He was the Tachihaki no toneri (bodyguard of the crown prince) of the Imperial Prince Tsunesada, who was the imperial child of Emperor Junna and the crown prince of Emperor Ninmyo, but was captured along with TACHIBANA no Hayanari after the death of the retired emperor for causing a rebellion while Emperor Saga was heavily ill in 842 (the Jowa Incident).
淳和天皇の皇子で仁明天皇の皇太子恒貞親王の春宮帯刀舎人（たちはきのとねり）であったが、842年（承和2年）嵯峨天皇が重病である間に謀反を企てたとして、上皇の没後、橘逸勢とともにとらえられた（いわゆる承和の変）。