"Jinno Shotoki" written by Chikafusa treated him as being a lower-ranking person than Takauji ASHIKAGA, saying 'A person called MINAMOTO no Yoshisada resides in Kozuke Province. He is a family member of Takauji.'
親房の『神皇正統記』では「上野国に源義貞と云ふ者あり。高氏が一族也」と足利尊氏より格下の扱いを受け否定的に書かれている。