In addition to being the son of Yorinaga and adopted by his grandfather, FUJIWARA no Tadazane, he received the estate of Iyo no kuni (Iyo Province) and held the post at Konoefu (Division of Inner Palace Guards) early despite being the second son.
頼長の息子であったことに加えて祖父・藤原忠実の猶子となったことで、次男でありながら早くから伊予国受領、近衛府などを歴任する。