Michinaga and Emperor Sanjo were uncle and nephew, but there was a little sense of common bonds between them because the Emperor lost his mother, Empress Choshi/Toko, while he was young and because he was enthroned after he became an adult and the Emperor wanted rule himself.
道長は三条天皇とも叔父・甥の関係にあったが、早くに母后超子を失い成人してから即位した天皇と道長の連帯意識は薄く、天皇は親政を望んだ。