Retired Emperor Gokomatsu took this opportunity to select Prince Hikohito (Emperor Gohanazono) of the Fushiminomiya branch of the Northern lineage to be the successor; in response, the Gonancho faction, which now with the Northern dynasty's Imperial line extinct, he had expected that the Northern lineage would have lost its authority over matters of Imperial succession, vehemently opposed this decision.
後小松上皇が北朝の傍流である伏見宮家から彦仁王（後花園天皇）を後継者に選ぼうとしたことをきっかけに、北朝は皇統断絶して皇位継承権を失ったと考える南朝側は激しく反発する。