At the time when Ietsuna's condition became critical, Tadakiyo SAKAI was grooming the Imperial Prince Arisugawanomiya Yukihito for Shogun, as he was descended from Hideyasu YUKI, elder brother of Ietsuna's grandfather Hidetada TOKUGAWA, following a precedent from the Kamakura period when a Miyashogun (Shogun from the Imperial Court) was introduced after the death of Shogun MINAMOTO no Sanetomo.
家綱の危篤に際して、酒井忠清は鎌倉時代に将軍源実朝の死後に宮将軍が迎えられた例ならい、祖父・徳川秀忠の兄・結城秀康の血を引く有栖川宮幸仁親王を将軍に迎えようとした。