Since the surviving grandchild, Obito no miko (the future Emperor Shomu), was too young, Ahe no himemiko succeeded to the throne to connect the Imperial line, as the first empress who had never been an empress consort before.
残された孫の首（おびと）皇子（後の聖武天皇）はまだ幼かったため、中継ぎとして、初めて皇后を経ないで即位した。