Retired Emperor Sutoku hoped to get his son, Imperial Prince Shigehito, to ascend the Imperial Throne when Emperor Konoe died in 1155, but his father, Cloistered Emperor Toba, got Imperial Prince Masahito (another brother of retired Emperor Sutoku), who was supported by Bifukumonin and FUJIWARA no Michinori, to ascend the Imperial Throne instead.
久寿2年（1155年）に近衛天皇が崩御すると崇徳上皇は御子の重仁親王の即位を望むが、父・鳥羽法皇は美福門院や近臣の藤原通憲の推す雅仁親王（崇徳上皇のもう一人の弟）を後白河天皇として即位させてしまう。