When Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI conquered the country as a successor to Nobunaga ODA, who overthrew the Muromachi bakufu, but died a violent death with the conquering of the country in sight, Hideyoshi advanced to kanpaku (chief advisor to the Emperor), while chief vassals such as Ieyasu TOKUGAWA and Toshiie MAEDA were granted Nii (Second Rank) and Sanmi (Third Rank), and Jushii began being issued as court ranks for their legitimate children and chief vassals.
室町幕府を滅ぼし天下人を目前に控えて横死した織田信長の後継として、豊臣秀吉が天下人となると、秀吉は関白に昇り、徳川家康や前田利家などの重臣が二位・三位に叙せられると、従四位はその嫡子や重臣の位階として発令されるようになる。