Takahito after his father Gosuzaku's death was made Crown Prince for his older half brother Emperor Goreizei, and when Goreizei died without a son, he became Emperor (Emperor Gosanjo).
尊仁は父後朱雀の死後、異母兄の後冷泉天皇の皇太子に立てられ、後冷泉が皇子を遺さずに死去すると、跡を継いで天皇（後三条天皇）となった。