However, her father Michitaka, who was the Kanpaku, died on April 10, 995 and, through the intervention of the Emperor's mother, FUJIWARA no Senshi, the political power shifted to her uncle, FUJIWARA no Michikane, and then, upon his sudden death, to his younger brother FUJIWARA no Michinaga.
しかし、長徳元年（995年）4月10日、関白であった定子の父道隆が死去すると、政権は国母・藤原詮子の介入により定子の叔父藤原道兼、ついで藤原道兼が急死するとその弟藤原道長の手に渡った。