However, Ieyasu TOKUGAWA, who had seized political power after the Battle of Sekigahara, got involved in the imperial succession, and although he accepted Imperial Prince Katahito's joining the priesthood (not being included in the imperial succession) he demanded that the third prince, Kotohito, be enthroned as the next Emperor, since he was the legitimate son.
だが、関ヶ原の合戦によって新たに権力の座を手に入れた徳川家康もまた皇位継承に介入し、良仁親王の出家（皇位継承からの排除）は認めるものの、これに替わる次期天皇として嫡出男子であった第3皇子の政仁親王の擁立を求めた。