Prince Kusakabe died at an early age, however, most of his families including his parents, wife, sons, daughters and close relatives took throne (moreover the theory that Prince Nagaya, who was the husband of his second daughter Imperial Princess Kibi was also treated as Imperial Prince as a special case and had the right of succession to the Imperial Throne has been pointed out), while his descendants became bearers of culture and politics as main branch of the Imperial line from the Emperor Tenmu in Nara Period.
早世した草壁皇子だが、両親・妻・息子・娘と近親者（さらに次女・吉備内親王の夫、長屋王も実際は特例として親王待遇を受け、皇位継承権があったとの説が指摘されている）の殆どが皇位につき、彼の子孫達は天武系の嫡流として奈良時代における文化・政治の担い手となった。