In the Hogen Disturbance in 1156, although Kiyomori was in a difficult position because Ike no zenni was a nanny of Imperial Prince Shigehito, a child of the retired Emperor Sutoku, he attempted to bring unity to the clan, took Emperor Goshirakawa's side, brought him victory, and was appointed Harima-kokushu (Governor of Harima Province) and Dazai no Daini (an official of the Dazaifu, which handled both internal politics and foreign relations in Kyushu).
保元元年（1156年）の保元の乱では池禅尼が崇徳上皇の子・重仁親王の乳母だったことから、清盛の立場は難しいものであったが一門の結束につとめ、後白河天皇側について勝利をもたらし播磨国守、大宰大弐となる。