho and Kanpaku), Konoe, Ichijo, Takatsukasa, Kujo, and Nijo families, and whoever among them held the highest official rank was appointed regent/Kanpaku, a situation which continued until the Meiji Restoration.
鎌倉時代以降、藤原北家は近衛家、一条家、鷹司家、九条家、二条家の五摂家に分かれ、代々そのうちもっとも官位の高い者が摂政・関白に任ぜられる例となって、明治維新まで続いた。